Last week we had a lovely walk down Edinbane Old Road. It was lovely until the rain came and we got drenched! That said it is an excellent surface for everyone to use, probably better than the current road that vehicles use every day. With that in mind it would be safe and accessible for wheelchairs, pushchairs, dog walkers, kids scooters and walkers alike.
Location of Edinbane Old Road
The road runs alongside the current A850 west of Edinbane towards Dunvegan. It is on the loch side of the current road, often hidden from view. We parked in a small entrance to the road just after the Greshornish turn off. If you were travelling from Dunvegan towards Portree it is on the left. If you are travelling from Portree towards Dunvegan it is on the right after the parking area once you are out of Edinbane. There is no sign so don’t worry if you miss it just turn around and try again. Park sensibly, not blocking the entrance or exit so other users can also have access. There is no access to the old road from the large parking area off the A850.
The Old Road
The Edinbane Old Road is separated from the current road by shrubbery and in places a fairly deep banking making it nice and safe. As no vehicles currently use the road with maybe the exception of crofters moving livestock it is in good condition. I think there are more potholes on the new road than on here. It is the width of a single track road and still has all the passing places intact, not that it is busy. We saw one dog walker and a small flock of sheep on the road during our walk.
Sarah used her rollator with great success and no problems. The surface is smooth and easy to navigate. Just one thing to bear in mind, as you walk towards Edinbane it is slightly downhill. So, when you are coming back to the car and a bit tired, it is uphill! This caught us out a little bit, that and the torrential rain that came from nowhere 200 metres from the car. We got soaked! It is also a linear walk, so you have to walk back the same way you went. On the map it shows that this section of old road is about 1.5km/0.9miles long. This would make the round trip 3km/1.8miles. We walked until Sarah thought it was time to turn around and head back.
Despite being quite close to the road it is a very peaceful walk with views over Loch Greshornish. Nature is slowly taking hold of the area and there are lots of wild flowers on the verges which in turn encourage butterflies and dragonflies. Keep your eyes open and you’ll see more than just the local sheep.
There are no public toilets in this area so make sure you use the ones in Dunvegan or Portree before you head out. And there is plenty more to see & do and places to eat & drink in this part of the island making it a good place to pass a day or two, rain or shine.