Revealing how accessible Skye is For All
The walk to Hugh’s Castle or Caisteal Uisdein in Gaelic is a hidden gem on Skye. On the Trotternish Peninsula just south of Uig. This walk is not suitable for wheelchair users due to the terrain near the castle . However it is an easy 3 mile walk with little undulation and fairly good underfoot after rain. Good for gaining a bit of fitness or simply enjoying your surroundings. Off the beaten track and a beautiful spot to find yourself exploring.
The Old Moll Road is a single track road which bypasses the A87 between Sconser and the lower end of Druim na Cleochd. It was always a quiet road on Skye but during a storm in September 2018 a huge chunk of the road was washed away. The road is unlikely to be repaired so it has become a bit of a peaceful walking haven. The landslip is closer to the Druim na Cleochd end so our walk starts at Sconser.
This Glen Varragill Forest Walk follows an old logging track which runs parallel to the A87 Sligachan to Portree. Heading North towards Portree from Sligachan the track starts approximately 4km or 2.5 miles up Glen Varragill on your left. The logging track starts at the A87 and bends down to the River Varragill crossing a bridge. There are a couple of parking spots immediately on your left at the top of the track.
Firstly the walk to Glamaig Waterfalls is not suitable for wheelchair users or rollator users. However it is a rewarding gentle walk of just under 2 km or 1.25 miles in old money! It is on a good path and very easy going. The Glamaig waterfalls walk would be perfect for anyone who is a little unfit or is looking to regain some fitness by starting with some gentle walks. Depending on how fast you walk it will take from about 40 minutes to go there and back. Maybe a little longer if you need to. Even after rain the path is a good surface to walk on, and the waterfall is even more spectacular. Don’t get this walk confused with the Allt Dearg Waterfalls on the opposite side of Glen Sligachan, we’ll cover that another time!
After a very cold snap and some snow on the ground we opted for a short walk by Storr Lochs. We were sheltered from the incoming weather by the Trotternish Ridge and more impressively the Old Man of Storr. This walk is on a tarmac surface so fully accessible for all abilities and wheelchair users if you are happy to cross a cattle grid.
Walking to The Black Lochs above the village of Broadford is relatively simple and very accessible for disabled people of all abilities. The path is essentially the old tarmac surface of the A851 before the road was upgraded and moved slightly. The walk starts just south of Broadford and finishes near the turn off for Drumfearn. A great path for both wheelchair users and runners alike.
After a few days of bad weather here on Skye the forecast broke so we headed out for a walk. To avoid any puddles underfoot we set off for a walk at Kingsburgh Forest Trust. Situated adjacent to the A87 between Portree and Uig.
Portree is the capital of Skye with around 2500 residents. Dividing Portree’s waterfront is the rocky outcrop known as The Lump. Walking up The Lump in Portree will give you gorgeous panoramic views across the harbour, over Loch Portree, north to The Storr, south to The Cuillins and east to Raasay. It is well worth the walk up the steep slope for the views alone.
There is also another path around The Lump in Portree called The Meall or Am Meall to use it’s Gaelic name. However this path caused us a lot of fun and difficulties. We definitely had an afternoon of two halves.
Let’s start with the difficult path, that way we end on a high!
Continue reading “The Lump in Portree”The walk to Allt Dearg House Sligachan starts about half a mile from the Sligachan Hotel on the A863 Dunvegan Road. There is a space on the left hand side of the road for about 6-7 vehicles. Here you can park for free but pay attention not to block the track to Allt Dearg or the main road.
Continue reading “Walk to Allt Dearg House, Sligachan”