Scenic forest trail waymarked by the National Trust; a mix of different woodland with good views in places.
Summary
Waymarked path throughout; a fair amount of ascent is involved and the (excellent) path crosses steep slopes if the complete red route is taken.
Terrain
Users'
rating
Balmacara is one kilometer off the A87(T) which is served by Citilink buses.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Park in the car park at the south end of Balmacara Square. This is a picturesque spot with several old cottages around a village pond. Part of the old stable block is a National Trust interpretative centre. The walk begins along the road south towards Reraig - there is a Forest Walks sign by the car park. After a very short distance along the road, turn left (Forest walk sign with blue mark) - passing through a pedestrian gate and following a path which almost doubles back the way you came. Once it reaches the stream the path bends right, and then enters a recently felled area of forest through a gate.
2. The path soon begins to climb and after a particularly steep final section emerges on a forestry track. Turn left along the track for a very short distance until another marker post indicates where to turn left again back onto a footpath. This path crosses a wooden bridge and an attractive section follows with some deciduous trees beside the burn before the path recrosses on another bridge. Turn right onto the larger path when reached, and then, when the forest track is reached once more, continue straight across onto another path (forestry marker posts throughout).
3. The path continues to gain height through the trees. Soon it reaches a fork; if you wish to shorten the route, bear right on the 'blue' waymarked route which avoids the steep slopes of the 'red' route. Otherwise, bear left and continue on the 'red' trail which climbs gently across the slopes. The slopes steepen considerably and the very fine path leads across them with good views of Loch Alsh. The path doglegs slightly right at one point before continuing to ascend alongside an old moss-grown drystone wall.
4. The path soon begins to descend across steep ground, and turns sharp right at one point to continue its descent through beautiful woodland. At the foot of the slope it reaches another path at a 'T' junction - turn right here (red waymarker posts). Ignore a path off to the right, instead continuing with the marker posts to the small village of Reraig. The path passes round the left side of the garden of the first house before reaching the road. Continue along the road, keeping right at the junction with another road.
5. Shortly after this and before the last bungalow fork left onto a path once more, still following the marker posts. Ignore another path which goes off left to the main road and instead continue on the 'red' trail. The path now crosses more open ground with fine views across Loch Alsh to Skye. At the junction, the main 'red' trail continues left. If you wish to visit the viewpoint marked on the OS Map, turn right here along the 'blue' trail for a short detour before returning to this junction (this is where you come out if you took the short-cut earlier).
6. Otherwise, continue along the 'red' trail, which really has equally good views, both behind, across to the Skye bridge and the Cuillin, or down the narrows that separate Skye from Lochalsh. After a short distance you will reach the Balmacara road. Do not follow the marker posts leading through the gate opposite (this way leads to the campsite, but instead turn right up the road to return to Balmacara Square.
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Route profile
