This relatively gentle walk leads to the remains of the deserted village of Screapadal. This peaceful spot has impressive views over to Applecross. The return route gives the chance to see the ruins of Brochel castle.
Clear tracks and paths.
None to start.
There is room to park on the north road near the start of the track to Screapadal, just before Brochel.
From the small parking area on the left side of the road as you head north (which is signed for the North Pole in Inverarish!) cross the road and take the signed track to the right. Go through the gate and head downhill on the track. Soon you pass the remains of a crofthouse on the right. Continue downhill, zig-zagging on the steeper section with good views over the sea ahead.
The track turns to the right and levels off, continue straight ahead, ignoring the turning to the left that leads down to the pebbly shore and a small jetty. The steep and bare cliffs of Creag na Bruaich are clearly visible up ahead, these are favourite crags for birds of prey and crows. The track narrows to a path but is marked with occasional green marker posts. Soon it crosses a footbridge over a ravine.
The green sward of Screapadal comes into clear view ahead. Keep following the path until you reach a gate. Pass through this, then follow the path as it crosses a small burn and then continues round above a wooden shed. When the path begins to fade out leave it and head uphill over grassy ground to reach the ruins of the houses of South Screapadal. You can explore the ruins and get good views of North Screapadal (on the hillside on the opposite side of the burn) here before heading down to rejoin the path by the mast and the wooden shed.
Screapadal was the subject of a Gaelic poem by Raasay-born Sorley Maclean. In the poem he describes the beauty of Screapadal and how the clearances left the township deserted except for sheep but that the beauty could not be destroyed by one landlord's efforts. He then describes the black sleek back of a submarine rising from its base at Applecross and muses about the threat of nuclear destruction that would leave Screapadal without even beauty.
Once you have explored the area, retrace your steps along the outward route, again crossing the wooden bridge at the stream. When the track begins to climb uphill with the first zig-zag left leave it and take a path to the right amidst the tree stumps. Follow this boggy path as it climbs uphill and around the headland. The path is not waymarked and can be indistinct and wet in places. Castle Brochel is visible through the remaining birch trees. Keep following the path as it keeps to a stony ledge and then heads downhill towards a gate in the fence. Go through the gate to emerge on the road.
From here you can head right downhill and along the road for 100 metres to get a better view of Brochel Castle. Built in the late 15th or early 16th century by Raasay's first Macleod chief, Calum, the castle is built on a volcanic plug. It provided a strategic stronghold to control (and plunder) shipping on the Sound. Today much of the masonry has eroded, however the full structure would have had four, high, towers and would have presented an impregnable wall towards the sea. Turn back and head up the road back to the parking area and the start of the walk.
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