Loch Cuithir and Diatomite railway

Summary

The walk starts with a fabulous viewpoint over the Lealt gorge and is a gentle walk to a picturesque loch with impressive views of the Trotternish ridge. Plenty of historical interest from the remains of the diatomite railway.

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Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Tarmac lane, then vehicle track with optional section on disused railway with some boggy patches.

Getting there

Start

Lealt viewpoint car park on A855 at Inver Tote.

Public Transport

Bus number 57 - 4 times a day from Portree - get off near Lealt falls car park.

Start Grid Ref

NG516604

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 11km / 6.75 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Ascent: 172m (Profile)

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Explorer 408 - Trotternish

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

Park at the layby and car park above the Lealt river on the A855 road, on the right hand side when heading from Portree to Staffin (there is further car parking under a barrier at the far end). It's worth exploring the viewing platform which projects out over the Lealt gorge and its waterfalls before starting the walk. For the route proper, cross the road and take the minor road off on the opposite side slightly up the hill - signed for Lealt. This road becomes a track after a kilometre; follow the track west passing the clear remains of lazy beds in the left hand fields. Pass 3 concrete posts and continue on the track as it slopes downhill and nears the Lealt river.

Stage 2

After just over 2 km of track look out on the left side for where the diatomite railway once ran. You can cross the ditch to follow the route of the now lost railway - mostly a grassy bank - but it is now boggy in places. Alternatively you can simply stay on the track to Loch Cuithir. The route of the railway is easy to follow once picked up; bits of track are still visible where bridges over small burns are now missing. The railway climbs before descending to reach a larger burn with the track visible to the right. Cross the stream and continue west across peat hags alongside another stream until a bridge enables you to reach the track at the end of Loch Cuithir.

Stage 3

There are dramatic views of Sgùrr a'Mhadaidh Ruaidh (Peak of the Red Fox) and Loch Cuithir itself makes a good picnic spot. Just over 100 years ago this was an industrial site with diatomite being extracted from the base of the loch and transported to Invertote via the railway. Diatomite is a fossilised shell substance that, once processed, has many uses from toothpaste to dynamite. The railway was built in 1887 and was initially powered by men and gravity although a locomotive was later used. Once the diatomite had been extracted from the loch bed it was dried on wire nets and then transported on the railway to storehouses at Invertote.

Stage 4

At the base of the cliffs at Invertote there was a drying and grinding factory where the diatomite was kiln dried, ground and roasted before being shipped out by sea. The remains of these industrial buildings can be seen on the Lealt Falls walk. From Loch Cuithir return along the track to the parking spot at Lealt.

Stage 5

From the parking layby, it is worth making a short walk along the well made path from the top end; it soon leads to a viewpoint on the coast, where the Diatomite works can be seen far below. It is possible to descend further from here and enter the bottom of the Lealt falls canyon, where there is a fine waterfall, but this is steep.

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