The Isle of Skye is by far my favourite part of Scotland. Each part of the island has stunning features very different from the next. On this trip the possibilities are legion. As usual there are no set itineraries as the weather and group preferences will dictate when to go high and when to do a lower level walk.
This trip runs from Saturday 12th July to Saturday19th July 2008. We'll head up on the Saturday aiming to do a pickup from Fort William Railway station at about 2:30. This is flexible, let us know your requirements as later pickups will be possible.
Accommodation.We'll be staying in one (or both) of the Chalets next to the Sligachan hotel. Each Chalet sleeps 8 in one double and 3 twin bedrooms. If more than 8 people book then we will attempt to book the second chalet and start to fill that one up. If the second chalet is already booked out we'll have to close bookings when we get to 8 people, so book early to avoid disappointment. There is no single supplement but if you are holidaying on your own you may be asked to share a twin room if necessary. If you would like to discuss this further then please don't hesitate to get in touch.
What we'll get up to.We plan to arrive in Skye around 8pm. After dinner we'll start looking over the maps and discussing our options for the following day. My personal highlights of this trip include.
 The Quiraing
The weird and wonderful Quiraing rock formations to the north of the island were formed as part of the massive series of land slips along the Trotternish Ridge, indeed the Quiraing is still moving.
There are a couple of routes that we can take going into this area, one a bit more challenging than the other. Not a good choice if the weather is terrible but great on a clear day like above and even better (in my opinion) if the cloud is low adding extra atmosphere as the formations go in and out of view as the cloud swirls around them.
 Corrie Lagan
The Black Cullins are famous with walkers and climbers throughout the UK. It offers the undisputed finest ridge walk in the British Isles. The Black Cullins are black due to them being made up (primarily) of a rock called gabbro, this rock is a joy to walk on as it is incredibly grippy. Unfortunately we won't be doing the ridge walk as it is far to extreme an undertaking for this holiday (it is less of a walk and more of an endurance test comprising of 15 hours of relentless climbing up and down the dragons back of a ridge).
We can, however get right into the heart of the Cullins up to Corrie Lagan. From this corrie you can see (on a good day) the infamous Inaccessible pinnacle (pictured left), the only one of Scotland's Munroes that requires a graded rock climb to conquer. On the way down we'll take the somewhat boggy and less trodden path to the Eas Mor waterfall.
If there is a call for it an adventurous group may return to the Black Cullins later in the week and attempt to attain the ridge and follow it for a short period.
 Macleods Tables
Macleod's Tables stand alone (if 2 things can stand alone) in the North-West of Skye giving fine views over the rest of the island and off to the Outer Hebrides. According to legend Macleods tables got their shape when St. Columba, on his visit to a fort nearby, was very ill treated by the chief. The chief, being a hard man, denied St. Columba a place to rest his head for the night. The rocks - being more hospitable - crumbled and flattened so to host St. Columba as men were not able to do so.
 Macleod's Maidens
If you're tired of going up and down all day there is an option of a coastal walk to see Macleod's Maidens. Legend has it that Macleod's Maidens, three sea stacks lying to the south of Idrigill Point on Skye, are named after the wife and daughters of one of the Macleod chiefs. The chief had been wounded in a battle on the island of Harris and his family were returning to Dunvegan Castle when their boat was wrecked in a storm and they were drowned. The tallest of the stacks, the 'mother', is between 220-250 feet high and the smallest is around 100 feet.
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