Loch Cuithir and Diatomite railway
TROTTERNISH, PORTREE AND THE BRAES
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1. Park at the large lay-by above the Lealt river on the A855 road, on the right hand side when heading from Portree to Staffin. Cross the road and take the minor road off on the opposite side slightly up the hill - signed for Lealt. This road becomes a track after a kilometre; follow the track west passing the clear remains of lazy beds in the left hand fields. Pass 3 concrete posts and continue on the track as it slopes downhill and nears the Lealt river. After just over 2 kilometres a wooden pallet on the left bridges the roadside ditch. Cross this to follow the disused diatomite railway which is boggy in places. Alternatively the track can be continued to Loch Cuithir. The route of the railway is easy to follow and the tracks are visible where bridges over small streams are now missing. The railway climbs before descending to reach a larger stream with the track visible to the right. Cross the stream and continue west across peat hags alongside another stream until a bridge enables you to reach the track at the end of Loch Cuithir.
2. There are dramatic views of Sgurr a Mhadaidh Ruaidh (Peak of the Red Fox) and Loch Cuithir itself makes a good picnic spot. Just over 100 years ago this was an industrial site with diatomite being extracted from the base of the loch and transported to Invertote via the railway. Diatomite is a fossilised shell substance that, once processed, has many uses from toothpaste to dynamite. The railway was built in 1887 and was initially powered by men and gravity although a locomotive was later used. Once the diatomite had been extracted from the loch bed it was dried on wire nets and then transported on the railway to storehouses at Invertote.
3. At the base of the cliffs at Invertote there was a drying and grinding factory where the diatomite was kiln dried, ground and roasted before being shipped out by sea. The remains of these industrial buildings can be seen on the Lealt Falls walk. From Loch Cuithir return along the track to the parking spot at Lealt.
4. From the parking area, it is worth making a short walk along the well-worn path to a viewpoint on the coast, where the Diatomite works can be seen far below. It is possible to descend further from here and enter the bottom of the Lealt falls canyon, where there is a fine waterfall, but this is steep.
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