An Aird Peninsula.
Start. The Braes.
Route. The Braes - An Aird - Loch an Amadan - Dunan an Aisilidh - Caves - Tombolo - The Braes.
Notes. What a difference a day makes, dappled light, scudding cloud, the sleet and snow of yesterday a distant memory. We're in the Braes exploring the An Aird Peninsula a beautiful promontory forming part of the Narrows of Raasay. Joined to the rest of Skye by a narrow spit of land known locally as Tombolo. This is a special place, they always build iron age forts in special places and this is no exception, the northern tip of the peninsula, Dunan an Aisilidh is crowned by the remains of such a fort. With sea bird haunted cliffs, caves, blow holes and narrow arches to cross (if you've got more bottle than me) this very small slice of Skye has everything. So you may as well come join us, you won't need a map just follow the coast into spectacular views, as this small promontory gifts the lucky walker with the two faces of Skye, the mighty Cuillin, Red and Black, and the unforgettable Trotternish Peninsula.
We parked at the Braes, just past a red post box, after wandering back to said box we joined a good path that guided us into the promised land. We strolled along a stony beach, wavelets kissing our boots, we ascended to a small lochen, Loch an Amaidan, here we headed north scrambling onto Dunan an Aisilidh to enjoy wonderful views over the Sound of Raasay, we watched seals diving in the deep water a few yards off shore, we squinted along the ridges of Trotternish before looking back to the mighty Cuillin. Our scenes in overload we headed south, cliff top paths guided us to a jumble of sea stacks, sea caves and blow holes, narrow arches spanned deep gullies, just daring the brave rambler to cross them, I'm afraid I'm not the brave rambler, I stuck to terra firma. Turning our backs on the scene we wandered through the ruins of a long abandoned crofting community, probably once eeking an existence from land and sea, before crossing the Tombolo, after ascending to boggy ground a fence line guided us back to the patiently waiting car.
Stepping out of the car into wonderful views, A' Chorra bheinn marks the start of the awesome Trotternish Ridge, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the whole of the British Isles.
Camas a' Mhor-bheoil, a lovely tranquil bay backed by An Aird and the Isle of Raasay.
The solitude of An Aird, a place to linger.
Seen from the small beach hidden in the folds of the An Aird, the many summits of the Trotternish Peninsula.
Wandering along the tide line of the whispering sea, looking to the white washed cottages of Upper and Lower Ollach.
A stunning view across the mouth of Loch Sligachan, the shapely profile of Glamaig.
Ben Lee above The Braes as seen from An Aird.
Rising in the notch between Glamaig and Ben Lee, Sgurr nan Gillean.
Looking to the Isle of Raasay with the flat top of Dun Caan to the left.
Views along the jagged joint between land, sea and sky.
A wonderful view over the Sound of Raasay, with rain sweeping Trotternish and the Isle of Raasay to the right.
A stunning view along the sea washed cliffs of An Aird to the start of the Trotternish Ridge, a 22 mile land slip starting at Portree ending at Flodigarry.
Next on the bill, a fearsome corner of this delightful peninsula, caves, blow holes and deep gullies.
Sue's daring me to cross it, I think she's after the insurance money, I didn't and I wouldn't recommend anyone else to do it.
Views taken along the sea cliffs of An Aird.
The Tombolo with Ben Lee across the skyline.
An icing sugar day on the Cuillin Hills.
The brutalities of the past cast long shadows, the remains of a cleared community, one of many across the Highlands and Islands.
Glamaig under leaden skies.
The threat of a storm, time to head back to the car.