Walk: Lochs of views from Dun Skeig

📌 Clachan, Argyll & Bute
★★★★

This is one of Kintyre’s best walks, cramming a picture-postcard village, a small hill with stunning views, and a tranquil coastal and riverside section into under 4 miles. Dun Skeig’s summit comes complete with two hilltop forts, while the modern house encountered on the descent has a setting guaranteed to make anybody jealous. Varied underfoot conditions mean this walk may well take longer than its length suggests – good footwear required – but don’t let that put you off.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on minor road, Clachan village centre

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 765561

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.746372,-5.562555

🚌 Bus to Clachan

🚗 Street parking

📝 Key info

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 180 m | ⌛ 2-2.5 hr

Features: △ Dun Skeig (143 m); 🏰 Dun Skeig hill forts

⬤ Moderate | Very varied. Minor road to Quinhill; track then occasionally boggy path to summit. Wet path on descent to Portachoillan. Coastal and riverside sections on a track which is often fine, but with sections of swampy mud which are difficult to avoid!

➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with extension to summit: start – Quinhill – climb gate due east of Dun Skeig – Dun Skeig summit – return to gate – Portachoillan – Dunskeig Bay – start, keeping close to burn

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep graze the summit, with cows lower down. The coastal section is reputedly inhabited by otters.

Weather: Uninterrupted blue skies. Chilly, but exceptionally clear air making for brilliant views.

November 2014