A Round of Ben Chracaig.
Start. Portree.
Route. Portree - Bank Street - Scorrybreac Road - Slipway - Sgeir Mhor - Cuillin Hills Hotel - Scorrycreac Road - Bank Street - Portree.
Notes. Here we are again, another week on the atmospheric Isle of Skye, a week of sunshine and shower’s if the weather forecasts anything to go by. Today was to be a gentle walk from the centre of Portree, the islands capital, followed by a short sharp 300ft climb before heading back to town, or it will be when the rain stops.
A rest-bite between showers saw us striding out along Bank Street eager to leave this tourist honey pot behind, we descended Scorrybreac Road before passing the Slipway to access a wooden gate and foot-bridge. Leaving tarmac behind we wandered on passing Sgeir Mhor as we rounded the point, a stone seat commands fine views across the bay here, we sat a while before continuing on to a dry stone wall and slate way-marker. The arrow pointed up the hill, announcing this was the route to Scorrybreac, we ascended, a series of zig-zags aided our progress. Once at the top the houses of Portree beckond us on, a good path descended through mixed woodland passing to the right of the Cuillin Hills Hotel, we stepped onto Scrrybreac Road for the second time, all that remained, to re-trace our steps back to the town centre.
Seen from the parked car, Loch Portree with Beinn na Capull grey on the skyline, on a clear day you can see the Cuillin from here.
Seen from the narrow road bridge over the River Chracaig, Vriskaig Point over Portree Bay.
Views taken from near the Slipway, the picturesque seafront of Portree dwarfed by the slopes of Beinn na Greine.
As seen from the Slipway Ben Tianavaig rises across the bay.
Another view of Portree Harbour.
Views over Loch Portree with Beinn na Greine rising to the right and Stroc bheinn on the left.
Sgeir Mhor, the rocky finger of land pointing across the water to Ben Tianavaig.
Sue takes a break on the stone seat mentioned earlier.
Seen from the stone seat the Isle of Raasay with it's dominant feature the flat top of Dun Caan, at 1,456ft the highest point on the island, to the right Ben Tianavaig rises shear from the Sound of Raasay.
Sunburst over Loch Portree.
Stunning views across the Sound of Raasay with the cliffs of Rubha na h-Airde Glaise rising to the left.
Striding towards Portree hoping the rain will hold off a little longer.