An excellent and very varied circular walk from the end of 'Calum's Road' at the northern end of Raasay.
Summary
Clear paths, steep in places. There is one short boggy section.
Terrain
NG594479
Grid ref
5.5km/3.25 miles
Distance
Grade
End of the public road at Arnish.
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1. Take the road up to the northern end of Raasay. Shortly after passing Brochel Castle there is a cairn on the right; this is a memorial to Malcolm MacLeod. Normally known as Calum, he built the road single-handedly from here to its terminus at Arnish, a distance of 2.5 miles, over a period of ten years in an effort to save his community. Continue along the road – marvelling at Calum's efforts as it winds through the harshest landscape you could imagine – to its end where there is space to park. There are a few interesting road signs along the way!
2. Just beyond the parking area an excellent path is signed down to the left. Take this path as it winds round the hillside through the birchwoods to pass through a gate. There is a short paved section where the path climbs slightly, with magnificent views across the bay to the left and over towards the Storr on Skye. The path passes round the back of the restored white house where it forks. Take the left fork (signed 'Fladda') which passes in front of some stone outbuildings.
3. The path now passes above another holiday home before heading through a depression ahead. Beyond, the brilliant construction work that making this route involved is clear as it crosses a steep rocky hillside across a terrace painstakingly built by stone. The path then slopes downhill towards the island of Fladda seen ahead, dotted with old houses.
4. The island of Fladda can be reached at low tide via a seaweed-strewn natural causeway (if crossing too it, be sure not to get trapped by the tides), but to continue the circuit look out for a path (waymarked) which climbs off to the right before you've descended down to the sea. This is a rougher path and it ascends steeply, giving great views back over Fladda to Skye beyond. Once it levels off the path crosses a boggy area; this section was originally built up with turfs but has become quite soggy in places. Soon it reaches another waymarked junction; the left fork leads to the northernmost part of Raasay, overlooking Rona – but that's a long walk, so turn right.
5. The path passes between a high cliff on the left and a lochan on the right. The rocks here are Lewissian Gneiss, amongst the oldest rocks in the world. Cross the stile and soon the path begins to descend back into the birchwoods. It emerges at the junction behind the white house passed earlier. Turn left to retrace the outward route to the start.
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