Polloch: Forest, Water and Corrantee History

Polloch appeals to travellers who want to include forest, water and nature-based activities in their trip. In Glen Hurich Polloch Forest, trails offer views of Loch Shiel, Loch Doilet and the River Polloch. Another trail by Loch Shiel leads to viewpoints overlooking the loch and the outflow of the Polloch. The nature and activity themes give your trip different points of focus. If you’re looking for a hotel in Polloch, you can first consider whether you’d like to focus mainly on wildlife watching, fishing or the history of the Corrantee mines.

Forests, Wildlife and Landscape

The natural setting ranges from ancient oakwoods to small plant communities: Glen Hurich contains a rare surviving fragment of ancient oakwoods, and its semi-natural woodlands are home to communities of lichens, mosses and liverworts. Red deer, golden eagles and rare red-throated divers are found in the forests, rivers and lochs of Glen Hurich Polloch Forest. For nature enthusiasts, both woodland habitats and wildlife watching can be themes of a stay.

Fishing on the Loch and River

Loch Doilet and the Polloch River offer different fishing opportunities. Boats can be hired at Loch Doilet; an electric outboard motor is also available to hire, allowing access to the whole loch. Confirm the availability of boat hire before travelling. Visitors can fish on the Polloch River; salmon and sea trout are present there towards the end of summer. The two fishing spots therefore offer different considerations for your plans: at the loch, the option of reaching the entire body of water by hire boat and electric motor; at the river, the seasonal presence of salmon and sea trout. Check the fishing conditions and arrangements at the river again before your trip.

Corrantee Mines: Mining History

The Corrantee Lead Mines were among the first mines to open, in 1725. Their lead-bearing deposits were subsequently worked intermittently until the mine finally closed in 1871. Operation was therefore not continuous between opening and closure. The remains include a waterwheel house, which originally contained a large iron waterwheel.

Trails and Directions

The trail to the Corrantee Lead Mines starts on the minor road to Polloch at the far end of Loch Doilet, south of the bridge; check trail conditions before setting out. At Loch Shiel, the viewpoint trail passes through native woodland and by a floating pontoon for boats on the loch, leading to viewpoints overlooking Loch Shiel and the outflow of the Polloch. Conditions at the viewpoints may vary. The routes have different focuses: mining history on the first, woodland and loch views on the second. To get there, take the public road from Strontian; Polloch car park is at the end of this road.

Discover more destinations: Acharacle, Grantown On Spey, Keiss, Oban, Strathan, Dunvegan, Totscore, Inverkirkaig

For the overview of the wider area: Highland.