Rhiconich: Geology, History and Walking Routes

Rhiconich and its immediate surroundings offer points of interest for a trip where geology, archaeological traces and walking routes play a part. When planning your accommodation and outings, it is worth distinguishing between routes by their length and described conditions. A look at the local natural and cultural heritage also helps put the different interests in a stay into perspective.

Geopod, Glacial Erratics and Landscape

The first Geopod in the North West Highlands Geopark was installed in Rhiconich, near Kinlochbervie, in 2015. The Rhiconich Geopod is an information station about local geology: physical panels are complemented by online content accessible via QR codes. This makes information available in two forms at the same location.

One striking feature of the Rhiconich area is its glacial erratics. These large blocks of rock were transported far from their original location and left behind when the glacier melted. This explanation helps make sense of the erratics as the result of earlier glacial movement and provides a geological reference point in the landscape.

Nearby, the Sandwood Estate lies within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designated for its dune grassland, shifting dunes and machair. The Sheigra-Oldshoremore Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated for its sand dunes and machair, is also in the area. At Oldshoremore, the site includes extensive windblown sandy areas with dune and machair vegetation. These designations give a concrete impression of the protected landscape types; the habitats mentioned differ from the geological traces left by the erratics.

Walking Routes and Trail Conditions

The Highland Council map from September 2011 shows two Core Paths in the immediate area. The Oldshoremore Core Path is 0.1 kilometres long and has an earth and wood surface. The Sandwood Bay Core Path is 6.4 kilometres long; its surfaces include track, stone and earth. The different lengths and surfaces help distinguish the two route descriptions. Check local conditions before setting out.

The John Muir Trust gives the route to Sandwood Bay as four miles long and maintains it. The path from Blairmore to the bay crosses exposed moorland and has uneven, often wet sections. Weather and ground conditions can change. Another route description leads from Rhiconich to Sandwood Bay: it follows minor roads for most of the way, then continues along a track and paths. The route offers views across Loch Inchard. The descriptions of the surfaces and views help distinguish this route from the Core Paths.

The route from Kylestrome to Rhiconich has a different character. It follows an old stalker's path and reaches Rhiconich on the west coast. For the most part, it follows tracks and paths across moorland, with notably rougher, completely pathless and often very wet sections in between. It also includes a partly pathless, very boggy stretch with a river crossing that may be difficult. These details make the changing conditions along the route clear without presenting the possible difficulty of the crossing as a certainty.

Archaeological Traces near Rhiconich

A linear fish trap is faintly visible in aerial photographs at a small bay near Rhiconich. It is about 75 metres long; its visibility on site may vary. This is a different trace of the past from the Rhiconich roundhouse, which dates to the Middle Bronze Age and had a diameter of about 8.5 metres.

The excavation of the roundhouse is significant because it provides evidence of habitation and land use in the Highlands during two periods: the Bronze Age and the less well-known Early Middle Ages. This time span therefore extends beyond the period suggested by the roundhouse's name. Anyone interested in the region's history will find a concrete connection here to the use of living spaces and land.

Plan Your Accommodation and Journey

Rhiconich has a hotel and public toilets. Check their current status before your trip. Kylesku has an infrequent bus service to Inverness and, via Rhiconich, to Durness. As no current timetable details are provided, it is advisable to check the timetable before travelling. When choosing accommodation, you can also consider which of the walks and landscape features described are important to your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Staffin, Watten, Tarskavaig, Kinlochleven, Lairg, Insh, Foyers, Camusbane.

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