The Rhiconich Geopod is an information station with physical panels and online content accessible via QR codes. It provides information about local geology. The North West Highlands Geopark’s first Geopod was installed in 2015 in Rhiconich, near Kinlochbervie. The Geopark’s Pebble Route consists of self-guided driving routes linked to the Geopods. If you include this route in your plans, bear in mind that printed or digital materials may change.
Geology and Landscape Around Rhiconich
Glacial erratics are large blocks of rock that have been transported far from their original location and left behind after a glacier melted. They stand out as a landscape feature in the Rhiconich area. The explanation connects a visible geological feature with how it formed: the blocks are no longer where they originally formed or were dislodged, but were transported by glacial movement.
The nearby habitats are also identified. The Sandwood Estate lies within a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designated for dune grassland, shifting dunes and machair. Nearby, the Sheigra-Oldshoremore Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is designated for sand dunes and machair. At Oldshoremore, it includes extensive areas of windblown sand with sand dune and machair vegetation. The two designations offer different insights into the landscape: in addition to the dunes, the vegetation and windblown sand are also among the features described.
Archaeological Traces and Early History
A linear fish trap can be faintly seen in aerial photographs at a small bay near Rhiconich. It is about 75 metres long. Its visibility may vary on site.
The Rhiconich roundhouse from the Middle Bronze Age had a diameter of about 8.5 metres. The excavation is also significant for the evidence it provides about settlement and land use in the Highlands: it relates both to the Bronze Age and to the less well-known Early Middle Ages. Thus, this find focuses on two different historical periods.
Walking Routes and Different Trail Surfaces
The nearby routes differ in both length and surface. The Oldshoremore Core Path is 0.1 kilometres long and runs over earth and wood. The Sandwood Bay Core Path is 6.4 kilometres long and includes track, stone and earth surfaces. This gives you both short and considerably longer route distances; the surfaces are also described specifically. Check local conditions before setting out.
The route from Blairmore to Sandwood Bay crosses exposed moorland and has uneven and often wet sections. Weather and ground conditions can change, so it is worth checking conditions before walking. These notes describe a different aspect of route planning from a distance in kilometres: for this route, the open moorland and the nature of the ground are especially relevant.
The route from Rhiconich to Sandwood Bay runs mostly along minor roads before continuing over a track and paths. It offers views across Loch Inchard. The route includes both road sections and tracks and paths; the views across the loch are also part of its description.
Another longer route runs from Kylestrome to Rhiconich, reaching Rhiconich on the west coast. It follows an old stalker’s path and runs mostly along tracks and paths across moorland. However, it also includes a partly pathless, very boggy section and a possible, potentially difficult river crossing. This combination of existing paths and rough sections is particularly important when assessing the route. Terrain and conditions can change seasonally; check them before walking.
Getting There and Accommodation
There is an irregular bus service from Kylesku to Inverness and via Rhiconich to Durness. As timetable details may change and no current times are provided, check the timetable before travelling. There is a hotel and public toilets in Rhiconich. Check in advance whether the hotel and toilets are available or open.
Discover more destinations: Forres, Oban, Aultbea, Gairloch, Contin, Kyle, Fearn, Arisaig
Back to the regional travel overview: Highland.
