After completing the walk to Red Point the previous day, I was then left with a small gap between Lower Diabaig and Inveralligin which I would now close.
On OS maps there is path indicated which links Diabaig with Inveralligin via extremely rocky and rough ground. I knew from reading previous walking reports that the path was notoriously difficult to follow, especially at the start. While I was in Diabaig yesterday I spoke to two locals who advised not to use the path. One of the locals went up the previous week but could not find its continuation after climbing onto a ledge. I had a quick look myself but could also see no continuation, I decided then to simply take the longer and higher road option via the Bealach na Gaoithe. Looking back this was a bit lazy of me, I should have explored more to try to get onto the track.
Anyway, I drove in the dark to Alligin car park and set off on my bike in the pitch dark. I was rewarded with a great stellar display as well as a number of shooting stars. By the time I reached the top of the Bealach na Gaoithe I could switch my head torch off. As I would be shortly walking back up to the bealach I was able to cycle down to Diabaig scattering a small group of young stags in the process.
Not much to say about the 7 mile walk back to the car, other than I got amazing views, only 1 car passed me, it was very quiet and still and very enjoyable.
After arriving back at car I drove back to the campsite to pack up my tent. I spoke to a couple of other campers, who were to do a bit of climbing in Diabaig. Apparently, it’s a very popular climbing area, which was news to me. They confirmed the walkers path, but mentioned about the difficulty at the start. Anyway, it was good get away early, as the 500 mile drive home beckoned. Hopefully, I will be able to get a few more days in Scotland before Christmas.
NB: I also publish all my Scottish Blog entries on the excellent Scottish Hills website, I use the same narrative, but larger photos and a few extra ones. They can be found here:
http://www.scottishhills.com/html/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=24408
Distance today = 7 miles
Total distance = 4,459 mile
Walking the Coast of Great Britain 
There seem to be a lot of paths like that in Scotland that exist on the map, but not on the ground, sadly.
Have you seen the Core Path maps on the Highland Council website? https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/379/countryside_facilities_and_wildlife/161/outdoor_access/4
Not many paths sadly, but at least can be useful to confirm if a track on the map is a right of way or not (though of course in Scotland you can still follow it, even if not a right of way).
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Hi Jon, i’ve not used the Highland website. However when I came through Dumfries and Galloway I did use their Core Paths maps and documents, which were often on the map but not on the ground or on the ground and not on the map or…………………….just a figment of someone’s imagination lol.
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Hmm, we took that path out of Diabaig in late August and it was as interesting as usual getting up and along, but still perfectly passable. Hope it hasn’t washed out, it’s a wee gem.
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Hi Kinley, I am rather annoyed with myself for not looking harder. All the best to H.
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