Point of Sleat, Camas Daraich and Point of Sleat Harbour.

Start. Aird of Sleat.

Route. Aird of Sleat - Camas Daraich - Point of Sleat - Point of Sleat Harbour - Aird of Sleat.

Notes. This was a stunning walk to the southern most tip of Skye, Point of Sleat, it gifts the lucky rambler sweeping views over the Small Isles of Rum and Eigg and, across the Sound of Sleat to the wildest peninsula in Scotland, Knoydart. We visited Camas Daraich a lovely deserted cove and before returning the tiny Point of Sleat Harbour. We’ve attempted this walk before in horrendous weather forced to cut it short, we returned on one of the best days Scotland could afford, the weather gods smiled and the Point of Sleat just embraced us in its many rocky folds.

Where the public road ends at An Aird a small car park marked our starting point, to the southern end of the car park a rough Land Rover track continued south, this we followed into the wilderness that is the southern tip of Skye. After stopping several times to soak up the views we arrived at a metal gate and finger-post, an invitation to visit the Point of Sleat and Sandy Beach, we obliged leaving the Land Rover track, ignoring the gate for now, we immediately ascended to a muddy path running parallel to a fence line, this path soon descended passing a path junction before depositing us at Camas Daraich a wonderful sandy cove.

This was a place to linger, we lingered quite a while before re-tracing our steps to the path junction passed on our descent, we turned left towards the Point of Sleat. Over heather moorland we wandered with wonderful views back to Camas Daraich and across the water to the mountains of Knoydart. The path descended some concrete steps into a deep gully before rounding low cliffs to access another beautiful sandy cove. We were now wandering over close cropped grass, a short sharp ascent followed before a short walk over a grass and bracken covered knoll to reach the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is automated and quite modern, it’s a good place to spot wildlife, our luck was out all we saw was sea gulls. When the time came to make a move we re-traced our steps to the metal gate mentioned earlier, passed through then descended through a partially deserted crofting community, keeping to the right the track guided us to a tiny harbour, an air of neglect oozed from the Bladderwort (sea weed) covered walls, it fit perfectly into the landscape. After a short exploration we re-traced our steps to the metal gate then back through stunning views along the Land Rover track.

view route map.

home.

From the Land Rover track views down to Ard Thurinish, beyond over the Sound of Sleat the mountains of Knoydart and Lochaber.

Knoydart seen across the Sound of Sleat.

Viewing one of the Small Isles, Eigg.

A glimpse of the Point of Sleat from Camas Daraich.

Could you wish a better place, Camas Daraich we have to ourselves.

Striding out over heather moorland looking back to a small patch of paradise, Camas Daraich.

The saw tooth skyline of the Black Cuillin.

Eilean Sgorach backed by Eigg and Rum.

The ragged shoreline at the Point of Sleat.

Rising sheer from Camas Daraich the cliffs of Creag Mhor.

Gracing the horizon to the east the mountains of Knoydart.

Wonderful views, spectacular coastal scenery and wilderness, the Point of Sleat.

Point of Sleat Lighthouse, built in 1934  at the southern tip of the island, in 2003 the tower was dismantled and replaced by a concrete structure with a solar powered light.

Stunning views along the jagged edge where land meets sea.

Seen beyond the rock architecture at the Point of Sleat the mighty Cuillin.

Echoes of the past, the tiny Point of Sleat Harbour, originally a safe haven for thirty boats....

....after funding was raised it was extended in 1920 allowing sixty boats to dock.

One of the original croft's, in 1850 there were five croft's in this small community.

Looking back over the heather moorland of Sleat, the track we walk today was originally laid in 1920 at a cost of £27.

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