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Allt Leachdach
NN278753 Image Wanted!

www.geograph.org.uk





Arivegaig
NM648677 (3*) Tidal
Sent in by Gordon Gauld (21/07/2008)

'Restricted Access (ish) The sign at Arivegaig car park says no vehicular access and danger unexploded munitions, though the gate is unlocked and as we walked along the track we were passed by 3 soft roaders on the way to a beach at the end of this track. The ford is part river part tidal with these images taken at low tide and the river about 12 inches deep (judge for yourself where high tide comes to). If you bottle it there is a bridge upstream from the ford.'





Auch Estate
NN331359 (3*) Suitable for All
Sent in by Ken Carson (10/11/2006)

'This ford is easily passable as it has a base of concrete sleepers. I'm sure if the Scottish weather is typical then the water would be higher, although it really shouldn't cause many problems it's easy to reccy. It's a bumpy road as the picture shows but it's a good solid base, along the lines that you would find in a forest commission drive/track. It's a beautiful setting with a stunning railway track/viaduct running overhead nearby. The Ford is off the main road from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy on the way to Fort William. The map will show the route to follow, be sure you don't use the Old Military Road which is on the map by mistake as this is the Famous West Highland Way, and you would upset a few of the walkers if you ran them over. This is photo is taken on the way back down having already crossed it.'





Balconie Point
NH625657 (4*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Martin Courtley (05/05/2018)

'The track would be passable with 4x4, but looks like it can be boggy with heavy rain. The ford itself gets a little deeper to the North side, and when I walked across it was about 2foot deep. The bottom is slippy with smooth medium sized pebbles with the odd large rock present.'





Balloan
NH666326 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by John Brown (20/09/2004)

'Deep ford with gravel bottom and agricultural ramps; as this is a public highway, the council maintain the gated asphalt approach road either side, but ford itself is definitely a 4x4 job, which swells sideways after heavy rain, as in the image. No footbridge, but I gather there are stepping stones which were under water on my visit'


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Brae
NC435012 Image Wanted!





Brough of Birsay Causeway
ST243028 (2*) Restricted Access
Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (18/09/2006)

'It is about half a mile long and very tidal so take care. Only suitable for walkers with no vehicle access at the Brough end. The concrete causeway ends inexplicably short of the end and you have to cross some quite large rocks which would be too large for the smallish tractors used by local fishermen. The brough is very historic like most of Orkney and surrounded by beautiful very high cliffs with large stacks.'





Cashell Dhu
NC452498 (3*) Restricted Access
Sent in by Roger Fairclough (15/11/2010)

'This ford is located off a minor road in the far north of Scotland. It’s about 15 metres across with a depth, in normal conditions, of approx. 300mm. Base is relatively even gravel. The ford is on a gravel road that cuts across the mountains to Eriboll. It is, as far as I know, legal to drive but a 4x4 is a necessity.'





Cladach
NS013375 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Chris Sampson (23/06/2012)

'It's just north of Brodick on the Isle of Arran. It's easily accessible about 20 yards down a track from a car park just across the road from the Arran Brewery. Its got a simple gentle approach and exit and the base is gravel and firm. As I said, I've done it a few times and normally it's no higher than the axles of my car (Land Rover Defender 110) but today it was in flood due to the heavy rain as you can see in the picture. I hit it a bit too quickly and had water over the top of the bonnet and got a bit of a fright. There's no exit on the other side so the only way back is to go through it again! It definitely needed a bow wave to do it safely but at least the second time I was prepared for it. I'd never seen it this deep before and it was quite exciting so thought it might be worth letting you know about as its the only accessible ford I can find on Arran.'













Corrieyairack Pass (x2!)

NN450964 (2*) Off-Roaders Only!
NN467959 (1*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Ben Wedgwood (Image 1:09/06/2004), Tim Oliver (Image 2: 27/11/2004) and Roger Fairclough (26/06/2009)

'Four wheel drive only, but a better option than the bridge! Check to see if Pass is open before driving all the way there, as it is closed a lot of the time these days (Images 1 and 2).'

