Cnoc a'Mhadaidh Ruaidh, Kyleakin

This short walk follows the Anavig Trail climbs through mixed woodland above the edge of Kyleakin. There are superb views over the Skye Bridge, Kyleakin, the Cuillin and distant Trotternish, more than making up for the massive nearby quarry works that mar the coast below.

Terrain

Clear waymarked footpaths through the woods, waymarked in red.

Public Transport

Kyleakin is well served by buses.

Start

Layby on Old Kyle Farm Road, Kyleakin. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Old Kyle Farm Road is the minor road heading south from the Skye Bridge roundabout on the edge of Kyleakin. There is a layby on the right a short distance along the road before the first house; the walk begins from here, where there is an information board. Follow the gravel path that starts between the two boulders and climbs through into native woodland, soon crossing a small wooden bridge.

Stage 2

Soon the views really begin to improve, first towards the flat-topped summit of Dùn Caan on the Isle of Raasay, and then back over the steep hump of the Skye bridge and over Kyleakin.

Stage 3

After a climb a fork is reached where a rocky path leads off right; this is used on the return route so ignore it for now. Continue ahead on the main path, ignoring a blue waymarked path which turns off to the left. The path then reaches a clear section near the summit of Cnoc a'Mhadaidh Ruaidh (the hill of the red fox). The views are simply superb. Applecross is visible on the mainland, with the long outline of Raasay to its left, and the distant Storr in Trotternish is visible beyond.

Stage 4

However perhaps the dominant feature are the steep but rounded outlines of the Red Hills, with the spikier Cuillin peaking out over them in places; the path heads this way, eventually curving left.

Stage 5

Soon the path reaches a bench backed by a view of the Kylerhea Hills. Continue to reach a path junction. The easiest way back from here is to turn left on the blue route which soon loops back to the outward route. Otherwise, turn right to keep following the red route; this path descends gradually around the north side of the hill across a felled area, eventually swinging back to return across the hillside at a lower level. There are views through birchwoods to the industrial buildings comprising a massive fish feed plant.

Stage 6

The path crosses a wooden bridge and climbs once more to reach an area of more open, native woodland. At one point the path climbs a rocky slab, but this can be bypassed using a route off to the left. Once again there are views ahead of Kyleakin and the Skye Bridge, now from a new angle. Eventually the outward route is rejoined; continue ahead and follow the path back down to the start.

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