Category: Skye

Day’s end

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye2 Comments

Friday 20 September: The rest of the story of yesterday’s remarkable weather… The view from the top of the road, above Uig, was worth a couple of photos. Later in the evening, things became more interesting. I could hear the ferry on its way out to Lochmaddy – the usual distant “pom pom pom pom” of the engines, but also a periodic hoot of the (fog?) horn. As it headed west, it disappeared, but the reassuring “pom pom pom pom” continued long after. An hour or so later, the sun is setting behind Berneray (I think), and mist is gathering in the low-lying ground between my vantage point and the sea.
This morning (21 Sept) it’s foggy again. The forecast says it will clear: fingers crossed!

A Hinnisdal dozen

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye, WalksLeave a comment

…on a remarkable day of mist and sunshine. The former burned away during the morning, but lingered over the sea for the whole day. Plenty of the latter in the forested Glen Hinnisdal, with spiders’ webs highlighted by droplets from the mist and a fine crop of fly agarics just waiting (in a dark little recess of the forest) to be snapped.
More to come on the misty conditions elsewhere, but that’s enough for today…

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Ferry Point once more

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Thursday 19 September: Rubha na h-Aiseig – Skye’s far north again, just a couple of miles east of Rubha Hunish and perhaps two hundred yards further south – another favourite outing. There are some pleasing similarities to yesterday’s walk – not least the fact that there’s no-one else there. An interesting negotiation of a cliff-top route leads to a zig-zag way down (not remotely as exposed or tricky as Rubha Hunish) to the scrubby sheep pastures, where a faint path leads to the northernmost tip. Rubha na h-Aiseig translates as “Ferry Point”: there are remains of former “black houses” tucked in behind a stony shore – was there once a ferry across to the island of Trodday, about a mile offshore?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=143954&Y=875863&A=Y&Z=120

Return to Rubha Hunish

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Wednesday 18 September: It’s the northernmost tip of Skye, accessible only by a very steep and exposed “path” down the cliff face. Lots of people park at the end of the Shulista road and walk along the excellent path to the cliff top, look down and decide to visit the ex-coastguard bothy on top of Meall Tuath instead.  I’ve been to the bothy three times this year, on longer walks where the visit to Rubha Hunish would be too much for a short outing. Today I’m descending! It’s barely a mile from the cliff top to the tip of the island, but a full two hours have elapsed by the time I’m back at the top (I’d have been walking in total darkness on my January and February visits). Skye’s roads are very busy with visitors, but for those two hours, I have the little Hunish peninsula to myself – paradise! That monster cruise liner can hold over 4,000 passengers. I know where I’d rather be on this beautiful sunny day!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=141439&Y=875598&A=Y&Z=120

Dunvannarain and Meall Tuath

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As mentioned in yesterday’s post, Sunday’s weather was much more friendly – bright, some pleasant sunshine, and sufficient breeze to keep the midges away… I’ve walked this circular route a couple of times recently – it’s the first few miles of the Skye Trail, linking the small car park at the Shulista road end with Kilmaluag old churchyard, or Cladh. As there’s space at the former, I’ll start there – and walk the route anti-clockwise, to get the road walk done first (it’s not bad – not much traffic this afternoon).

Once off the road, the walk is very enjoyable, passing the old settlement (now home to lots of rabbits) and cairn at Dunvannarain on its grassy ridge. Soon I’m at the cliff edge, and the coastal scenery is spectacular as far as the bothy (a former coastguard look-out) on Meall Tuath. After the compulsory choc-stop (there’s a perfectly-placed bench), the return to the start is easy and pleasant – a well-trodden way, much improved in recent years, with great views to the western coastline of Trotternish, the sea sparkling in the sunshine.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=142365&Y=875170&A=Y&Z=120

Lenticular

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Skye1 Comment

After several almost sunless days, it’s been a much better day. One result is lots of photos to work through, but they’ll have to wait. Here’s just one taster – a remarkable evening cloudscape at the northern end of Trotternish, with the scattered houses of Bornesketaig in the middle distance.

A Reieval ramble

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It’s no great height – 299m, according to the Ordnance Survey – but it’s high enough on (yet another) windy day. Fortunately there are some comfortable rocks, perfect for a chocolate stop, just to the leeward side of the summit. Before I take to the hill, I’m walking along the road from Uig to the Quiraing. Judging by the number of cars, SUVs, camper vans and minibuses on this narrow road, it will be horribly busy there. Reieval may not be quite so scenic (or well-known), but it’s a great place to sit and survey the scene – and there’s no-one else there.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=139255&Y=864868&A=Y&Z=120