'The second is on a tarmaced section of the pass. This ford has a max. depth of approx 9” in dry conditions but the rocky bed requires a 4 x 4 to be safe from damage. Width is about 15 ft.'

Images 4-7 were sent in by Sylvia and Horst Stecher (25/08/2010) and show some of the difficulties in actually getting onto the pass these days.





Corrimony
NH379304 (4*) Suitable for All
Sent in by Margaret Hagart and Peter Reynolds (25/06/2004)

'Bottom is cobbled, ramps are concrete, suitable for a normal car no signs, gauge or bridge. When dry (as attempted) ford is 21ft long (7.5 feet wide) and 1" deep Signs that in spate it is 54 feet loong and 12 - 18 inches deep. does not have a "Ford" sign since it is on a farm track (but only just off the public road). It appears to be intended for lorries to avoid them having to use the main entrance which is an old stone bridge.'


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Dalnaclairach
NH725753 Image Wanted!





Dalnaglar Castle
NO143652 (4*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Sylvia and Horst Stecher (06/06/2011)













Doll (x2!)

NC871045 (5*) Off-Roaders Only!
NC887025 (4*) Suitable for All
Sent in by John Brown (Image 1: 25/08/2002), Dave Cooper (Image 2: 12/07/2013) and Anon. (Image 3: 14/08/2018)

'Superb big ford, comparable with Tarr Steps or Stanhope, but more daunting than either when the peaty brown Brora River is in rushing spate. About 25 yards across, and around 6" deep in its most benign mood; paved bottom, asphalt approach roads either side. I have been there possible six or seven times, and only on two occasions have I dared take my road car across. One of the great fords. (Image 1 & mouseover in flood, Image 2 sent in by John Mackenzie, 01/08/2005 shows the fantastic new footbridge installed, Image 3 shows the ford in great condition)'

Sent in by John Page (11/02/2003)
'Did track down another ford I had heard of in the area though where a Burn and the road go under the same narrow railway bridge. Normally there would only be a couple of inches of water but as you can see form the photos and video there was over a foot of water going through. The stream runs over a 5ft waterfall about 10 feet after coming through the bridge. With it being very narrow there is a risk in the current of bouncing off the bridge. There is also a ledge/footpath under the bridge with a handrail (Image 4).'





Fornighty
NH933510 (3*) Suitable for All
Sent in by John Brown (20/09/2004)

'Excellent ford with roughish gravel bottom, normally about 6" deep (but rises quickly after rain), 2-3 car lengths across, used from time to time on LE JOG classic car trial. Ford signs on approach roads, footbridge about 10yds upstream (to R in image), small rustic depth gauge. The image shows it being tackled when a little deeper than normal in my 1920 Vauxhall 30-98.'





Garrogie Lodge
NH523114 (2*) Off-Roaders Only!





Glen Glass
NH548678 (1*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Jonathan Gray (25/01/2006)

'No sign of recent traffic and the access track from the Cnoc a Mhargadaidh side is very overgrown. There is about a two foot drop on this side into the river, and on the opposite side there is a newly constructed track from the Glen Glass road to a river control put in by the Scottish Water.'





Golspie
NC839001 (3*) Suitable for All
Sent in by Alan Esam (14/09/2010)

'It is located at Duke Street, Golspie, Sutherland. There is a drop off the edge of the concrete bed of just a few inches on one side but of a couple of feet on the other, down stream, side. The depth was just an inch or two despite all the streams and watercourses in the area running well following a rainy spell.'







Greinetobh Tidal Crossing
NF819757 (2*) Tidal
Sent in by Jonathan Gurney (27/12/2008)

'A tidal route running along just below the HWM of a beach, providing access to a cluster of farm buildings.

There is no physical sign of the trackway except for the first 200m at the Southern end, where it is visible as a worn path through the salt-margin vegetation. There is non-motorised public access to the beach but motor vehicles are prohibited beyond the car park just before the HWM.'







Holm of Grimbister Causeway
ST377013 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Nicholas Woollett (18/09/2006)

'We could see from our chalet the tide gradually covering the gate but leaving the top third free of water. Access is not restricted but only suitable for 4x4 or farm vehicles. It is about 250 yds long.'


