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
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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
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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)
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
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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
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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)
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
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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
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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
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