Staffin slipway and An Corran beach circuit

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A short walk on well defined paths and minor roads exploring the crofting village of Staffin and its coast.

Terrain

Well defined paths and minor roads. Path down to slipway may be slippery in descent.

Public Transport

Bus number 57; four times a day from Portree. Get off at the Columba centre, Staffin.

Start

Columba Centre car park, Staffin. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Staffin is a traditional crofting community scattered around a lovely bay. It remains a stronghold of the Gaelic language. Park in the car park at Columba 1400, a community and leadership training centre providing courses for disadvantaged young people and businesses across the UK. It also houses an excellent cafe, and serves evening meals most nights. The walk starts up the steep gravel track signed for An Corran. After the short gravel section turn right to pass above the playing field - this section is often very muddy. Then head to the left uphill alongside the stone wall. This field was part of the glebe land of the Free Church of Scotland and was traditionally worked by the community to provide upkeep for the church and minister.

Stage 2

After crossing the stile the path continues over the moor until reaching the start of a steep zig zagging descent to Staffin slipway seen below. There are the remains of an iron-age chambered cairn just to the left of the path. Looking back there are great views of the whole Trotternish ridge from the Storr to the Quiraing. Follow the path down to the shore, taking care as the stones on the top section can be slippery when wet; the lower section has recently (2019) been repaired by bus tour drivers in collaboration with the Staffin Trust.

Stage 3

It is worth venturing out onto the Slipway; boat trips for both wildlife and fishing operate from here during the summer months. On clear days there are grand views over to the mountains on the mainland, with the domed summit of Ben Alligin and the square fortress of Slioch prominent; the houses of Gairloch and the beaches at Red Point are also sometimes visible. After exploring the slipway head left along the coast road. The small, flat island on the right is Staffin Island; the house and poles were once part of a salmon netting station. These days the island is still used for grazing cattle in the winter, the beasts swim across from the beach.

Stage 4

At the lay-by head down a ramp to explore the small sandy beach at An Corran. At low tide fossilised dinosaur footprints are exposed to the right of the large boulders on the flat mud stone. These are sometimes obscured by sand. The footprints belong to the three-toed Hadrosaur, a carnivore which lived 170 million years ago. More recently the land above the beach was the site of an important mesolithic community. Stone tools made here have been found in Applecross and other ancient sites. The site is now buried under the road.

Stage 5

Return to the coast road and follow it past a single house with a particularly wonderful outlook to the Quiraing across the width of Staffin's wide bay. Continue along the tarmac, heading over the cattle grid towards the bridge over the Stenscholl river.

Stage 6

The river, and its outflow into the sea, are good places to look for otters. Cross the bridge and keep left at the junction, following the road up the hill to a T junction with the main road. Turn left to return to Columba 1400 passing Staffin Stores on the right.

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