The Nature Trails around Portree are several short woodland walks. They are referred to locally as the nature trails. It is thought that these were once all joined up. However, as Portree has been extended they have become divided by roads and local development. They still offer nice short walks, however, and the opportunity to get out and enjoy nature without having to travel out of Portree.
Bayfield Walk
You can get to this walk from the Bayfield car park where there is parking if you have driven to get there. Head towards the Tigh Na Drochaid resource centre at the back of the car park. As you approach you will see a footpath to the left heading into the woodland, this is the walk.
The path is tarmac though it is usually covered with leaves, a few small rocks, sticks and the usual debris of a woodland. It is, however, wide enough for a wheelchair and Sarah managed easily with her rollator. Walking through this lovely woodland it is hard to believe you are in Portree as the sound of the Leasgeary river drowns out the noise of the traffic . It would be a nice place to go for a picnic on a nice day. Unfortunately there are no benches anywhere along the walk but if you are able to sit on the ground why not take a picnic rug with you.
The trail reaches its end at a flight of steps. If you are unable to manage steps you will have to turn and retrace your steps back to the car park. Sarah managed to climb the steps which have handrails while Melanie carried her rollator up for her. The steps are a bit wide meaning the handrails are rather wide, or maybe Sarah’s arms are just too short.
At the top of the steps is the road and if you cross this you will find the next walk. Here is a link to the video of our walk on the Nature Trails around Portree.
Leasgeary Woodland Walk
As you head up Manse Lane there is a turning to the left, before the first house. This is the walk, and is signposted as the Leasgeary Woodland Walk. This path has a slightly rougher surface to the previous one . There are slightly more obstacles like rocks and tree roots, and a little bit of mud after rain. Nothing we couldn’t navigate with the rollator and a bit of care. There are a few steeper parts to this trail but it is not impossible.
Again the path weaves through woodland by the side of the bubbling river but this time we saw a couple of bridges crossing the river to a path on the other side. We intend to return to explore this at a later date. This time, however, we followed the path until we got some idea of how it ended. Eventually it leads to a housing estate through which you can access the Co-op on Dunvegan Road. This means that it would then be possible to return to the village centre along the road or you can retrace your steps if you prefer.
