It’s one of the most popular short walks on Skye – to a beach of white coral-like material (not true coral but calcified algae, it would appear – does it matter?), eye-catching on any day and brilliant in sunshine. We joined the throng for the mile or so to the coral (it’s the second white beach – there’s a very small imitation part-way which could fool the uninformed), admiring once again the floral variety beside the path and on the rocks. As well as being peak orchid season, there are also great clumps of thrift catching the breeze. It’s very pleasant despite the crowds (there must have been a dozen or more…), and beyond the beach, a path threads the shore to the end of the promontory, a much quieter place from which to gaze on the view to Isay and the outer isles.

An afternoon which began with mist on the hills, clearing to bright warm sunshine later. There’s a long-established path at Staffin, running from the Columba 1400 car park over the hill to the sea. Descending towards the shore, the age of the path is evident in the well-laid stone blocks forming the surface. It leads to the slipway; our route deviates across slightly marshy ground (pick the way fairly carefully and feet will remain dry) to the saltings and, beyond, some comfortable rocks – a great spot for watching the waves. It’s a scenic route too – super views back to the Trotternish hills as we ascend, with the sea and the mainland ahead once we’ve topped the ridge. As ever at this time of year on Skye, orchids and other wild flowers abound.

We’ve been here before – it’s a wonderfully quiet walk through some superb coastal scenery to what is not quite the most northerly tip of Skye (the northernmost point, by about 200 yards, is Rubha Hunish, a mile or two to the west). There’s space for a few cars at Port Gobhlaig, and a way across grass to low cliffs above rocky inlets, an arch and a stack, home to numerous seabirds. An old way then descends to the rocky shore, backed by sheep-grazed grassland. It was busy today – we saw (briefly) two other walkers and (even more briefly) an angler. About a mile offshore is the uninhabited Eilean Trodday. In the distance are the hills of Lewis. In the sea, there’s a small yacht (motoring – there’s barely a breeze), a distant tanker, and a fishing boat which struggles against the strong tidal flow. It’s a great place – must return again

25 August: over the hill from Columba 1400 to the shore south of the slip. Great rocks – and some super little corners for sitting and watching the tide going out.

24 August: a walk to the summit of Ben Tianavaig, a prominent ridge with a small rocky summit overlooking Portree harbour. It’s no great height – 1352′ (413m) but is a superb viewpoint. The route follows the ridge to the summit and beyond, descending by the steep valley below to the shore. The path is clear enough, but needs care in places… An excellent outing – one of those unusual hills whose total descent seems to exceed the ascent…

The route is described here http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/bentianavaig.shtml; here’s a Google map

Evening light

Camus Mor and nearby:

22 August ctd: an afternoon walk at Dunvegan – it’s described as the “two churches” walk, from the old ruin on the hill, across the moor and back through the forest to the new(er) church opposite the shore. A short detour takes in the Millennium Monument, a standing stone erected by human effort. Afterward, we drove down the shore beyond the castle, where seals bask on the many islands in Loch Dunvegan.

The light in the evening was too good to ignore – just right for a walk along the road through Kilmuir.

Dunvegan Two Churches Walk – we did it anticlockwise, starting from the lay-by near the old church

22 August: a beautiful bright, clear, sunny morning on Skye – perfect for a walk along airy clifftops with superb views to Lewis and Harris. It would be a good walk even if there wasn’t a cave of gold – the Uamh Oir – at the far end. The guide books say it’s inaccessible, as was the case today, but many years ago, at a low spring tide, we managed to get inside, to scramble along slippery rocks and retrieve the gold. So don’t bother trying…

A circular route would be perfectly possible, but further outings were planned for this fine day, and the most scenic route is to retrace one’s steps.