Torridon/Shieldaig/Gairloch

Abhainn Thrail (Torridon)

Location

Park where the A896 crosses this river to the south of Torridon and walk north up the rough track adjacent to the river. The “swim” is on your left just before the only house up the track (a holiday home).

Grid Ref

NG 910/550

Features

Excellent views with lovely hills as a backdrop. Also handy if you are staying in the holiday home 10 metres away.

Hazards

Big pebbles which make walking difficult.

Date of Last Swim

1st April 2005
[clear]


Allt Caire Roill (Beinn Damph)

Location

Park in the pub car park by the Loch Torridon Hotel and follow the sign posted path to Beinn Damph. Once out of the wood keep to the path on the left next to the river.

Grid Ref

NG 885/532

Features

Series of small pools below several waterfalls which provide a nice backdrop. Lovely clear water.

Hazards

A bit nippy and some tree trunks underwater.

Date of Last Swim

15th April 2008
[clear]


Horrisdale waterfall (nr Gairloch)

Location

  • Shieldag. Park in the car park on the B8056 (road to Redpoint) c. 1km west of the junction with the A82. Walk in on the mainly good track/path that heads south (ish) past the turn off to the Fairy Pools “crash site”. The waterfall is slightly further downstream than that shown on the OSmap and located by where the main tributary joins the river Abhainn Braigh.

Grid Ref

  • NG818/689

Features

  • What can you say. It has it all: shallow and deep water, wilder water under the fall and calmer away, and when we visited a lovely mossy adjacent area of dry land

Hazards

  • Nothing springs to mind other than some large rocks under water

Date

  • 5th April 2019

 


Loch Damb (near Shieldaig)

(OK. There is a tiny chance this is a photo of the wrong loch….)

 

Location

Park pretty well anywhere between Shieldaig and Annat on the A896. The easiest walk-in is from Balgy where there is a path part of the way.

Grid Ref

NG 849/532

Features

Wonderful shingly beaches at the north end which provide easy access and a nice comfortably place to sleep (midges permitting).

Hazards

None really

Date of Last Swim

16th April 2008
[clear]


River Damh (near Balgy)

 

Location

The river flows from Loch Damh into Upper Loch Torridon.

Grid Ref

NG 846/544

Features

Its bl**dy handy if you happen to be staying in Balgy Lodge. Not just that there is a good sized pool just below some shallow waterfalls. Add to that the ability to swim into Loch Torridon and you are in swimmers heaven.

Hazards

The only real downside is that the pool is in shade in the evening.

Date of Last Swim

18th April 2008
[clear]


Loch Braigh Horrisdale (nr Gairloch)

Location

  • Shieldag. Park in the car park on the B8056 (road to Redpoint) c. 1km west of the junction with the A82. Walk in on the mainly good track/path that heads south (ish) past the turn off to the Fairy Pools “crash site”. The best beach is in the south-east part of the Loch- handily adjacent to the path in

 

Grid Ref

  • NG802/703

Features

  • Nice sandy beach so easy access and if you pick the right spot it gets deep enough to swim pretty quickly. I understand that the section created by the Loch of the adjacent peat bog is particularly interesting (R. Watkins pers. comm.)

Hazards

  • Nothing but the usual

Date

  • 5th April 2019

 


Loch na h-Oidhche (nr Gairloch)

I can assure you that I’m going for a swim not having a wee!!

Location

  • Park in the car park by the A832 near Loch bad an Sgalaig. The latter is probably fine for a swim but is too easy so take the path heading south-east for 6km. There are a couple of small sandy beaches in the north-east part of the Loch which provide a great access point.

Grid Ref

  • NG888/666

Features

  • Sandy access and deep water. Oh and what a view!!

Hazards

  • Nothing but the obvious

Date

  • 4th April 2019

Loch Dughaill (near Shieldaig)

!!! PHOTO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST !!!

Location

Adjacent to the A896 about 2km south of Shieldaig. Theres plenty of parking between the road and the Loch.

Grid Ref

NG 825/515

Features

Easy access and one of those “swims” where once you get in you are soon out of your depth so there is not going back!

Hazards

As stated above it gets deep quite quickly, but I suppose I should mention the cold.

Date of Last Swim

30th March 2005
[clear]


Loch Shieldaig (near Shieldaig)

!!! PHOTO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST !!!

Location

On a peninsula that separates Loch Shieldaig from Loch Torridon. Simply follow the footpath out of Shieldaig past the school and pick you spot.

Grid Ref

NG 813/557

Features

Simply beautiful (on the right day!!)

Hazards

None really

Date of Last Swim

20th April 2008
[clear]


Upper Loch Torridon (West Coast of Scotland)

(A definite FIVE TRUNK location)

Location

You can access Loch Torridon pretty well from anyway. This spot is near the Falls of Balgy where a river enters the Loch.

Grid Ref

NG 847/547

Features

Superb view of the (often snow covered) mountains all around the Loch.

Hazards

Quite refreshing!!!!

Date of Last Swim

14th April 2008
[clear]