Route Details

Dirty 30 Challenge : 30 miles
Dirty Dozen: 12 miles

Start at Glenelg Hall and follow the road out of Glenelg. Turn left at the junction and follow the road through Galtair towards the ferry. Just before the road descends to the ferry, turn right into the carpark and onto the track which leads along the Kylerhea Narrows.

OS map of route
Click here for Detailed 1:25000 map (large)As you descend to the shore, continue along the beach until you reach a break in the wall where a path leads inshore. Follow the path down to the shore and the first checkpoint at Ardintoul.

Follow the road at Ardintoul along the shore and up the hill. Here the route splits, and those on the Dirty Dozen (Blue route on map) will continue to climb and follow the road to Bernera before returning to the village hall.

The main Dirty 30 route follows the route down the hill, over the footbridge and a footpath on your right leads up the hill and through the forest, past Caisteal Grugaig Broch to Totaig (checkpoint 2).

Continue along the road to Letterfearn (home of the 'Jelly Baby Pitstop') and on through Ratagan. At the juntion, turn left and follow the road to Shiel Bridge camp site (checkpoint 3). Refreshments and toilet facilities are available at the shop.

The route now leads up Glen Undalain before climbing to the highest point of The Lochalsh Dirty 30 at Loch Coire nan Crogachan (NG 919 164). From here it descends along the path of Allt à Ghleannain to Bealachasan and into the forestry. Follow the forest track past Checkpoint 4 (NG 889 181) before crossing at the bridge (NG 889 173) and turning right towards the bothy at Suardalan where you should pick up the path past Loch Iain Mhic Aonghais and continue along the track to Balvraid (checkpoint 5)

The route continues along the road passing the Brochs Dun Telve and Dun Troddan before turning right at the Eilanreach junction and following the road along the coast back to Glenelg and the finish.

Checkpoints (Dirty 30 Challenge)

  • Start - NG 814 194 - Glenelg Village Hall
  • 6 miles - Checkpoint 1 - NG 835 241 - Ardintoul
  • 4 miles - Checkpoint 2 - NG 884 236 - Totaig
  • 7 miles - Checkpoint 3 - NG 938 186 - Shiel Bridge
  • 5 miles - Checkpoint 4 - NG 889 181 - Moyle
  • 3 miles - Checkpoint 5 - NG 848 165 - Balvraid
  • 5 miles - Finish - NG 814 194 - Glenelg Village Hall

Checkpoints (Dirty Dozen)

  • Start - NG 814 194 - Glenelg Village Hall
  • 6 miles - Checkpoint 1 - NG 835 241 - Ardintoul
  • 6 miles - Finish - NG 814 194 - Glenelg Village Hall

Further Information

Further details of both routes, including GPS waypoint data is available from walkhighlands website
Note: Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
Note: All distances are approximate.