The Marble Line just outside Broadford is the route of the old marble quarry train. It was in use in the early 20th Century. In more recent times it has been lovingly restored by Broadford and Strath Community Company into an accessible footpath. Linking to other paths in the area the Marble Line is a popular way to see Strath Suardal, the deserted villages of Suishnish and Boreraig and Old Corry. For our walk we simply concentrated on the Marble Line itself.
Getting to The Marble Line
Take the Elgol road out of Broadford up the side of the Broadford Hotel. This single track road gently leads up hill and out of the village. When you reach the tree line on the brow of the hill , this is where you need to park. There is a large gravel area on the right and some large gates. Park considerately on this gravel area and do not block the gates. Large machinery does on occasion use these gates. On the opposite side of the road you will see a gate and sign post leading onto the Marble Line. It is currently a low, accessible gate but it seems they are replacing the gates with taller deer proof gates and fencing so this may be different when you get there.
Walking the Marble Line.
It was a narrow gauge railway that ran to the quarry so the path is, for the most part, wide enough to walk two abreast. It is a compacted gravel/earth surface with a few lumps and bumps but nothing too drastic. The surface drains fairly well too. We walked on it a few days after Storm Dennis had hit Skye in 2020 and puddles were few and far between.
The weather was bitterly cold, windy with frequently hail and snow showers. Sunshine was in short supply so we soon felt the cold. Sarah was walking with her trusty rollator at her steady 1mph. We covered about 1.3km or 0.8 miles in about 50 minutes. There was a little lifting of the rollator to get through a couple of gateways where the ground was uneven. A few lumpy rocks appear in the surface of the path itself but nothing big. In a few places grass has taken over the gravel but it is still a reasonably solid surface.
The start of the Marble Line from the Broadford end runs parallel to the road and holds the contour of the hillside. Meaning the path stays nice and level and easy to navigate. Due to the weather we didn’t get very far but Melanie has walked it before. We can point out that around the corner in the distance the Marble Line slowly descends lower into Strath Suardal. In turn this means the walk back to the car becomes uphill, unavoidable on a linear walk.
We will return on a warmer day to walk a bit further and enjoy the views across to Beinn Na Cailalich. When we do, we will add a bit more to this tale. However this path was created as an All Access path so we do hope you will be able to enjoy it.
Our return to the Marble Line – April 2022
Finally we returned to walk some more of the Marble Line. Despite the two year wait we were still threatened by looming snow clouds on the horizon. Not to be deterred we soldiered on regardless. This time we parked by the Strath Suardal Chambered cairn. There is room for 3 or 4 cars here if you park considerately.
Accessing the Marble Line
From the car, cross over the road and immediately step over the small verge and onto the grass track below. Melanie took Sarah’s rollator down first and then gave Sarah an arm to lean on. It is fairly level but just very uneven underfoot. This track runs parallel to the road for about a hundred metres and them turns sharply right to join the old railway line. The surface is as before, compacted gravel and grass. There are a couple of rockier sections but these are very short and easy enough to cross with a little assistance. Sarah’s rollator coped very well with the surface here.
Initially the path is level, then it slowly descends. It is a very gradual decline so isn’t too bad on the way back up either. The views all around are just lovely. It is a grazing area all around the Marble Line so please keep dogs on a lead if you take them with you.
We could see a gate in the distance and the path turning grassier. As the going was good for Sarah we walked to the gate and continued a short distance. The gate fully opens so is accessible for all mobility aids, even large off road scooters. In the near distance we could start to see a few of the old railway buildings. Too far away for us today but still a great sight.
If you continue along the Marble Line you do reach the original quarry that the trains ran to and from. Here you find some old winding wheels and other abandoned quarrying bits and bobs. It is from here that the Marble Line turns into a smaller footpath that goes over the hillside and down to the abandoned townships of Boreraig and Suisnish. This is for the fit, healthy and definitely mobile folks out there.
