Hiking trip Scotland Isle of Skye, Cuillin hills 2010

This was my first real hiking with my nearly 9 year old son. The plan was to go to Scotland and to decide based on the weatherforecast where we would go. The Cuillin hills at Skye was the place to go. We made our trip in May 2010.



Skye or the Isle of Skye (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or Eilean a' Cheò) is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills.

The Cuillin (Scottish Gaelic: An Cuilthionn or An Cuiltheann) are a range of rocky mountains located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The true Cuillin are also known as the Black Cuillin to distinguish them from the Red Hills (Am Binnean Dearg) across Glen Sligachan. The Red Hills are lower and, being less rocky, have fewer scrambles or climbs.

Details

• easy trip
• 25 km (3 days with 9 year old boy)
• Overnight stay in tent, no logistics
• No clear paths, you need to find your own way

Summary of trip
We flew from Amsterdam to Edinburgh, rented a car and drove to the Isle of Skye. We camped at a small campsite just before the new large bridge.The next day we drove to a small village called Egol. From Egol there are several ferries leaving to The Cullins. The sailing trip is fantastic, especially when you have good views and clear skies. A lot of seals in the waters South of The Cullins. The ferry berths at the South End of Loch Coruisk.  We arrived in the early afternoon and headed along the South shores of the lake to have lunch an the end.



Continued along the lake following the North side, more rocky then the South side. At the end of the lake you can bear right to go to the ferry berthing place. We went left up to the pass. We pitch our tent on a plateau at Loch a' Choire Riabhaich. In the early evening we went up to a high spot to oversee the Cullins.

The next day we went NNE climbing the hills and going down to enter the valley North of Loch an Athain. There is a clear track down hill and also in the valley towards Camasunary passing. At the shore of the sea you'll find a bothy. We camped outside on a the grass with fantastic views across the sea. After a very windy night we left and followed the coastline heading South East to Egol. After a few days of day trip at Skey and some sightseeing, we flew back to Amsterdam.

Recommendation

The trip descibed above is easy to do, also with kids, no dangerous places and enough variation. The walk rounding Loch Coruisk is ver nice. A good alternative to see the Cullins without having to climb too much.

For more picures please click here