Walks | North-West
Mellon Udrigle
Start: Mellon Udrigle, off the A832 at Laide
Description: Short beach walk on sheltered, clean beach.
OS Map: #19, Gairloch & Ullapool
Multimap: Online Map
The small crofting township of Mellon Udrigle is found by leaving the A832 Gairloch-Braemore Junction road at Laide, and following a narrow road for approximately 4 miles. Just past the entrance to the caravan park, there is a Car Park in a sandy hollow on the right hand side of the road. This is a popular destination for families on fine summer days, so be warned that the car park may be as busy as the M8 on Friday rush hour - ok, slight exagerration. The name Mellon Udrigle derives from the Gaelic Meallan for lumpy hill (This is very true, the hill above the beach has a number of stony outcrops).
From the opposite end of the car park there is a small wooden walk way down to a perfect beach. Pure white sand gives the water a clear, almost Carribean colour, making it very inviting on a warm day. While short, a walk along this beach gives many rewarding views. To the East along Gruinard Bay is the dominating An Teallach, and in front of it the wide face of Sail Mhor. North-East across Gruinard Island is Beinn Ghobhlach. Looking through the mouth of the bay directly North towards Achiltibuie brings a skyline covered in the ridges of Suilven, Stac Pollaidh and more of the Munro's to the North of Ullapool. The sheltered bay is well used by canoeists and wind surfers, so watch out if taking a dip! The bay has a very gentle slope, so it is possible to wade well out without the water getting too deep. From the far end of the beach it is possible to ascend the hill behind the beach, the Meallan Udrigle. It's not a huge hill, and a faint path leads all the way up the heather-clad slopes to the stoney top.
Alternatively, by going back to the other end of the beach and going straight past the path to the car park, it is possible to gain a small indistinct path along the front of the big house and walk up onto the headland, to gain clearer views of the surrounding mountains, and across The Minch to the Hebrides. Time it right, and you can watch the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Stornoway steam into Ullapool. A number of other small boats, and even big tankers can be spotted from this vantage point.
From here a small path can be followed along the winding coast to Opinan (one of many in the area) and a return made by the tarred road that links Opinan back to the Mellon Udrigle road, just above the Caravan Site. This is a walk of about five miles.