11 Mar 20: Eynort Forest (in three seasons) - walking group

A great day was had by all on this excellent all weather walk .... which was well proven today.

1 We started Dry.

2. We ended Dry.

3 We saw some sunshine.

What more can you ask? 

Really great company, social isolation at its best.  In the middle of nowhere eating lunch in a blizzard

which we watched coming in from the Hebrides.

Just what the Skye U3A is about.

Thanks, folks, for another great day. Thanks too, Christine, for great shortbread and tea.

6 Mar 20: Loch Barcasaig - Step It Up

A record number (14)  of very damp walkers braved the elements today.

We walked through almost continuous rain, down to the beach at Loch Bharcasaig.

The rain eased, and finally ceased as we made our way back to our cars at Orbost Farm.

Everyone beat a hasty retreat to the Dunvegan Hotel for coffee and cakes and an interesting discussion about what other outings we would like to participate in.

 Despite the weather, everyone seemed to enjoy the afternoon. Thank you Charlie once again for organising

As well as the largest turnout so far, this was arguably our wettest walk in the Step it Up history.   This was not a shower, this was hail, with a bit of rain, yet Ray still managed brilliant photos and we all still managed brilliant blether, oblivious of the elements.

19 Feb 20: Loch Cuithir walk

From WalkHighlands

Well we all expected to get wet but luckily our timing was just about perfect for a very interesting walk on a reasonable though puddled pothole track.

The original road was used by the trucks which took the diatomite/algae to dry in Uig from the 1940's when the earlier rail-transit set up was deemed redundant until the 1950's.   More history here



Sgurr a Mhadaidh Ruadh or the Peak of Red Fox stayed clear for most of the walk in

so we had some excellent views up the glen at the end of the track.

Conditions off the original road  were squidgy, so we kept to the road and missed the can-be -interesting loop of the old railway line.

Remnants of the Line of the original working horse-drawn railway as it loops up to the Cuihir Lochs to the right beneath Sgurr a Mhadaidh Ruaidh (Hill of the Red Fox). It meandered eastwards from here down to Inver Tote.

The line of the original rail-track system is still clear today.  It was used for horse-drawn braked open wagons on a rail-track to get the diatomite dredged from the lochs down to Inver Tote where the kilns were in full swing until the late 1930's-mid1940's.  More history and early photos here.





Back in the 1970s, the rusting remains of a crane and a truck could still be seen by the industrial ruins at the largest loch, now all gone

Jessie saying “can we have our lunch now please”

We had a lunch stop by the last of the lochs before heading back.

What was once a proud running Austin A30 with 803cc A-Series BMC engine slowly returning to nature

The forecast was for the storm to hit at 14.00 hrs and surely enough it did but we were only about 10 mins or so from the cars on the way back so got away with a short dousing as the wind picked up.

Timing was perfect as we had a very wet drive home.

24 Jan 20: Erisco Village - Step it Up

Erisco village circuit looking over Tulm Bay, Island and Duntulm Castle. 

13 adventurous walkers enjoyed the, mostly dry weather, walk. A bit wet underfoot in places but altogether a very pleasant walk with great company and much blether.

Lovely walk, good views, great company and exceptional lemon drizzle cake afterwards!

Duntulm Castle in distance.

Tulm Island with Gearran, Gaeilavore & Fladaigh Chuain.

Duntulm Castle.

Tulm Island.

Erisco Village.

Erisco Village.

Erisco Village.

Erisco Village.

Erisco Village.

Erisco Village. Duntulm Castle in distance.

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2 Oct 19 - Biod an Athair and Dunvegan Head

Billed as "there and back (return via same route or across country) or circular - see more on WalkHighlands" - which describes it as

"A rough moorland and clifftop walk around Dunvegan Head, with the highlight dramatic Biod an Athair, perhaps the most impressive perch amongst Skye's sea cliffs.  - Pathless walk across rough, tough moorland"

- and as reported by Ray:

After much discussion about which route to take, 

nine walkers and two dogs started off on a route which took us via a croft/farm track towards the Summit and trig point of Biod an Athair. 

En route we passed several ruined buildings and made our way across rather wet and boggy moorland towards the Galtrigill Burn which we crossed and started to make our way uphill. 

Passing several ruins, described by Canmore as ' (Medieval), Structure (Period Unassigned) and many lazy beds' 

we made our way towards the summit, stopping frequently to admire the view behind us. 

Having reached the summit, 314m / 1030ft, 

and having taken many photos,

we picnicked in the sunshine and enjoyed the fantastic view.

Refreshed, we started our descent, which took considerably shorter time than it took to ascend, and finally arrived again at our start point.

Everyone agreed what a wonderful walk that had been, and Colin kindly invited everyone back to his house for refreshments. What a great day, enjoyed by all.

route map from WalkHighlands