Flodaigh abd Seal Point.

Start. Gramsdal {roadside parking).

Route. Gramsdal - Loch Nighe - Flodaigh - Seal Point - Flodaigh - Loch Nighe - Gramsdale.

Notes. Our little guide book claimed this was a short walk, “go at low tide and you’ll be sure to sea seals at Seal Point”, it also claimed parking was limited to either side of the bus timetable, as the bus turning area was also the car park. As it was low tide, and we were out of time for parking we opted to walk from the lane end at Gramsdal, this added another three miles to our ramblings.

After parking at Gramsdal or Gramsdail depending on which map or guide book you’re using, we headed east a narrow tarmac lane guided us. We wandered on passing some lovely lochens, their surfaces carpeted with lilies, Ruabhal the hill we’d climbed earlier rose from the flatlands its heather and moss covered slopes looked rather inviting from this angle, could it be walked from here?, a finger-post on the right soon answered my question.

We continued up the lane passed a small number of dwellings, we crossed a short causeway onto Flodaigh before reaching the car park come turning area. We immediately joined a stoney track on the right, this guided us passed the remains of an abandoned car then on to a sign pointing the way to Seal Point, a green trod then guided us to the coast. One thing I’ve noticed, on the Scottish islands when machinery gets to the end of it's life it's just abandoned, cars, vans, buses and in this case old farm machinery, the sort that should be in a museum, lots of it.

Seal Point, somebody should have told the seals, after breaking out the binoculars we decided Seal Point was just a figment of the tourist boards imagination, a way to get visitors onto the bus. After a short wander around, passed more abandoned farm machinery we then re-traced our steps.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say this was a disappointing ramble, seals aren't the be all or end all, at Seal Point the scenery is excellent, the walk in a good insight into life on these islands, but lets be honest we could see seals, dear, various birds of pray from the door of the little black house we were staying in.

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Leaving Gramsdal we passed a number of these delightful lilly covered lochens.

Seen from the narrow lane through Gramsdal, Ruabhal.

From the track guiding us to Seal Point views across Caolas Fhlodaigh.

Views over Flodaigh, across the horizon Beinn Rodagraich.

Probably abandoned where it broke down, our little guide book claimed a copy of the Flodaigh "Seal News" is usually taped to the inside window, what window?

Climbed earlier today, Ruabhal.

Looking northwest to the blue/grey hills of Beinn Rodagraich and Ronaigh.

Abandoned where it fell, farm equipment possibly over a hundred years old.

The rusting remains of a horse drawn sickle mower.

Ruabhal as seen from Seal Point.

At Seal Point looking across the narrows to the island of Grimsay.

Another relic of the past marks the path round Seal Point.

Not a Seal to be seen.

Roofless building at Flodaigh, the Islands and Highlands are littered with the remains of abandoned villages and more modern buildings, there's a story to be told, if you're interested reed On the Crofters Trail by David Craig.

Looking back to the croft house on Flodaigh.

Views to the north, that cloud's heading in our direction, it's time to get a wiggle on.

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