Kirk Road Show path on map
Start location: bridge over Dundonnell River, south of Dundonnell House ( NH 114 856 )
End location: Croftown, Inverbroom ( NH 178 839 )
Geographical area: Ross and Cromarty
Path type: Rural Path
Path distance: 8km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
On the A832, 3km southeast of Dundonnell, a minor road is signed to Badralloch. Take this road, but immediately after crossing its bridge (NH114856) over the Dundonnell River, go through a gate on the right. This track leads to the farmhouse at Brae which was home to the world-famous conservationist Frank Fraser Darling in the early 1930s. Where this track turns left, instead go right through a gate and head left almost immediately, away from the river on grass and bracken to trees and a path running parallel to the deer fence. Follow this up through trees, cross the river above a waterfall (difficult in spate) and continue east to the north end of Loch an Tiompain. Continue east-southeast, crossing an old stone dam (NH166845) and follow the track through several gates on a gradual descending traverse followed by a steeper section leading to a wood (now clear-felled). Go through another gate and head north-northeast down the edge of the wood to just beyond the rear of the houses at Croftown. The path then cuts back southeast to reach the minor road just beyond Croftown.
The old graveyard at Clachan can be reached from Croftown by heading eastward along the road for 300m, then at the crossroads by Inverbroom Lodge turn left toward the head of Loch Broom for less than a kilometre. Alternatively, by continuing straight on at the crossroads, the A835 is reached.
OS Landranger 19 & 20
Heritage Information
This route is marked as a bridle path on the first edition OS Six Inch to the Mile map (surveyed 1868). There the path can be seen heading north from Crofton direct to the graveyard at Clachan; these days it easier to follow the road.
Although the present Clachan Church was (re?)built in 1817, it is thought that its predecessor on this site dated back to the early 13th century. In 1773, a communion was held there for people about to emigrate to North America on the sailing ship Hector moored in the loch.
