Kyleakin and Caisteal Maol.
Start. Kyleakin.
Route. Kyleakin - An Cnap - Kyleakin - South Obbe - Boat House - Caisteal Maol - Boat House - South Obbe - An 't-Ob - School - Kyleakin.
Notes. We're on the Isle of Skye. it's raining the hills are fast disappearing under a vale of grey, we find ourselves at Kyleakin a quiet backwater. It was not always so, until the opening of the elegant Skye Bridge in 1995 most visitors arrived via the ferry from Kyle of Lochalsh. You can't beat a quiet backwater and this one does gift the visitor with splendid views to the Skye Bridge. Come along we'll suffer the weather you just enjoy the scenery, we'll visit an old castle where folk law tells us women are expected to bear their breasts to passing ships, we'll stroll through South Obbe, Kyleakin's hidden corner and enjoy views across the water to the Kyle of Lochalsh.
We parked in the car park next to the village green, wandered passed King Haakon's Bar to join a path leading to An Cnap, a heather covered rocky knoll topped with a war memorial, even in worsening weather the views were quite special, we drank them in a while before re-tracing our steps. Along the edge of the small harbour we walked, across the water Caisteal Maol acted like a magnet. We accessed South Obbe via a bridge over a muddy river, a wet ribbon of tarmac ushered us passed white washed cottages, when the road ended a narrow path guided us on, passed a boat yard occupying a tiny bay and on the Caisteal Maol. Built in the 15th century by a Norwegian princess Saucy Mary much of this ruin has been claimed by the sea, there's a great atmosphere here and even better views, unfortunately for us the whole experience was blighted by pouring rain. After Sue bluntly refused to bare her breasts to passing sea traffic we re-traced our steps to the bridge crossed earlier, here we joined a path that guided us along the edge of a tidal inlet, An 't-Ob. After crossing salt marsh the path ejected us next to the village school, we crossed the road to enjoy views to the Skye Bridge once more, all that remained, the short walk back, passed the patiently waiting car to enjoy lunch in King Haakon's Bar.
The Skye Bridge as seen from Kyleakin, opened in 1995 the tolls were removed in 2004 making this the most expensive stretch of road in the world.
Sue soaks up views down Loch Alsh.
Viewing Sgurr na Coinnich over the white washed houses of South Obbe.
Loch Alsh viewed from the summit of An Cnap.
Across the small harbour at Kyleakin the ruins of Caisteal Maol, dating back to the 1400s, built by a Norwegian princess, who charged a toll for boats using the narrows, her remains are said to be buried on Beinn na Caillich (mountain of the old women) above Kyleakin.
An 't-Ob as seen from South Obbe.
View taken from the Boat Yard, Kyle of Lochalsh across the narrows of Kyle Akin.
On the approach to Caisteal Maol the path picks it's way through this boat yard.
From Caisteal Maol looking back over Kyleakin to the elegant Skye Bridge.
Sue strides out along the edge of An 't-Ob.
A moody view north over Kyleakin.