Slow Travel
Here at Eilean Sionnach Lighthouse Cottage on The Isle of Skye, rather than rushing all around the island of Skye, we really recommend that you explore the hidden treasures of the Sleat peninsula. We love the concept of ‘slow travel’ and of really getting to grips with the hidden corners, so often overlooked by the masses.
In our opinion, one of these places in our local area for easy walking on Skye is the historic settlement of Leitir Fura. The breath-taking walk to the village and back and presents you with stunning views down the Sound of Sleat, which is the body of water that separates Skye from mainland Scotland. It’s also a great spot for taking a photograph of Eilean Sionnach! The view continues on past our wee island, sweeping all the way down the Sound of Sleat and just visible on a clear day are Mallaig and then the Small Isles (Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna).
A Sad Tale
There’s a sad tale related to the village of Leitir Fura, where once a great oak tree grew and fourteen houses stood. The settlement was home to some of the MackInnes clan of Skye. Reportedly, up to 40 cattle could seek shade under the branches of the massive oak tree. A story passed down through the ages that one day, some children from the village were playing near the big oak and accidentally set fire to it. As a result, the family in question were evicted from their home, never to be allowed to return.
Other villagers remained, but eventually left due to the hardship and extreme poverty such a remote location induced. You’ll begin to understand when you arrive there, what a harsh place it must have been to live, despite the wonderful views.
Walk the Route
The entire Leitir Fura walking route is around 4 miles/6.5km and may take around 2 hours. It’s a beautiful country walk with stunning vistas.
The Walk Highlands website is a great place to get more detailed information about the walk itself:
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/kinlochforest.shtml
Walk Highlands is generally a fantastic resource for planning your country walks on Skye, or elsewhere in The Highlands of Scotland.
Treat Yourself
Something else you need to know! After your walk to Leitir Fura there could be a real treat in store at the end. When you’ve filled your lungs with fresh air, discovered a little something about the local history and taken more photographs than anyone else would ever care to look at, we highly recommend you pay a visit to our wonderful neighbour, Kinloch Lodge Hotel. At Kinloch you can stop, relax and enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by chef Jordan Webb and his team while you recover from your exertions.
What a wonderful way to spend a day on Skye, don’t you think?
Adventure awaits!
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