Walking the local peninsula of Opinan, Greenstone Point, Slaggan and Rubha Mor

The Greenstone peninsula  is a beautiful area and rarely walked by visitors, most people head along the Slaggan track to the pretty Slaggan beach but venturing over the moorland you will come across hidden lochs and superb views.

We broke our walk up over two days to fit around the duties of the b&b. With fine weather and an unusually long dry spell it was great conditions to walk an area that is predominantly a wet peat bog. We started the first days walk at Opinan heading towards the wee inland hillocks and secluded lochs and the second day began along the track to Slaggan beach.

Day one

Starting at the end of the single track road to Opinan we followed the coast line to Greenstone point

Looking down on Opinan with the Summer isles and the mountains of the Northwest Highlands over Gruinard Bay. You can just about see the sun shining on Suilven in the distance.

The heather clad moorland of high summer. It seems that this year has seen the perfect weather conditions for the heather, their flowers have bloomed a bright pink all over the hillsides & moors.

From a distance we watched two separate groups of seals snoozing & scratching on the rocks.

A wonderful view towards the Isles of Harris & Lewis with a storm a’brewin

A view over Loch a’ Choire from the trig point of Meall a’ Choire which is only 140m, but it affords fine views of the hills to the south

The Meall a’ Choire trig point with views to the north

A meadow of Bog Cotton, Devils Bit Scabious and little Bell Heathers trying very hard to be noticed. Lots of butterflies, moths & damselflies were partaking in the rich nectar.

On a normal day we wouldn’t venture directly through a meadow of Bog Cotton as as you can imagine it grows in bogs! but due to it being incredibly dry we didn’t need our waders!

The trig point of Meall a’ Ghruagaich, the last wee hill of the afternoon with great views of Gruinard Bay & the northern hills with Mellon Udrigle nestled on the edges of the moorland, with the clouds thickening & light fading we headed home.

Day two

For our second outing we were aiming for Beinn Dearg Mhor the wee hillock to the south of the track that takes you to Slaggan beach.

Beinn Dearg Mhor (just to confuse you this is not THE Beinn Dearg Mhor – the 910m Munro in the Fisherfield wilderness! it is it’s much smaller brother a stones throw away & just 159m) is reached by walking along the track to Slaggan beach but veering off to the south around half way along and heading over the moorland. The wee hill is in a really lovely setting with the hidden loch an Fheoir beneath which can’t be seen from the Slaggan track but is a real treat to come across.

Anticipating being dragged through the waist high heather & bracken to reach the grassy slope of Beinn Dearg Mhor (junior)

Beside Loch an Fheoir surrounded by heather

Once through the heather & bracken the view looking down on the loch was a very fine one, the perfect spot for a tea break.

This is Loch an t’slagain which you walk alongside when following the Slaggan track, there is often wildfowl feeding here but today we watched a Bonxie resting on the loch.

Coprophilous fungi growing from a cow pat, mmmmmm delicious!!!!!

From the trig point looking north with Loch Caol na h’Innse’Geamhraidh beneath us and with Loch na Beiste in the distance. Just above Loch na Beiste is Meall nam Meallan another great wee hill right alongside the coast with views over Achgarve & Laide. The Beastie loch as it is know in the area is alongside the road which takes you to Mellon Udrigle, there are often Highland cattle nearby.

Loch Fheoir & Loch an t’Slagain basking in the summer sun

Looking south Firemore beach can be seen in the sunshine

Aultbea & Ormiscaig on the shore of Loch Ewe with the fantastic Torridon hills in the far distance and Beinn Airigh Charr to the left.

 

This peninsula covering Opinan, Greenstone, Slaggan & Mellon Udrigle is an area which is a particular favourite of ours. There is always guaranteed wildlife in this area, whether it’s seals, birds of prey, seabirds, wildfowl or minke whales & dolphins the rewards are worth the ramblings, rock hops & climbs. With the views spectacular in every direction. Many walks to be had in this fantastic local area.