Dunscaith Castle or Dun Sgathaich in Gaelic is a ruined fortification of the Clan MacLeod. The ruins still sit atop a large rock on the edge of Loch Eishort near the small township of Tokavaig. It is a short walk to Dunscaith Castle, approximately 2km or 1.25 miles in all and the views are tremendous. Underfoot the ground is quite rough with no discernable path after the cottages & a cobbled beach area. Not a walk for everyone but achievable for many.
Location of Dunscaith Castle
To get to Dunscaith Castle you need to follow the Ord road from the junction with the A851 Broadford-Armadale road until you reach Tokavaig. It is about 6 miles from the main road on a single-track twisty road. As you drop down the hill towards Tokavaig Bay you will see the start of the track to the castle on your right. Drive a little way further on, over the cattle grid until you come to Tokavaig Bay. Off road parking here is plentiful and it is an easy walk back to the farm track from here.
To start the walk simply follow the road back past the cattle grid and take the signed track which is now on your left.
The path to Dunscaith Castle
The walk starts at the farm track which meanders to the left through some salty marshes. Sheep love to graze here so please keep any dogs on a lead all the way to the castle. Follow the track to the left of the two cottages. At the corner of the garden wall the track peters out and you now follow a much fainter path. If it has been raining the ground does hold a lot of water so be prepared for some splashing.
Head for the gap in the rocks ahead of you as seen in the picture above. Walk through this gap and the path swings upwards and slightly right. As the path rises the castle ruins will slowly come into view. The path is very bumpy and maybe boggy but is reasonable easy to follow. Eventually on your left you reach the start of the cobbled beach area. Now you are free to explore the area surrounding Dunscaith Castle.
I always head down to the cobbles first and aim for the archway. The view through the arch across Loch Eishort is stunning. The arch acts as a picture frame, capturing Blaven and the Red Cuillin in the distance. If you have brought some binoculars be sure to take a look to the three skerries in Loch Eishort. There are always lots of sea birds out there.
Take time to explore
As you walk under the arch look upwards. You will be astonished to see where the old drawbridge across to the castle once stood. Now just a dangerous gaping hole down to the rocks where you stand. However you can imagine people walking across here and climbing up the steep stone staircase to the castle above. Once you have finish exploring on the cobbles take a walk up the green slopes opposite the castle ruins for a better view.
Take time to wander to the top of the cliffs for fantastic views but please be very careful. The cliffs are high and the ground can be slippery. Not only do you get amazing views across Loch Eishort from here but you also get to look down on the broken bridge. The curtain walls of the castle have been lost to the sea with just small sections remaining. The castle was abandoned in the early 16th Century and all that remains is what you see today. Take your time exploring, bird watching and relaxing. When you are ready head back to the car the way you came. A quick visit will take just under an hour but it is likely you will want to stay a while longer!
booked trip to SKye and Harris in AUgust for some photography but using public transport and campsites. I would like to know what is the best campsite near this castle to walk to withing an hour or two’s distance, walkking isnt an issue as I have crossed Rannoch Moor
The nearest campsites that are currently open are Camping Skye in Broadford and Ashaig campsite. Neither of us have ever visited either so you would need to check their suitability for yourself. The distance form Broadford to Tokavaig is approx 17 miles along the road, there aren’t any direct off road routes. You could check to see if Stagecoach have a bus run from Broadford to Armadale as this could probably drop you off at the Ord road end which would make it a 6-7 mile walk instead. You can walk in from the other end of the loop road near Sabhal Mor Ostaig College, it would be a little further to walk from this end. You can hail a Stagecoach anywhere on Skye they don’t just stop at bus stops. Hope that helps.