This walk climbs through woods to head under an escarpment to reach the remains of a cleared village. From here you can either take a rough short section to the road and return by road, or return the same way with excellent views of Bla Bheinn, and the coast across Loch Slapin. The walk is very wet underfoot, waterproof boots or wellies recommended.
Summary
Path, faint and very boggy in places.
Terrain
Car park off B8083 road near Loch Slapin
[Map of start point, satnav coords and directions]
Start
Maps
Users'
rating
Bus 50B and Post Bus from Portree and Broadford. Get off at car park near the bridge
over the Allt na Dunaiche.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. The car park is opposite Torrin on the far side of Loch Slapin and has a green sign. It is also the parking for the ascent of Bla Bheinn. From the information board near the cattle grid take the path to the stream and cross this on the bridge and then head steeply uphill on a track through trees. This land is now part of a large estate owned by the conservation charity the John Muir Trust. The Trust is currently slowly changing the conifer plantations here so that they will support a wider range of trees and wildlife.
2. As the path climbs, Loch Slapin comes into view below and the rounded Broadford Red Hills can be seen across the water. The crofting townships of Torrin and Kilbride are directly opposite on the far side of Loch Slapin.
3. After the trees are left behind there is a great view of Bla Bheinn, the Cuillin peak which is not part of the main ridge but looks across at the rest of the Black Cuillin, a popular climb as it is not as difficult or exposed as some of the other Cuillin peaks. Continue along the path, with the long escarpment of An Carnach looming on the right. Go through a kissing gate in the deer fence.
4. On the open moor section the path dips to cross a stream on stepping stones and then the path curves round to the left and continues on a fainter path which is very wet underfoot. Eventually it reaches the edge of the conifer plantation, keep just to the edge of it.
5. After a rise, the path dips to reach a fence and stile. Climb the stile to explore the remains of some of the houses, there are more amongst the trees. This township, known as Ceapach in Gaelic, once supported over 50 families who grew crops in ridge and furrow lazy beds, kept cattle and cut peat for fuel. In 1852 the landlord evicted 44 families, many of whom were forced to emigrate to Australia. By 1875 there was no-one left living here.
6. From here you have a choice. To return by the road, continue down the highest section of land from the ruins to descend a pathless section to reach the road where you turn left to return to the car park. You can also reach the road by going back over the stile and following the rough path by the fence, but this is very boggy in places and has some wind blown trees to get round. The more pleasant route is to return on the same outward path, taking care to find the path where it curves right to cross the stream on the open section of ground. There are good views back to the steep peak of Beinn na Cro at the far end of Loch Slapin.
Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing?
Please let us know by using the error report form.
Route profile
