Skye Line

Discover Skye as you’ve never seen it before as the author traverses the island on foot experiencing a wild landscape of remote lochs and mountains where few people tread. An 82-mile journey from Armadale in the south to the cliff-top bothie at Rubha Hunish in the north. He encounters rain and rainbows, otters and eagles, sun and sea, a windswept night in the mountains, the kindness of strangers, and the Northern Lights.

On a visit to Skye over twenty-five years ago, the author purchased a photobook called ’A Long Walk on The Isle of Skye’. Since then the book - and walk contained within - have been calling to him from his bookshelf. Finally, in his late forties, he purchased a light-weight tent and a train ticket to Mallaig to embark on Skye Line - ’The Original Skye Trail’.

This book is written for two groups of people. Firstly, if you have never backpacked a long-distance trail, this is for you. From the comfort of your favourite chair or sitooterie, you will vicariously traverse a landscape of lochs and mountains and experience how the ever-changing vistas seep into your soul. It might even inspire you to give it a try.

Secondly, this book is for seasoned hikers who may wish to traverse the Isle of Skye on this route from south to north, first proposed by photographer David Paterson in 1999: Armadale Ferry to Rubha Hunish. My descriptions will give you an insight into what this journey entails and how it differs from the conventional ’Skye Trail’. For you, there is also a detailed review of my lightweight kit at the end, along with tips on the route and a link to a gxp file of the path I took.

​​​​​​​There is something here for everybody. So, Trobhad! (come with me)