Staffin slipway circuit
TROTTERNISH, PORTREE AND THE BRAES
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1. Staffin is a traditional crofting community scattered around a lovely bay. It remains a stronghold of the Gaelic language. Park in the car park at Columba 1400 - a community and leadership training centre providing courses for disadvantaged young people and businesses across the UK. It also houses an excellent cafe, and serves meals until 7pm. The walk starts up the steep gravel track signed for An Corran. Go through the kissing gate and follow the clear path up the hill. This field was part of the glebe land of the Free Church of Scotland and was traditionally worked by the community to provide upkeep for the church and minister.
2. After crossing the stile the path continues over the moor until reaching the start of a steep zig zagging descent to Staffin slipway seen below. There are the remains of an iron-age chambered cairn just to the left of the path. Looking back there are great views of the whole Trotternish ridge from the Storr to the Quiraing whilst Ben Alligin is prominent among the mainland peaks. Follow the paved path down to the shore, taking care as the stones can be slippery when wet.
3. After exploring the slipway head left along the coast road. Boat trips can be taken here in the summer. At the lay-by head down a ramp to explore the small sandy beach at An Corran. At low tide fossilised dinosaur footprints are exposed to the right of the large boulders on the flat mud stone. These are sometimes obscured by sand. The footprints belong to the three-toed Hadrosaur, a carnivore which lived 170 million years ago. More recently the land above the beach was the site of an important mesolithic community. Stone tools made here have been found in Applecross and other ancient sites. The site is now buried under the road.
4. Return to the coast road and follow it to the bridge over the Stenscholl river. This is a good spot to look for otters particularly where the river meets the sea. Keep left following the road up the hill to the T junction with the main road. Turn left to return to Columba 1400 passing Staffin Stores on the right.
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