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The Isle of Skye

Walks and scrambles throughout Skye, including the Cuillin

ISBN

9781852847890

Availability

Published

28 Jan 2015

Reprinted

17 Jul 2024

Edition

Fourth

Pages

288

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm

Weight

320g

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Guidebook with 87 walks and scrambles on the Isle of Skye. Walks visit the most awe-inspiring scenery on Skye, including Sleat and south-east Skye, Strath, Minginish, Duirinish, Waternish, Trotternish and the Cuillin. Walks range from coastal walks to Munros with exposure for experienced scramblers. Includes history, geology and local information.

Seasons

the weather is variable but tends to be fairest in May/June and September/October, also the times that midges are less abundant; recently, there has been excellent weather in February and November, too. Go prepared for cold, wind and rain

Centres

Portree, Broadford, Dunvegan, Kyleakin, Uig

Difficulty

almost all of the walking routes covered demand a good level of fitness and ability to travel safely in wild countryside in changeable weather and use map and compass; some of the walks are arduous and demanding; some scrambles (clearly identified) involve exposure and require technical ability

Must See

for scramblers, the famous Cuillin ridge; the outstanding coastal scenery and the wacky pinnacles of Storr and the Quiraing; wilderness in abundance

ISBN

9781852847890

Availability

Published

28 Jan 2015

Reprinted

17 Jul 2024

Edition

Fourth

Pages

288

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm

Weight

320g

Overview

A guidebook to 87 walks and scrambles on the Isle of Skye. Covering the largest island in the Inner Hebrides, the walks are suitable for most walkers, with shorter routes alongside plenty of more challenging, full-day hikes.

The routes range from 2 to 23km (1–15 miles) and can be combined to create longer days out. Eight routes include scrambles, which are clearly indicated in the book.

1:50,000 OS maps are included for each route
Detailed information on facilities, accommodation, history and geology
Easy access from Portree and Broadford
Highlights include routes in the Cuillin and Munro ascents

