A varied walk with good coastal views and the opportunity to explore the part-restored and roadless village of Smirisary and on to the beautiful white beach opposite Eilean Coille and other small islands.
Summary
Clear track and path to old village of Smirisary and then rough, and sometimes boggy, path to the beach.
Terrain
Take the minor road from the A861 passed the Glen Uig Inn and follow the sign for Smirisary.
Parking at the end of the road.
[Map of start point, satnav coords and directions]
Start
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1. Start at the parking area just before the end of the Smirisary road. Head downhill for a very short distance and turn right through a farm gate following a sign for Smirisary footpath. After the dip the path climbs up passed a house on the right and keeps next to a fence before passing through another farm gate with a sign to keep dogs under control.
2. Keep the fence on your right until you reach a fork in the path where there are good open views of the sea ahead. Turn to the left here, following a, sometimes muddy, path through shrubby undergrowth. The path soon becomes paved and passes through a copse of silver birch trees before emerging at the first two restored houses of Smirisary. The houses which have been restored are lived in part time. Cross the grassy area diagonally to pick up a boardwalk path in the far corner heading towards a white cottage. Before you reach the cottage, the path forks. Turn left following the wooden sign for the sands. The path climbs gently uphill passing a ruined house on the left.
3. Follow the rough path, dodging boggy areas at times, as it skirts along the coast. The path crosses the head of a ravine and small stream and then continues up and down with good views out to sea. After approximately 1 kilometre, the path descends to the beach which can be explored at all tides.
4. The beach looks out over Eilean Coille and a number of other small islands. To the left as you approach the beach the steep side of Sgurr an Teintein on Eilean Shona looks mountainous in the distance. To the left the Small Isles can be seen on a clear day.
5. Return to Smirisary by the same coastal path. Return to the grassy sward by the same boardwalk path and then cross to the far side and turn left to explore the rest of Smirisary. This path passes behind one of the most recently restored houses and then rounds the coast to climb uphill to another cottage. You can detour to the left of the first cottage to explore the part of Smirisary that is right down by the sea.
6. Once passed the final house with small sun porch on the front, turn to the right to go up behind this house. The path goes passed the water tank for the cottage and climbs on a stony path to reach a fence. Keep to the right of the fence and in a short distance you will join the outward route. Keep straight ahead and pass through the farm gate to return to to the road and the parking area.
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