The Skye Trail, a 75 mile long guided walk with The Highland Council Countryside Rangers
On Wednesday 14th April The Highland Council Rangers in Skye and Lochalsh will set out on a 75 mile (120 km) guided journey through the Isle of Skye, following the route piloted by Cameron McNeish in the recent television programme, The Skye Trail.
The route, broadcast on BBC 2 Scotland’s Adventure Show on the 27th December, will be undertaken in eight one-day sections between April and September and takes in the stunning cliff-top scenery between Duntulm and Flodigarry, the iconic landslip areas of the Quiraing and Storr on the Trotternish Ridge. The trail continues through Braes, the scene of a battle in 1882 between local crofters, protesting at the loss of their traditional grazing rights and 50 policemen drafted in from Glasgow, and on to Sligachan. From Sligachan the journey continues through John Muir Trust lands, beneath the Cuillin mountains to Kilmarie and from Elgol to Torrin. The final section is via the cleared townships of Suisnish and Boreraig to Kilchrist, finishing on the Marble Line path, a converted industrial railway track which runs between Kilchrist and Broadford.
Cameron McNeish himself said of the Skye Trail: “This long walk has the potential to be the finest in the whole country.”
Senior Countryside Ranger, John Phillips, said: “As someone who has been walking isolated sections of this route for the past 12 years I was delighted to take part i in the filming of the Skye Trail TV feature. I am now looking forward to putting the whole trail together. It will be a wonderful adventure. The scenery is fantastic and the opportunity to explore the abundant natural and cultural heritage of Skye in this way is an opportunity not to be missed.”
The eight one-day chunks of the route will take place on the following dates:
• Wednesday April 14th 11.00 – 16.00
• Wednesday May 12th 11:00 - 17:00
• Wednesday June 9th 10:00 - 18:00
• Wednesday July 7th 10:30 - 17:00
• Wednesday July 21st 10:00 - 17:00
• Wednesday August 4th 10:00 - 17:00
• Wednesday August 18th 10:00 - 17:00
• Wednesday Sept 1st 9:30 - 17:30
Places on these walks are limited so pre-booking is essential and a good degree of fitness is required. To book and for full details on these and other guided walks and events offered by the Highland Council Rangers in Skye and Lochalsh, contact John Phillips on 01471 820 526 (email john.phillips@highland.gov.uk) or Sandy MacPhee on 01471 820 527 (email sandy.macphee@highland.gov.uk).
Details of all Countryside Ranger led guided walks in the Highlands can be found in the new 2010-11 events programme on the Highland Council website www.highland.gov.uk