Seal Walk (Dunvegan)

DUIRINISH, WATERNISH, DUNVEGAN AND CENTRAL SKYE


Summary :	A short walk onto the little visited Fiadhairt peninsula, the south shores of which are the best place in Skye for seeing seals close up.
Terrain :	A short walk across grassy moorland with faint sheep tracks
Grade :		Distance :	3km/1.75 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	1 - 2 hours
Start :	Just before causeway between lochs on the Claigan minor road	Grid ref :	NG240507
Map :	View an OS map of the route Buy Explorer 407 - Dunvegan online	Ascent :	87m
GPS Route/ Waypoints :	Open this walk in QUO 2 Tell me more Open this walk in GPX format (compatible with Memory map etc)	Open in Virtual Highlands Tell me more Open this walk in Google Earth Tell me more
Pronunciation and meaning :	Press play button to listen Tell me more
Public Transport :	No direct public transport. Nearest bus stop Dunvegan castle (bus 56 from Portree) - walk 2km along Claigan road to start.[Click for timetables - choose Area 4]

1. Park on the Claigan road two kilometres beyond Dunvegan Castle; the best place is on the right hand side just before the road crosses a causeway between two small, reedy lochs. Walk across the causeway, turning left immediately afterwards on a track and passing over a gate. Beyond are two small, grassy hills - walk through the valley between them. As Loch Dunvegan comes into view, with Dunvegan castle prominent over to the left, follow a clear sheep path round the hill to the right. This soon has a track forking left down to the narrow neck of land at An Dubh-Aird, where seaweed filled inlets almost meet. Cross the neck, and follow a path just above the wall by the left hand inlet. This sheep path slowly slopes uphill to cross a low ridge, with a more open view ahead.

2. Head south for the sheltered shores of Loch Dunvegan on the south side of the Fiadhairt peninsula. These shores are much favoured by the Loch Dunvegan common seal colony, which is the largest on Skye. They can often be seen basking on the rocks either on shore or just out in the sea. Approach very quietly, taking care not to disturb the seals too much. There are usually many of them swimming in the water; when in the water, the seals are much more confident and often swim quite close, seemingly as inquisitive as their human visitors.

Photo ©Marcel Buckhard; reproduced under GNU FDL.

3. The return is by the same route. Once across the narrow neck of land, the track contouring the hill round to the left can be followed back to the start to give some variation.

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