An easy walk through woodland and open moor with good views on the later sections.
Good paths; fainter up to the Millenium Stone.
Bus 56 from Portree four times a day.
Car park at the Duirinish Church of Scotland, Dunvegan village.
Park at the Duirinish Church of Scotland in Dunvegan village, on the road towards the castle. The walk starts through gate to the left of the church; there is an information board giving details of the route. At first the route leads through a dense forestry plantation.
Further on the path narrows and the woodland becomes mixed and open. There are many wild flowers here in spring and summer, and occasional glimpses of view over Loch Dunvegan. After some distance, an unmarked T junction is reached with a larger path. Turn right, heading uphill. The path climbs up to the edge of the woods and, passing through a gate, reaches the open moor.
As the path begins to descend look for a pedestrian gate in the fence on the right - there's a prominent standing stone on the hill beyond. Pass through the gate and head for the stone. The stone is a commanding viewpoint for Dunvegan village and miles around, but it is not a prehistoric monument. Instead, it was erected on midsummer's day 2000 by the villagers of Dunvegan, using only hand power and ropes. As the stone is fifteen feet high and weighs five tons, this was an impressive feat, and presumably used the same techniques as would have been used to build stone circles thousands of years ago.
There are excellent views of Macleods Tables, and the distant Cuillin ridge. Head downhill on a faint grassy path towards the ruined church in view.
The path passes just to the right of St Mary's Church, which dates to before the reformation, to reach the road. Turn right on the road (crossing over for the pavement), and right again at the T junction to return to the current church and the start.
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