Loch and Woodland on Skye

This is a pleasant walk through woodland between Loch Slapin on the Isle of Skye and the towering peaks of Bla Bheinn. It starts at the small car park on the B8083 just round the top of Loch Slapin from the village of Torrin. You walk through woodland that was mainly Forestry Commission conifers, but since the area was bought by the John Muir Trust this is being replaced with more attractive native species such as birch and hazel. After a while you emerge onto more open ground, and you get good views of Loch Slapin, and across it the scattered houses of Torrin and the hills of the Red Cuillin. You can also see the remains of an old limestone quarry which used to produce "Skye marble". In the other direction the high cliffs and sharp ridges of Bla Bheinn are dramatic.

Into the woodland again and you come to the deserted settlement of Keppoch. This began as a group of long houses and grew into a substantial crofting township, but was entirely cleared in the nineteenth century. The woodland that swallowed it up has been largely removed, and it is worth exploring. Keppoch (c.3½ km from the start) is the furthest point of the walk, and you can return either along the same path or along the road, which takes you closer to the loch shore. If you are still feeling energetic when you get back to the car park you could explore the first bit of the path up to Bla Bheinn, which starts from the car park.

Please note that this walk can become very muddy in wet weather