Sunday 17/10/04

Today is Sunday, so nothing moves in terms of public transport. Not until after midday at any rate, when going elsewhere in Skye. So I took myself off on a little romp around Broadford, commencing at the hostel itself and going north, towards the pier and the Corry estate, rather than the customary south, towards the main road and the village. With a bit of weaving about, you arrive at Irishman's Point fairly shortly, upon which you turn left into the wilderness. The following 2 miles are just sheer purgatory. There is hardly if any path, it leads to dead ends (such as on the edge of cliffs, in secluded bays without other exit etc) or through humungous bogs. It is extremely wet everywhere. I struggle through the tangle of brambles, spaghnum mosses, lork trees and dead alders and taking a full 2 hours to cover the two miles. The worst section was where I had to do a jungle type traverse of the alder undergrowth coupled with one of the lork trees in the background. Finally achieved the end of the trek at 11.45, at the end of a forestry track. Meanwhile, Scalpay Island (inaccessible as privately owned) and Guillamon Island were in plain view. Scalpay has high hills, up to 400m (1400 ft). It is also fairly large, some 4 miles across. Went up the forestry track to the cemetery, then along the old A850 (not the present day A87) east in the general direction of Broadford. There is no traffic on the A850, it has been locked off after the A87 opened. Went south at the Coire Chatachan turning, and spent about 2 hours snoozing in a hollow at the roadside. Only disturbed by sheep, drizzle and passing cars. Grand total of the latter: 5. Beinn na Caillich, which towers above, is wreathed in clouds, the cause of the drizzle. By 2.30, I go on my slow way again, down the Marble Line path. At its terminus, where the path towards Boreraig goes on, I have another break, then return to Broadford. In time to beat the shop closing time of 5pm.