From Sligachan to Elgol via Camasunary

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It’s a wonderful adventure, but it’s a one-way trip! You’ll need to either have a car waiting for you at the end point, book accommodation there (which can be tricky), carry your sleeping gear with you on the hike, find a place to camp near Elgol, and plan a route back to Sligachan. There are two interesting options for returning on foot: take the boat to Coruisk and return to Sligachan by skirting the magnificent Loch Coruisk to the left (the longer route) or to the right (involving two wide fords across the River Scavaig); or head along the east coast via Glasnakille, Drinan and Kilmarie, where it is possible to reach Camasunary.

Details

n°103492298
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–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.02 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 689 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 610 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 331 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 13 ft
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Photos

Camasunary

Description of the walk

(S) Take the path leading off opposite to the south-west towards the beautiful waterfall. Do not cross it; instead, head back towards the hotel to cross the River Sligachan via the old stone bridge and admire the monuments on the right. Follow the Sligachan Path. Try to keep your feet dry whilst crossing the numerous fords.

(1) Take the path on the left at the junction and continue along the Sligachan Path towards Camasunary, skirting Loch na Creitheach further on. There are even more fords here.

(2) Shortly after the house at Camasunary, follow the paths to the left three times to cross further up without getting your feet wet – provided they’ve survived the previous 200 fords. Then turn right to walk along the coast. Beware of vertigo: the path is narrow and drops sheer down to the ocean in many places. On reaching Elgol, take the road to the right (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 75 ft - Sligachan Mountain Rescue
  2. 1 : mi 4.55 - alt. 272 ft - Crossroads
  3. 2 : mi 8.36 - alt. 36 ft - Camasunary
  4. E : mi 12.02 - alt. 154 ft - Car park

Notes

Free parking at the starting point, but it can be tricky on busy days.

Free parking is also available at the finish, and it’s much less busy there.

For whisky enthusiasts, the pub next to the hotel in Sligachan offers over 400 types of whisky to sample… it’s best to head there at the end of the trek!

The ‘difficult’ rating is based on the number of fords to cross and the narrow, steep path between Camasunary and Elgol.

Other walks in the area

Walking Circular Sligachan loop to the Fairy Pools and back

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Boucle de Sligachan aux Fairy Pools et retour
↔10.94 mi ↗+1,955 ft ↘-1,939 ft ◔6h 45 ▲Moderate
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This unmissable walk to the Fairy Pools passes to the west of the Isle of Skye’s highest peaks and offers the chance to discover a multitude of ‘pools’ created by a succession of waterfalls fed by dozens of torrents rushing down the slopes of the surrounding mountains.Whilst most of the waterfalls are on the right-hand side of the path in the lower part of the walk, there are one or two quite remarkable ones on the left-hand side too, along the stream flowing down from the north-western plateau.

Walking The Fairy Pools

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Fairy Pools
↔4.14 mi ↗+705 ft ↘-728 ft ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
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A short walk around the Fairy Pools, so you can see them from close up, followed by a tranquil walk in the valley, away from the crowds.

Walking The Fairy Pools

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↔2.27 mi ↗+404 ft ↘-433 ft ◔1h 25 ▲Moderate
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Walking Glen Brittle: between sea and mountains

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↔11.65 mi ↗+1,709 ft ↘-1,709 ft ◔6h 50 ▲Difficult
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Situated at the foot of the highest peaks on the Isle of Skye, Glen Brittle and its loch offer a unique hike to the ‘end of the world’.At Rudh an Dùnain, there is an ancient chapel in ruins; further on, an inland loch (Loch na h-Àirde) is strangely connected to the ocean by a so-called ‘Viking’ channel, which allows the high tides to pour in salt water, as well as a wall of what must once have been a fortress.A massive defensive wall still encloses the south-western section.And then, in season, the Càrn Mòr plateau is covered in flowering heather: quite simply magnificent.Another natural feature here is a huge stone staircase set right in the middle of the moor, allowing you to climb the slope.Soak up the colours, the light and the scents of this place, where sheep are, here too, the main inhabitants.As is the case throughout the region: spongy ground, peat, waterfalls, fords… water is ever-present here and is never shy about falling from the sky at any moment.

Walking Coire Lagan in the Cuillins

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↔12.61 mi ↗+4,081 ft ↘-4,065 ft ◔9h 20 ▲Difficult
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This is an ascent of the South ridge of Bla Bhienn starting from and returning to Elgol. It includes the cliff top walk to Camasunary Bay, followed by the ridge. The views are spectacular and the ridge is one of the most memorable mountain days to be had.

Walking Elgol to Camasunary in the Cuillin

Visorando Member
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↔9.21 mi ↗+1,437 ft ↘-1,421 ft ◔5h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Highland
A very nice hike along the water and mountains in the Cuillin.

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Visorando Member
Old Man of Storr
↔2.56 mi ↗+1,070 ft ↘-1,063 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
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A very short, easy walk to do late afternoon (when most walkers have come back down off the mountain) so you can enjoy the silence and evening light.

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