MY FAVOURITE SKYE WALKS

I’m adding to these over time but good descriptions are also found in the excellent ‘walkhighlands’ website. I’ve rated them *** to ***** stars.

Camasunary Bay from Kilmarie ***** An hour to an ethereal bay with the Gothic Black Cuillin ahead and above. My number one walk on Skye.For details see  –  A Walk to Camasunary Bay, Skye

And also see details of a walk beyond that onto the low shoulder of Sgurr na Stri (photo below) which is just incredible  – A Walk Beyond Camasunary Bay, Skye

Old Man of Storr ***** A 45 minute hike up to the Pinnacle itself with a chance to wander myriad little tracks and explore this unearthly landscape.For details see – THE OLD MAN OF STORR, SKYE

Parking has much improved at this walk though it is now paid parking – see most recent account below (August 2025)

For my most recent walk up the Old Man of Storr plus the Quiraing see THE OLD MAN OF STORR AND THE QUIRAING HIKES

The Storr summit *****

A hillwalk, reaching the highest point on the spectacular Trotternish ridge above the Old Man of Storr. My route is the non-scramble rocky option.See A Trotternish Hike – The Storr

I’ve also written up an early December 2023 walk to The Storr’s summit under snow:

A Winter Walk up The Storr on Skye

THE QUIRAING *****

Just a 25 minute or so drive up the wonderful Trotternish coast, is this superb area. The most popular hikes are to either contour below the pinnacles or take the left branch and head up onto the hill top.These can also be done as the one loop walk taking about two – three hours.

Superb walking whichever track you choose. Other-worldly landscapes.For details of the Meall na Suiramach route which is about an hour to the top – THE QUIRAING, ISLE OF SKYE

And also see this link for our most recent experience in August 2025 THE OLD MAN OF STORR AND THE QUIRAING HIKES

 It is also possible to walk to the small, beautiful lochans in the photo above and seen from either hike in the Quiraing area once away from the car park.But it’s mostly pathless or following sheep /deer tracks.About 45 mins to the lochans, downhill.

Beinn Edra  – another superb high level walk along the Trotternish Ridge, in the opposite direction to the Quiraing. You may have it all to yourself.Straightforward but map still required.Avoid if misty.For details of my last winter walk there see A HIKE ON SKYE’S TROTTERNISH RIDGE

Fairy Pools **** You won’t have it to yourself but to me, the thing is Glen Brittle itself and walking into a Black Cuillin corrie. The Pools are small and turquoise, very beautiful.For our walk experience – The Fairy Pools

Parking is much improved and now costs £9.Toilets available.

Neist Point **** A shortish 25min downhill stroll on a concrete path to the Lighthouse. For a little more on this : NEIST POINT ON SKYE

Ben Tianavaig ***** A boggy moorland slog at first then a nice springy ridge walk with stunning panoramas all around. An hour to the top.And what a top! The hill’s golden eagle has made a close up appearance, checking us out,  each time we’ve walked here.For more detail see: BEN TIANAVAIG, SKYE

Coire Lagan ***** 90 mins of moorland ascent to this wild and beautiful Black Cuillin lochan. The big stuff is all around.About 90mins to the Lochan, uphill all the way on an obvious track.Easy, short scramble at the top, achievable by most(even me.) Start at Glen Brittle campsite.

 

Rubh’ an Dunan ***great coastal walk to an ancient Dun with evidence of a Viking boat channel.Wonderful coastal and mountain views.Start at the end of the Glen Brittle road.However, the good path disappears and some of the walk crosses boggy moorland with no real path so a map is essential.Can feel quite long! For more detail : Great Skye Walks – Rubh’ an Dunan

Waternish Point **** It’s around 5 miles out to the Lighthouse on a spectacular headland.Great whale spotting area.Start at Trumpan Church, 10 mins beyond Steinn village.

Rubha Hunish *** Beautiful gentle peninsula with a short dramatic cliff section if you want to go all the way out to the headland.Great Harris views.

Point of Sleat **** Three mile walk to Skye’s finest white beach.Start at the end of the road parking at Ardvasar, south of Armadale.

Coral Beaches *** A nice easy walk of about 30 minutes to some soft golden sand beaches, a rarity on Skye.

Dunvegan Head **** Thousand foot cliffs at the end of this long walk.Great views to the Outer Hebrides.Golden eagle country.We walked it on a glorious summer’s day last year in the company , at one point, of a golden eagle: THE GOLDEN EAGLE OF DUNVEGAN HEAD

Kilvaxter Headland *** A beautiful coastal and cliff walk with great Outer Hebrides views.

Oronsay Island Loop *** A shortish walk with minor ascent around this tiny tidal island.Great views all around.Do it with plenty time to spare though re the tide.Hikes on Skye: Oronsay Island

Macleod’s Tables *** – A shortish half day with some superb views to the Cuillin, the Outer Hebrides, north Skye, Harris. But leave it for a clear day. Eagle country again.For more detail on our last venture up here: MACLEOD’S TABLES

Dun Caan, Isle of Raasay****
It’s well worth taking the ferry over from Sconser to Raasay to do this amazing short walk up the island’s highest hill – Dun Caan.Around 3 hours all in if you take the car and park at the high point of the road where the walk is signposted.A lot longer if done from the village.I wrote our late December 2023 walk up this spectacular little mountain as a walk report on walkhighlands excellent website:

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=122903

 

THE BIG STUFF – tougher days out!

Bruach na Frithe ***** The easiest Cuillin with a clear track to the ridge.A WALK UP BRUACH NA FRITHE (SKYE CUILLIN)

Sgurr na Stri ***** A big day out, 8 hours, hailed as the UK’s finest viewpoint and I would not disagree.For a February walk in 2017 to its summit see A Winter Hike up a Mini Black Cuillin, Skye

Glamaig – one of the Red Cuillin****

This stunning but steep,  double topped mountain rises above Sligachan and looks very uninviting with the scree.But there’s a grassy way to the top from near Sconser which is well within the capabilities of any regular hill walker.The views it gives of the Black and Red Cuillin mountain ranges are jaw dropping.Only for the fit, though! More here…

hills less travelled – glamaig on the isle of skye

Beinn Dearg Mor and Marsco, Red Cuillin**** Nice couple of hills to do if weather is up to them.Or just do the first one.The Black Cuillin all around.Still to write these up.