Badrallach
Badrallach is a small hamlet on the north shore of Little Loch Broom,
the opposite side of the loch from the main road. We first discovered this area
when we explored Beinn Ghobhlach in
1998, taking the car to the end of the road before following the coastal path
westwards. The road is narrow and starts with a sharp twist over a bridge and
past the farm buildings before weaving between the trees. Just beyond
Dundonnell House has been refurbished and a new 'modern' footbridge installed
over the river. Further on watch out for the turn at the entrance to the estate
house - the road turns sharp right as straight on takes you through the gates!
The road climbs to a hairpin at a col in the hills - beyond a track drops to
the shore of Loch Broom opposite Ullapool. A passenger ferry across Loch Broom gives a
crossing on Loch Broom for walkers.
Follow the road as it drops from the 700ft height back to the shoreline
at Badrallach. Here is found a small camping (and caravan?) site - although
marked as accommodating caravans the sign at the road end clearly states
"Unsuitable for Caravans". Parking the car at the far end of the village - at
the road end - an excellant path can be followed to the headland at Scoraig.
Had we realised that the camp site was here we would have moved here in 1998
for a night or two and save the lengthy return drive from Gairloch. Instead we
followed the path east for about 3km before assaulting the hillside on a
traverse of Beinn Ghoblach - an outing
that is thoroughly recommended.
The site had obvious attractions for us - small and neat, away from the
main road, not far from the Dundonnell Hotel where a good evening meal can be
guaranteed - accompanied by a good pint. The location offers a good local base
for an assault of An Teallach and it
was with this in mind that we visited for a couple of nights in 1999.
The site occupies an old croft just off the road and can take a few
tents at a time. The facilities have been installed by the owner in the old
croft barns - and he clearly had a flair for using plywood! Lighting in the
buildings is provided by gas, water is taken from the burn that runs through
the site and visitors are made most welcome. Whilst we were staying the site
was home to a group of National Trust volunteers who were building footpaths on
the hills. The bottom end of the croft is flatter and ideal for small tents.
The only problem that we encountered was the midges - these arrived in force as
soon as the wind dropped (not that this is particularly unique to this site of
course).
Return in 2002
We returned to the Badrallach Site in 2002 for a few days exploring
The Fannichs. Unfortunately the
weather was not as good in this second week of our annual holiday, although we
had one splendid outing on the two western-most tops in the range. The site was
as welcoming as ever and we settled in quickly. One change has been the arrival
of electricity to the village - removing the reliance on gas lighting. In
addition to the camp site and bothy, the croft also offers a holiday cottage
and bed and breakfast accommodation.
Apart
from one day on the Fannichs, we also had a day walking
behind Braemore Lodge - largely in
mist it must be said. We spent a second day walking from the site along the
coastal path to the cottages at Scoraig - the weather was not very good on the
hills. As noted in our earlier walk up Beinn Ghoblach the path is quite steep over the crags and
this year a herd of goats passed above us on the rocks. This isolated village
sports a range of different dwellings, some of quite novel design and each one
owning a wind turbine. The small community supports both a first school and a
second school for the families that live out here. The walk from Badrallach is
about 8 km each way - the locals use boats to cross Little Loch Broom from the
jetty at Badluarach.
 |
Beinn Ghobhlach |
|
An Teallach |
|
The Fannichs |
 |
North into Ullapool |