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Inchvuilt (x2!)

NH226390 Image Wanted!
NH230387 Image Wanted!







Keppernach
NH913479 (1*) Irish Bridge
Sent in by Sue Page (Image 1: 29/04/2003) and Sebastian Matthies (Image 2: 11/06/2007)

'Old cobbled ford visible but not accessible, replaced by concrete [irish] bridge. Depth gauge visible in Image 1.'


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Kernsary
NG901792 Image Wanted!

www.geograph.org.uk





Laggan
NN598938 (3*) Off-Roaders Only!
Sent in by Tim Oliver (27/11/2004)

'There are 2 locations to start the crossing on the south bank which exit at a single track on the north bank. The river can flow very quickly here if it is in spat and crossing would not be advisable, in most cases though the river runs quite gentle over a very stoney bottom. This ford forms part of the General Wade's Military road that passes over the Coire Yarrick Pass between Laggan and Fort Augustus (which see for its fords). Suitable for any 4x4 but not for ordinary road cars and appears to be in regular use by the local farmer. '


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Langwell
NC418011 Image Wanted!


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Lochailort
NM770828 Image Wanted!


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Milton of Kilravock
NH838508 Image Wanted!





Oronsay Tidal Crossing
NR370902 (3*) Tidal
Sent in by Mike Shields (06/04/2014)

'A local Farmer crossing the sand flats at Low tide.'

http://www.worldtour-of-scotland.com/
http://www.camemora.freeola.net/15.htm



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Plockton Tidal Road
NG805336 Tidal
Sent in by Neil Watterson

'Just watching a re-run of Hamish Macbeth on TV and spotted a ford in Plockton (used as Lochdubh in the TV series). It's a tidal road that runs to what was the police house. The ford is shown on OS maps, aerial photos and on images from the Google Street View car (which shows there is a raised footpath to the side), but I've no idea whether there is any public access.'





Sanday
NG271046 (1*) Tidal
Sent in by John Hatley (21/08/2007)

'The road/track from the bridge to Canna follows the northern shore of the island & crosses the tidal foreshore for a short distance.'





Strath Rory
NH675774 (2*) Restricted Access
Sent in by John Brown (14/10/2004)

'There's a ford on a Forest Enterprise road marked on the OS Landranger map, but erosion has left the north bank as a near-vertical eighteen-inch cliff. However, that is clearly not stopping some 4x4 use, to judge from recent tyre marks! From the nearby B9746, the beautiful Struie road from Evanton to Bonar Bridge, it's a pleasant walk down to the ford - the Forestry sign says "visitors welcome".'





Traigh Bhalaigh Tidal Crossing
NF781748 (2*) Tidal
Sent in by Jonathan Gurney (22/08/2007)

'The main access to Bhalaigh island is by crossing the Traigh Bhalaigh sand flats at low tide. Although a trackway is shown on the OS, there is no physical roadway over the sand - a stony trackway runs from the A865 to the high water mark and it is then possible to drive or ride anywhere over the sand flats, after fording a freshwater stream which flows roughly parallel to and just below the HWM (10-20cm deep at low tide). To reach the island's slipway, follow the route as shown on the OS: due North for 1 mile, then NNW for another mile, passing some small islets to your left.

Local people often drive all over the sandflats to dig for sandworms as fishing bait or to collect shellfish, so do not treat tyremarks as a guide to the route.

The sand is firm and mainly flat. In some places there may be a thin covering of soft sand over the firm sand. However, always be aware of the possibility of soft areas developing, esp. near protruding rocks where wave action may excavate hollows and then these fill with loose sand.

The sandflats are virtually flat so the tide does not creep up as on a sloping beach: it comes in very quickly. Check the tides before venturing out far from shore, esp. as the stream running parallel to the HWM means that the deepest point is just before regaining dry land. If caught, it is possible to use Bhalaigh island or one of the islets for shelter (the islets are each big enough to drive a vehicle onto) but being stuck there for several hours could be uncomfortable.

There is public access to the sandflats in motor vehicles. Bhalaigh island itself is private but there is public access to uncultivated parts of it on foot, horse or cycle. '









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