Ballachulish, Highland
★★★★
Sparkling blue pools in a rocky amphitheatre are the local legacy of Ballachulish’s once important slate mining industry, now forming an unusual backdrop to a dense network of walking routes. The Brecklet Trail developed by Forestry and Land Scotland rises high above the quarry’s west cliffs, soon revealing stunning views both over the manmade lakes and along Loch Leven. After the steep ascent the panorama is lost as the path plunges into a dark forest, but small waterfalls, abandoned buildings and even a small fairy village (see our photo guide!) ensure there’s still plenty of visual interest. The quarry interior and a nearby inclined plane (used for transporting slate from the upper parts of the quarry down to sea level) are both reachable by short detours from the walk’s start point, and are included on the route map below.
Chronological photo guide
Ascent alongside Ballachulish slate quarries 
Ascent alongside Ballachulish slate quarries 
Beinn a’ Bheithir 
Loch Leven 
Ballachulish (left) & Loch Leven 
Loch Leven from the treeline 
Woodland trail 
Tall trees 
Ruined buildings 
Fairy house 
Descent to Brecklet 
St Munda’s (Church of Scotland) 
St Mun’s Catholic Church 
Beinn a’ Bheithir beyond the River Laroch 
Detour into the slate quarries 
Detour to Ballachulish inclined plane, Pap of Glencoe beyond 
Inclined plane
Location
O.S. Grid Reference: NN 084585
GPS coordinates: 56.678346,-5.130034
Bus to start
Car park
Key info
4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 120 m |
1.5 hr
Features:
Ballachulish Slate Quarries;
Brecklet, churches & Ballachulish;
⬤ Moderate | Clear paths and tracks throughout. Main circuit has a steep ascent; later detours are flat.
Clockwise circuit, then two detours from car park to slate quarry & inclined plane: start – track up west side of quarry wall – ruined buildings at
On our last visit
Wildlife: Small birds, grasshoppers.
Weather: Mostly sunny, warm and humid; storm clouds building over hills.
July 2019
