What is the best walk on Skye?

Judging the best walk on Skye is just as hard as determining the best beach in Australia. What criteria do you use? How can the judgement be anything but subjective? How can you compare one walk to another? As we can’t agree, it might be better to share a few thoughts about three of our favourite walks (with two photos of each for you to decide).

The walk to the pinnacle Old Man of Storr is one of Scotland’s most iconic destinations. It’s quite a climb, the ascent is about 350 metres from the carpark. The track is not clear and is boggy at times but the views are extraordinary. Even in mid-winter the track is popular. The views over to the Island of Raasay, to the mainland and back towards Portree are dazzling.

 


 The walk to Neist Point, Skye’s most westerly headland, is a cracker. Skye’s scenery is often dramatic but Neist Point is intense. Sheer cliff faces, deep blue bays, rugged sea lochs, glorious sheep-mown hills and a lighthouse on the point make this walk exceptional. Beyond are the islands of the Outer Hebrides. Minkie whales are often seen in the summer months close to shore.

 

 The beautiful walk to Rubha Hunish, the northernmost point of the island is indeed magical. The walk traverses a moorland path and passes the tragic evidence of the enforced clearances of the 18^th and 19th centuries when crofters were forced from their land to make way for sheep. Only the ruins of their croft houses remain. The moors come to a dramatic end with a sheep fence, a stile and a steep 250 metre descent down the cliff to the grassy headland below. The descent is too challenging for us, but we decide to climb higher to a former Coastguard lookout post that has been converted to a bothy (a hiker’s hut), perched on the top of an extraordinary cliff. The view across the important shipping channel known as The Little Minch is stunning and the Isle of Harris beckons in the distance. 

You can judge from the photos, but better still, save for the airfare and decide for yourself.