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

History

Geology

Flora and fauna

How to get there

Facilities and accommodation

Using this guide

Access

Safety

Maps

Paths

Language

Cap parking

1 Sleat and South-east Skye

1.1 Gleann Meadhonach, Loch a’Ghlinne and Dalavil

1.2 Point of Sleat

1.3 Armadale

1.4 Sgurr na Coinnich

1.5 Beinn na Caillich

1.6 Ben Aslak

1.7 Kylerhea Glen Circuit

1.8 Leitir Fura

1.9 Kyle Rhea Trail

2 Strath

Broadford

2.1 Broadford Coast Path (Irishman’s Point)

North of Strath Suardal

2.2 Coire Gorm Horseshoe

2.3 Beinn na Cro

2.4 Srath Mór and Srath Beag

South of Strath Suardal

2.5 Suisnish and Boreraig

Cuillin Outliers

2.6 Bla Bheinn

2.7 Sgurr nan Each

2.8 Garbh-bheinn

2.9 Belig

2.10 Glas Bheinn Mhór

2.11 South Ainort Circular

The Red Hills

2.12 Marsco

2.13 The Beinn Deargs

2.14 Glamaig

2.15 Glen Sligachan

Strathaird Peninsula

2.16 Kilmarie to Camasunary

2.17 Camasunary to Elgol

2.18 Suidhe Biorach (Prince Charles’ Cave)

2.19 Rubha na h-Easgainne

2.20 Spar Cave

3 Minginish

The Cuillin

3.1 Sgurr nan Gillean

3.2 Sgurr Beag and Sgurr na h-Uamha

3.3 Coire a’Bhasteir Am Basteir

3.4 Sgurr a’Bhasteir

3.5 Fionn Choire, Bealach nan Lice and Sgurr a’Fionn Choire

3.6 Bruach na Frithe

3.7 Coire na Creiche

3.8 Coire a’Ghreadaidh

3.9 Sgurr Thuilm, Sgurr a’Mhadaidh and Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh

3.10 Sgurr na Banachdich and Sgurr nan Gobhar

3.11 Eas Mor and Coire na Banachdich

3.12 Sgurr Dearg and Inaccessible Pinnacle

3.13 Coire Lagan

3.14 Sgurr Alasdair

3.15 Coir’ a’Ghrunnda and Loch Coir’ a’Ghrunnda

3.16 The South Cuillin ridge

3.17 Loch an Fhir-bhallaich

3.18 Rubh’ an Dùnain

Glen Sligachan

3.19 Harta and Lota Corries

3.20 Druim Hain and Sgurr na Stri

3.21 Loch Coruisk

Loch Brittle to Loch Bracadale

3.22 Glen Brittle Forest Walk

3.23 Talisker Bay

3.24 Oronsay

4 Duirinish

4.1 Loch Bharcasaig, Idrigill Point and MacLeod’s Maidens

4.2 Glen Ollisdal and MacLeod’s Maidens

4.3 Duirinish Coastal Path

4.4 Healabhal Bheag (MacLeod’s Table South)

4.5 Healabhal Mhor (MacLeod’s Table North)

4.6 Lorgill Bay

4.7 Lorgill, The Hoe and Ramasaig Bay

4.8 Waterstein Head

4.9 Neist Point

4.10 Uiginish Point

4.11 The Coral Beaches

4.12 Lovaig Bay

5 Waternish

5.1 Ard Mòr Sea Arches

5.2 Unish and Waternish Point

5.3 Beinn an Sguirr

5.4 Loch Diubaig and Greshornish Point

6 Trotternish and Portree

Trotternish

6.1 Meall Tuath and Rubha Hunish

6.2 Loch Sneosdal and Creag Sneosdal

6.3 Loch Hasco

6.4 The Quiraing and Meall na Suiramach

6.5 Meall na Suiramach

6.6 The Old Man of Storr

6.7 The Storr

6.8 The Trotternish Ridge

6.9 Biode Buidhe

6.10 Beinn Edra

6.11 Ruadh nam Brathairean (Brothers’ Point)

6.12 Loch Cuithir, Sgurr a’Mhadaidh Ruaidh and Baca Ruadh

6.13 Inver Tote and the Lealt waterfall

6.14 Bearreraig Bay

6.15 Sithean Bhealaich Chumhaing

Portree

6.16 Glen Varrigill Forest Walk

6.17 Ben Tianavaig

6.18 The Braes and Dunan an Aisilidh

Appendix A Further reading

Appendix B Glossary of Gaelic words

Appendix C Useful information and contact details

Updates

June 2017

Corrections

The walks and scrambles in this book are not graded, contrary to the information on the cover.

September 2015

Owing to increasing erosion of the final section of the path, the author has revised the route of Walk 5.1 Ard Mòr Sea Arches (previously entitled 'Ardmore Point').

The full revised route is available to read or download here.

September 2016

Route 1.8, P56 Note on route difficulty

The walk linking Loch na Dal and Kylerhea is a magnificent escape for lovers of solitude, but it is quite possibly the most demanding and strenuous walk in this guide. The path is generally clear at either end, but is easily lost or non-existent in the middle section, where there are numerous unbridged rivers and streams to contend with, two deer fences and dense seasonal overgrowth that makes for difficult going. This is not a walk for solo walkers because of its remoteness and overall difficulty, nor is it a walk for other than the strongest walkers; good navigational skills are also needed, as is a solution to the need to have transport at both ends, and, most certainly, the walk should not be contemplated following a prolonged period of rainfall.

Reviews

[This] is obviously a book compiled by an expert and an enthusiast. It has that superb format of the publisher. including OS maps which give clarity and confidence. The plastic-coated cover provides durability and a comforting tactile sensation. So it, like most of its owners, will be ready to withstand whatever weather is prevalent.

Scottish Islands Explorer magazine

April 2015

The guide is written by Terry Marsh has the whole island comprehensively covered with a variety of walks for all tastes from easy rambles around headlands and peninsulas to the famous Cuillin and everything in between. This would easily be the only hiking guide you would want for the island. The descriptions are detailed and accompanied by an OS 1:50 000 map of your chosen walk. The mapping is accurate enough to use in an emergency but would only cover your route and nothing else. There is a great general description of the route in the blue box at the beginning which has descriptions of interest about the area you are walking in. The guide comes with a hardwearing plastic cover and is a nice compact size.

All in all the Cicerone Isle of Skye guide is a well research and written guide that is a perfect companion for your trip and collection. The author is clearly an expert and shares his knowledge in an easy to read way.

Read the full review on the Climbing Gear Reviews Blog.

By Terry Marsh

Lancashire-born writer and photographer Dr Terry Marsh specialises in the outdoors and travel. He is the author or revision author/editor of over 100 guidebooks, including the award-winning Cicerone guides to the Coast to Coast Walk (first published in 1993), The Shropshire Way (1999) and Great Mountain Days in the Pennines (2013). Terry has a PhD in Historical Geography and is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). He is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), a Life Member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSA (Scot)).

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