One of the delights of holidays with your dogs is the chance to explore new places. Good your your head and good for your dogs nose.
But Skye and Lochalsh can be a challenge. We’ve free ranging sheep and cattle on common grazings related to crofting and lots of people keep chickens, and these might be free roaming too. The deer population in Skye and Lochalsh is quite low but in Kintail, Torridon, Glen Elg, you’ll find more.. And there are ground nesting birds in places. So always make your own assessment before letting your dog off the lead and unless your dog has remarkably low prey drive, you’ll need to be alert.
As we are within land on the Balmacara Estate, there is great information provided by Forest and Land Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland on local walks.
Fortunately, the woodland walks above Varis are livestock free. There is the occasional deer but there aren’t many. There may be livestock or horse s in the fields below the footpath between Varis and Kirkton.
When we stay in the house, our dogs regular morning circuit is up into the woodland behind the house. There are a number of variants including going to the top of the local peak Scurr Mor and Auchtertyre Hill. Lovely views. Dogs are normally safe to be off the lead around this circuit if they’ve good recall. You’ll meet other local dog walkers so usual care is needed.
if you want something gentler, then the path from our metal gate towards Kirkton is flat or gently undulating. It’s part of the ‘Kirk road’ from Balmacara Square to the church at Kirkton. The right of way Kirk road goes through our garden but everyone uses the path diversion below the house.
We also walk our dog at
The Plock – just as you go onto the Skye Bridge, park at the old Toll Office and walk into this community managed area. Much of the land was used for many years as a golf course but it’s become a rich habitat and a valued community resource. Cattle are sometimes used to help manage the land so exercise some caution but it’s normally livestock free. There are some great places for you and your dog to take a dip in the sea. And a few very peaty small streams which mean you might suddenly get very interested in sea bathing for dogs.
Coral Beach, by Plockton airstrip. Head to Plockton, turn left over railway bridge and follow signs to Rowan Croft. At the Croft, turn left and follow the road to a parking area. Follow the path to the beach. There may livestock in the field on either side of the path or indeed on the path or even on the beach. But most times, it’s a great place to run free.
Ard Hill – the hill in front of Varis to the left is Ard Hill and there is a network of forest tracks. If you bear left, you can get onto the shore where the Ard sticks out from Balmacara Bay and there are some nice stoney beaches below the cliffs.
Leitir Fura Trail, Kinloch Forest – along the road to Sleat on the left just before Kinloch Lodge is Kinloch Forest. It’s well signposted. Drive to the parking area and follow a good forest track to the ruins of a cleared village. You can return via a higher less well made path.
Marble Path – from Broadford runs the road to Elgol. A short distance beyond the village is the start of the Marble paths. There is a section of the walk that benefits from deer fencing. Beware however that there are ground nesting birds in the area so don’t let your dog run free May to August.
Lochash Woodland.Garden the NTS’s base is just along the shore from Reraig and the woodland has a range of walks. It is fenced on the side of the A87 but exercise a little caution particularly at the start of the walk and higher places on the walk further in just in case there is a gap in the fence.
Kyleakin Forest walk. This 3km circular walk around Cnoc a’Mhadaidh Ruaidh, which, according to the sign at the start of the walk, translates to ‘Hill of the Fox’ gives pleasant views.
Further afield
Point of Sleat – A 3 to 4 hour walk to the southernmost point of Skye. Good spot for seeing marine mammals and views to the islands of Eigg and Rum. Nice freshwater pool part of the way if you fancy a dip.
Eynort Forest Walk – This straightforward, waymarked walk through forestry plantations offers some fine views over Loch Eynort, with picnic benches.
Coral Beach, Claigan. Worth visiting for the white coral sands – and if you dare a wade or swim to the Lampay which only connected at the lowest tides. . Combine with a visit to Dunvegan Castle (dogs permitted in garden but not castle) and just head north.
