Dun Ringill, Kilmarie
THE RED HILLS, BROADFORD, ELGOL AND RAASAY
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1. Park at the small car park just beyond the Kilmarie house next to Kilmarie burial ground. Walk back up the road past the house until you reach a metal gate on the right leading to a woodland path. Follow this path and cross the ornate bridge over the Abhainn Cille Mahaire. Kilmarie House was until 1994 owned and lived in by Ian Anderson, the singer and flautist who fronted Jethro Tull, since 1968. He sold the estate at a very reasonable price to the John Muir Trust who now manage the land with conservation as the first priority.
2. Immediately after crossing the bridge take the path on the right running parallel to the river. The path heads out to the bay passing a ford with stepping stones. Don't go through the gate but keep to a grassy path alongside the fence. At one point the fence turns left (leading towards a stile) – continue straight on here across a tiny stream to reach another stile further on. Cross this stile and follow the boggy path beyond.
3. A clear, and in places boggy, path follows the coast climbing very gently. In a short distance it joins a clearer path coming in from the left (this route is used for the return). After a small rocky headland, the built remains of Dun Ringill can be seen on the right near the cliff edge. The path leads over to the Dun. The entrance is intact and can be passed through to give a good view up and down the coast from the Dun. Dun Ringill was the original seat of Clan Mackinnon before they moved to Castle Moil at Kyleakin. It was built on the site of an earlier iron age broch or fort.
4. After exploring the coast and enjoying the views, return back along the path to where you came up from the left earlier. This time continue on the main path; soon it crosses a stream on the edge of the wood. One path goes downhill left from here to return to the outward route; instead, follow the path uphill to the right into the trees. Soon this path passes a bench; a very short distance beyond this turn left along another grassy path. This passes the remains of some stone buildings with a view of the twin summits of Blaven ahead. Turn left at yet another fork and the path soon becomes a track.
5. Continue along the track. Soon it heads down towards a dip with a rise ahead; look out on the left before the dip for a path heading into the trees (a sign here reads 'No Camping, No Fires). This path leads back down through the woods to the footbridge crossed near the start of the walk. Immediately before reaching the footbridge, look left to see a prominent but overgrown grassy mound. This is the Kilmarie Chambered Cairn, one of the best examples on the island. Near the top of the cairn (on the same side as the stream) is a small square opening or cist; these were used for burial. A beaker found in the cist here is in the National Museum of Scotland. Take great care not to disturb or damage the site before returning over the bridge to the start.
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