Loch Maree Post Road Show path on map
Start location: A832 by Srondubh, Poolewe ( NG 862 814 )
End location: 800m northeast of A832 ( NH 039 624 )
Geographical area: Ross and Cromarty
Path type: Drove Road, Rural Path
Path distance: 29.5km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
This is a classic and historic walking route of the Highlands, traversing the length of one of the most beautiful of Scottish lochs. It is, however, not to be undertaken lightly, for not only is it long, but the going in places is very rough and there are no hostelries on the way.
Kinlochewe is the starting point for expeditions into the Letterewe and Fisherfield wilderness from the south. There is a car park 1km east of the village at Incheril. The route to Poolewe goes northwest along the path on the north side of the Kinlochewe River to reach the head of Loch Maree and continues along the loch in places climbing about 100m above the shore. The path is sometimes hard to follow, especially in the bracken season.
Approaching Furnace, the historic line will have moved over time as a result of the need to cross the Abhainn na Fuirness. It is suggested that, just before this burn, at NG960706 go through an old metal gate and down to join the estate track. Having crossed over the bridge, both the left and right grass tracks lead to a more substantial landrover track to Letterewe. Just before the grounds of the big house, an estate sign directs you to the right and up the outside of the garden wall to a track leading north beside the Allt Folais.
From here on the route follows good stalking tracks. At NG951724, the path divides. Take the west fork, cross a bridge after approximately 200m and continue over the bealach and down Srathan Buidhe to the low ground at the foot of the pass. There, turn northwest round the base of Beinn Airigh Charr and go past Loch an Doire Chrionaich and down the Allt na Creige to reach Kernsary. From there a path runs northwest beside Loch Kernsary to reach Srondubh and Poolewe.
If you’re inspired to try this route and would like a general idea of what to expect, we suggest reading Charles Coull’s blog about running the Post Road from Incheril (by Kinlochewe) to Poolewe in 2013 – we’re told the paths were fabulous especially after Letterewe.
OS Landranger 19 (Gairloch)
Heritage Information
Poolewe used to be an important harbour, and this was the old route to Poolewe from the south, linking with the Coulin Pass from Loch Carron, as shown on General Roy's map of 1755 and Arrowsmith's map of 1807. It was used as a drove road; the hotel in Kinlochewe being formerly a drovers' inn. Bord, a hamlet that existed before the village of Kinlochewe came into being, was the site of the old change house.
It is also the way used in the 1800s and possibly earlier by post-runners travelling from Dingwall to Poolewe. The 1921 book A Hundred Years in the Highlands by Osgood Mackenzie of Inverewe records the mid-nineteenth century journeying of Iain Mor am Posda (Big John the Post / John Mackenzie) from Poolewe to Dingwall and back. Latterly, his journey was shortened somewhat by the need to head "only" as far east as Achnasheen - he was the last post-runner and he is said to have emigrated to Australia once replaced by the mail coach. It is important to note that the postie's route kept closer to the shore of Loch Maree than today's route - instead of heading north up the Allt Folais from Letterewe as described above, he headed northwest traversing the now impassable Creag Tharbh (Bull Rock). The story of an earlier Loch Maree post-runner Donald Mackenzie (Donald Charles), the father of the above-mentioned John, featured as part of the BBC genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are? in August 2015, so keep an eye out for repeat showings. Those who walk any of this route today will gain a very high respect for the postmen of over two centuries ago.
The early Scottish traveller and mapmaker Timothy Pont is said by various sources to have used at least parts of this route in the 1590s - the section from Poolewe to Kernsary (although he then veered north and east to Dundonnell), and also a viewpoint above Letterewe.
The woods that once lined this side of Loch Maree were cut down to fire furnaces for iron ore smelting; traces of this industry can still be seen at the lochside. The ruined house at Innisabhaird (place of the bard), northwest of Kernsary, is said to have been the home of Am Bard Sasunnach (the English Bard), a descendant of one of the English workers that came to the area in the 1600s to work the iron foundries.
