A challenging circuit incorporating the ruins of the cleared village of Hallaig, made famous through the poetry of Sorley Maclean.
Summary
Mixture of minor road, track, small paths and pathless moorland with some hill climbing.
Terrain
NG555342
Grid ref
15.5km/9.5 miles
Distance
Grade
East Suisnish pier, Raasay.
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The ferry to Raasay sails from Sconser to East Suisnish several times a day (only one Sunday sailing). Sconser is served by
buses between Portree, Broadford and Kyleakin. Both the ferry times and bus times are in the timetable.
Open Traveline Scotland
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Pronunciation
and meaning
1. From the ferry terminal turn right and follow the road to Eyre. After the last house on the right take a right turning onto a green track between fencing. Follow this track for 100 metres until you can turn right onto the foreshore. At the shore turn left and walk along the multi-coloured pebbles towards the houses visible at North Fearns. At high tide and where the woods come right down to the shore you can take a small path through the woods.
2. Cross the stream between two wooden huts on the beach and head up behind the second hut to follow a grassy path which heads up towards the houses, emerging on the road just beyond the last house on the seaward side of the road. Turn right and follow the road past the last house and a footpath sign for Hallaig. The road becomes a track and follows the coastline on the ancient built path to Hallaig. There are excellent views of the Crowlin Islands and Applecross in good weather.
3. The path narrows and climbs gently uphill. Just beyond the corner, under an impressive cliff, there is a cairn memorial to Sorley Maclean, Raasay's famous poet, with a copy of his poem, Hallaig, in both Gaelic and English. A few steps further and there are the remains of a few houses. The path continues and enters a birch wood. From the wood, head uphill and inland towards the top of a large stone-walled enclosure and the remains of the houses of Hallaig.
4. When leaving Hallaig take the raised path at the back of the large and best preserved house in front of the stone enclosure. This indistinct path skirts the birchwood and crosses two small streams heading towards Beinn na Leac. When you reach the top of the wood head across the final stream and steeply uphill over heather towards a wide rocky ledge. When you reach this point you should see a faint path heading both left and right. Turn right, away from the sea, and follow the ledge uphill as it traverses the lower slope of Beinn na Leac.
5. Keep following the path as it heads for a low pass and then onto more open ground. A faint path remains on the bottom of the left hand slope or you can walk on the open ground which is sometimes boggy. When the path reaches the top of the descent towards the road there are good views to the Red Hills above Sconser and the Cuillin. The path descends following the stream across uneven ground. When the road comes into sight head slightly to the right aiming to emerge on the road near a picnic bench on the far side.
6. Turn right and follow the road until you reach the disused mine workings and the path to Dun Caan on the right. Here take the path to the left which follows the disused mine railway all the way back to Suishnish pier. On the way you will see the remains of a viaduct crossing a deep ravine and the iron mine workings. The railway has good views of Inverarish, the main village on Raasay and also across to the Braes on Skye. The final descent to the road has a view of the pier so you know whether you need to hurry for the ferry and after climbing a stile you turn left to return to the ferry terminal.
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