The Hoe and Waterstein Head

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An excellent walk along dramatic coastline, visiting the top of three great coastal cliffs.

Terrain

Mixture of pathless boggy ground and cliff-top walking on excellent short-cropped grass

Public Transport

None to start. Nearest regular bus stop (bus 56) is Glendale - 6km away.

Start

End of minor road to Ramasaig. Map and directions.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Essentials page for basic information on the skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

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Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Walk Statistics

Distance: 16km / 10 miles
Time (summer conditions): 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 660m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG165441

Maps / GPS

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Take the minor road off the B884 after Glendale, signposted 'Ramasaig'. The road is very rough and needs care to drive; park near the cottage at the end of the road. Begin the walk by following the track which is its continuation past the agricultural buildings and through a couple of gates. Part of the track is usually badly churned up by cows - you may need to bypass this section to the right.

Stage 2

Continue along the track for just over two kilometres until just before a gate where it begins to descend towards Lorgill below. Lorgill - like Ramasaig - was an abandoned village that was cleared in 1830 and its residents forced to board a ship to Nova Scotia. Leave the track and aim SW up pathless and boggy moorland slopes towards the Hoe. You may be able to follow faint ATV tracks which help the hard going in places.

Stage 3

Eventually the edge of the coastal cliffs above Hoe Point are approached, and there are stunning views south along the coast, with Macleod's Maidens visible and the distant Cuillin beyond.

Stage 4

Turn right and begin the clifftop walk. The going is much drier and the walk northwards has sensational views down the cliffs; there is also a faint path.

Stage 5

At Hoe Rape the grassy clifftop extends to a dramatic promontory. After Hoe Rape begin a long, grassy descent to Ramasaig Bay.

Stage 6

The next two great precipices - Ramasaig Cliff and Waterstein Head - dominate the view ahead. Cross the stream at the bottom of the slope and then head through a gateway in the fence before turning left to continue the walk on the landward side. Continue until a second stream crossing, and then keep by the fence for the steep but ascent towards the next great cliff. At one point there is a double fence running inland across the route; climb this carefully where it meets the coastal fence - a strand of barbed wire has been omitted to help.

Stage 7

The top of Ramasaig Cliff is equally fine as the Hoe, and from the top of the cliff the view across Moonen Bay to Waterstein Head is truly magnificent; the Moonen burn cascades in a great waterfall part way along although this can be hard to see from the fenceline. Continue on the landward side of the clifftop fence, which detours slightly inland to cross the Moonen burn. It then begins the grassy ascent to Waterstein Head itself - the highest of the three great headlands on the walk.

Stage 8

The summit is marked by a trig point and is one of the highest cliffs on the Skye coast. There is a turn in the cliff face here as the cliffs turn northeast away from the edge of the sea, giving Waterstein Head the feel of a real summit. There are stunning views all around, with the view down to Neist Point (which looks tiny from here) and back across Moonen Bay being especially fine.

Stage 9

When you've absorbed the views, retrace your steps back along the coast for half a kilometre before following a grassy ATV track that continues southeast to meet a gate in a fence at the dip before Beinn na Coinnich. Pass through the gate and then keep round the left side of this hill, aiming to reach the summit of the Ramasaig road. Turn right along the road to return to the start at Ramasaig.

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