Broadford Marble Line
THE RED HILLS, BROADFORD, ELGOL AND RAASAY
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1. From the car park cross the main road and follow it in the direction of Portree for a few minutes. Just before you get to the bridge over the Broadford River turn left onto a path running next to the river. Follow this as it skirts around the Broadford Hotel and emerges onto the Torrin road in a few hundred metres. Turn right onto the road and follow it out of Broadford and slightly uphill past a small conifer plantation.
2. After reaching the top of the uphill section look for a signed path leading from the road to the left. Take this path which quickly reaches the remains of the railway line used to transport marble from the quarries at Kilchrist to the pier at Broadford. The quarries ran from the early 18th century until the last quarry closed in 1912. The railway was a relatively late innovation, although it is believed that the same route was used for an aerial ropeway before engine power took over. Follow the old railway as it contours along the side of Strath Suardal, passing through two gates above houses at Suardal.
3. The lower quarry is marked by heaps of waste marble at the side of the line. Continue on the path and climb up a steep section to the remains of the higher quarry. Here the circular remains of a winding wheel used to pull wagons up the steep incline can be seen. There are also more waste heaps and the remains of buildings. From here, looking down the valley, there are good views of Blaven, one of the Cuillin munros.
4. Return along the marble line. After a fairly short distance you reach the sign to Cill Chriosd church. This is worth the 1.4km detour to explore the ruins of the main church of the area, busy when Strath Suardal was heavily populated as it was one of the most fertile parts of the island. The churchyard has an interesting collection of headstones and fine views over Loch Cill Chriosd. Returning to the main route, continue along the path until, having passed a clear bend in the road below, a path, signed for Coire-that-achan branches off to the left. Take this path to the road and after crossing the road follow the path passed the remains of a chambered cairn and down towards the Broadford River.
5. The route crosses the river on a wooden bridge and the follows a path and track around the edge of Coire-that-achan. Next to the barn, the remains of the stone house can be seen. Johnson and Boswell stayed here in 1786 during their tour of the Hebrides. Although Boswell suffered from toothache and terrible hangovers, they enjoyed their visit and Boswell climbed Beinn na Caillich behind the house. Conditions were cramped though, with at least 11 people staying in the house which belonged to the Chief of the Makinnons of Strath.
6. From the barn and sheep fank walk up the track, passed the more modern farmhouse, to the road end. Here turn right and walk along the pleasant minor road passed Old Corry to emerge on the main A87. Turn right and after a very short while cross the road where a small layby gives access to the path and cycle track just beyond the main road. Turn right onto this path and follow it all the way back to Broadford.
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