Luib and Torrin Straths circuit

THE RED HILLS, BROADFORD, ELGOL AND RAASAY


Summary :	This walk crosses from coast to coast and back again across one of Skye's narrowest sections, using two old routes between the hills. It gives a quiet walk through wild countryside with some good views.
Terrain :	The route follows old rights of way and only short sections are completely pathless. However the going is rough in places and there are many very boggy sections. A fast-flowing stream has to be forded in Strath Mor, which could be dangerous in spate.
Grade :		Distance :	17.5km/10.75 miles
Bog Factor :		Time :	5 - 6 hours
Start :	Luib hamlet; alternatively Torrin	Grid ref :	NG564277
Map :	View an OS map of the route Buy Explorer 412 - Sleat online	Ascent :	370m
GPS Route/ Waypoints :	Open this walk in QUO 2 Tell me more Open this walk in GPX format (compatible with Memory map etc)	Open this walk in Google Earth Tell me more Open all walks in Google Earth Tell me more
Pronunciation and meaning :	Press play button to listen Tell me more
Public Transport :	Luib is well served by buses between Broadford and Portree; Torrin is on the Elgol bus route which has a much less frequent service.[Click for timetables - choose Area 4]

1. This walk combines the old routes through Strath Beag and Strath Mor to make a circuit around the peak of Beinn na Cro. It can be begun from either the Luib or Torrin end; the route from Luib is described as this is easier to reach from most parts of Skye. It also gives the advantage of having a cafe half way through the walk (open in the summer only). Park up on the minor road in Luib; there should be space on the side of the road nearest the river.

2. Walk up the Luib minor road, passing the remains of the former folk museum on the left. Immediately after this the road crosses a bridge; turn left after the bridge, where there is a public footpath sign. For the outward route, you will be following the track towards Strollamus; the other path is used on the return walk. Turn left and head along the track, which climbs uphill and gives good views back over Luib to Glamaig and its neighbours.

3. The track crosses a low pass, with a fine view down Strath Mor over a small loch. Continue over the pass, which reveals a vista of the narrows separating the Isle of Scalpay from Skye. The track contours the hillside before eventually descending towards Strollamus. Just before the track crosses the bridge over the Allt Strollamus, turn right off it onto a rough and boggy path. The path follows the west side of the stream. After about a kilometre, the path becomes confused with new tracks made for water extraction works; a track heads across the stream near a confluence. Do not cross the stream here, but instead keep to the steep west bank; the path soon improves once more on the climb up to the An Slugan pass. At the summit of the pass stands a wrought-gate: the fence it was once part of is long gone.

4. There is now a good view ahead to Loch Slapin, and the path heads across the valley to descend it's slopes on the east side, keeping high above the Allt an t-Sratha Beag. A stream is crossed when the fields of Torrin are reached; keep to the west side of the field boundaries to head down to the road. There is a cafe opposite which operates during the summer months. Turn right along the minor road, which slopes down to the shores of Loch Slapin and has a sensational view of Bla Bheinn. Keep on the road until the footpath sign for Luib just before the bridge over the river at the head of the loch. Turn right here to head up the second valley of the day - Strath Mor, which gives a shorter and lower but boggier crossing of the hill country than the Strath Beag used earlier.

5. The old track is excellent at first, but as it comes alongside the shores of Loch na Sguabaidh it becomes clear that the waters of the loch have become deeper in recent years, as sections of the track run under the water, leaving the walker to struggle along the boggy shore. The path emerges once more at the far end of the loch and keeps well to the right hand side of the valley; it does not cross the Abhainn an t-Sratha Mor before Lochan Sratha Mhor as shown on the OS map but instead keeps to the east side until after this second loch. Here the path disintegrates into a boggy morass, and shortly after passing the reed beds beyond the lochan it is best to head across to the other side of the valley. The stream is very deep in places; there is a narrow place which could be jumped by the athletic just above the lochan, but it is safer to wade across slightly further upstream.

6. The path improves once more, now on the west side of the valley, although it is still very boggy in places. A low, almost imperceptible pass is crossed before the final kilometre of descent leads back to Luib.

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