Skye Trail 1: Rubha Hunish to Flodigarry

Summary

The trail starts from Skye's most northerly tip, Rubha Hunish, and follows a spectacular but rough section of the coastline, continuing above dramatic cliffs to reach Flodigarry and its hostel. The Lookout bothy is on the route near the start for those with camping gear but there are no shops or cafes on this section. Flodigarry Hotel at the end of the stage has accommodation and meals, whilst the spread out township of Staffin 1.5 - 3km along the A855 has 2 shops, 2 summer cafes serving evening meals, and a campsite but is a long detour.

Grade

Bog Factor

4.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Rough coastal walking, often boggy, the optional descent to the headland includes a short rocky scramble. Cattle and sheep grazing, dogs to be kept under control. There is one burn crossing which could be difficult after heavy rain.

Getting there

Start

Rubha Hunish car park/telephone box, Shulista road end A855 near Kilmaluag.

Public Transport

Bus from Portree to red telephone box at Shulista road end.

Start Grid Ref

NG422742

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Services

There is an MBA Bothy at Rubha Hunish. At Flodigarry there is a hotel but no other facilities.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.3km / 7.75 miles
Time: 5.5 - 6.5 hours
Ascent: 300m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (4)

Stage 1

This Skye long distance trail starts from the most northerly point of the Trotternish peninsula, the dramatic headland of Rubha Hunish. To get here, the easiest route is from the small car park just east of the telephone box at the Shulista road end. From the car park cross the cattle grid and turn immediately left on a path. Follow this path along the edge of the low escarpment, heading NNW. The path continues mostly along the top of the low escarpment. The ruins of the abandoned village of Erisco come into view below to the left, whilst Duntulm castle is prominent on its crag by the sea. The path eventually reaches a kissing gate in a fence.

Stage 2

Take the path to the left (not the eroded path heading straight ahead) and then around the flank of the hill to eventually reach the cliff edge at a dip between higher ground where there is a dramatic view down over the headland of Rubha Hunish. To reach it, go through the 2 stiles on the left side of the dip and head towards the sea to go through the walkers metal gate on the left of a giant boulder sitting close to the cliff edge. This rocky staircase looks alarming from the top but you should be able to see a clear path further down below, and even the first rocky section looks worse than it is. Scramble carefully down the rocks and follow the route which turns towards the right about fifty yards down.

Stage 3

Soon you're off the rocks and following a well made path below the cliffs. The Hunish is well worth exploring for an hour or so and is an excellent place to spot whales and nesting seabirds. There are sea stacks on the west side and the best place for summer whale spotting is the north-east tip where the waters meet. Whether or not you visit the headland, return to the clifftop. Go through the gate and head left/east over two stiles and then uphill to reach the Lookout Bothy - a tiny open shelter maintained by volunteers from the Mountain Bothy Association; This would make an atmospheric first night on the trail - always follow the bothy code and take a tent as the bothy is small and can get full.

Stage 4

From the bothy follow the faint path east along the coast, it is very boggy in places. Follow the cliff, keeping to the right of a fence and dipping down to cross a boggy area and following a path which cuts out the small headland and heads towards the small peak, Ben Volovaig on the horizon. When a fence is reached, cross the stile and turn right to head southeast/inland along a higher piece of ground. Head over some ruins and cross a stile. Keep straight on along a grassy path following waymarker posts before soon bearing right to head through a gap in a stone wall to pick up a grassy track. Bear left along this and eventually a walker's gate next to a cemetery is reached. Go through this to reach the road opposite the ruined St Moluag's church. Continue to the road and turn right along it.

Stage 5

Pass two houses and after the red roofed building on the right go straight ahead through a kissing gate onto a signed path that leads to a footbridge over a burn. Turn left on the far side and continue round the coastline, passing through a kissing gate to head towards a whitewashed crofthouse. Pass to the right of this, over a stile and turn left to reach the road end in Balmaqueen. Do not turn up the road, instead crossing over a stile. Follow the coast, crossing a small burn and at a fence head down to the shore and around the left end of a coastal fence to continue on the seaward side of the fence. Soon the coastline rises and another stile is crossed and the route continues on the seaward side of the fence. take care on the next section as the unprotected cliff edge is right by the route. Continue the walk along the undulating ground just back from the coastal cliffs, at one point passing a track up from an old radar station. As the walk continues along the cliffs, basaltic columns can be seen twisted into strange shapes and also some that have eroded to stand as lonely sea stacks.

Stage 6

Keep following the cliff top. The path is very faint - the going is driest near the cliffs. At one point there is a burn to cross; this can be done with dry feet in good weather but may be tricky in spate. On the far side the fence is crossed by using a stile made from breeze blocks. Now follow the coastal fence line as it heads uphill, keeping to the landward side until a stile is reached. Cross the stile and from here descend a steep grassy rake, taking great care as the cliff edge is nearby. This leads down to a lower level of the cliffs; now simply follow the coastal cliffs. Again, the route is boggy at times.

Stage 7

Look out for a path climbing up on the right along the top of an old grassy dyke. The Dun Flodigarry hostel has closed down, so keep along the coast until a viewpoint marker from which a constructed path heads inland. Turn right along this, crossing a footbridge and passing the Flodigarry Hotel (on your right). The path ends at a track - a right turn leads to the hotel, whereas the trail turns left until it meets a minor road at a cross-roads, then turns left to head up to the main road and bus stop.

Next stage: Flodigarry to the Storr

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