Welcome to my Substack blog. If you are here because you’ve just purchased a copy of my book, Skye Line, thank you, and I hope you enjoy the read! Please feel free to post comments or questions below.
On this page, you can enjoy all the photographs that feature in the book in full colour, as well as extra images marked with an asterisk. Also, you can follow my route as you read with this link to the GPX track: Link to OS maps.
You can discover more stories about my backpacking trips around Scotland, Northumberland and Cumbria on my home page. And subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work:
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Loch Eilt from the train to Mallaig the previous day
*First view of Loch a’ Ghlinne*
View of the lily-pad covered Loch a’ Ghlinne
*One of the many toads on the path at Loch a’ Ghlinne*
Beach on the west coast of Sleat with the Cuillins on the skyline where I swam
*Brew on the beach*
*Adder*
The village of Tarskavaig. (A similar view features on the cover of ‘A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye’ by David Paterson, the inspiration for my walk.)
*Arrival in the village of Ord. A search for the derivation of the name led me to discover Alexander Smith's wonderful historical portrait of the island: A Summer in Skye, that became my writing companion *
View of Ord beach
Chapter 4: Sleat’s Labyrinth
*Morning view from the tent*
First campsite north of Ord
Birch woodland on Sleat
One of the deep gullies I had to cross on Sleat
*Trying to find a way out of the gully*
*Clambering around the shore of Loch Eishort*
Oak tree on Loch Eishort (a welcome break)
My second campsite near Heaste
Chapter 5: Munificence in Torrin
*Sunrise on day two*
*Essential midge net*
Looking west down Loch Eishort with Rùm on the horizon
Waterfall at Boreraig
*The remains of a building at Boreraig*
Sheep guarding the path
Suisnish and Loch Slapin with Cuillins behind
*Figures on the beach at Loch Slapin*
Quarry near Torrin
Lunch stop at Torrin
The way ahead - up Allt Aigeinn
Camp at Bealach na Beiste (calm before the storm)
Chapter 6: Tempest in Sligachan
Getting wet at Point 489
Rainbows in Glen Sligachan
*Approaching the Sligachan Hotel*
Looking back up Glen Sligachan from the Sligachan Hotel
People on the bridge at Sligachan Hotel (the first I’d seen in a few days)
*Hikers on the path alongside Loch Sligachan*
Library phone box at Peinachorrain (near the mouth of Loch Sligachan)
*Finally approaching Portree*
Chapter 7: A Friend in Portree
*The welcoming Hostel at Portree*
*Checking my maps for the days ahead*
Portree
*A highland cow just past Portree*
Possible White-Tailed Eagle? (you decide)
*A picture of the same bird in flight*
Hiking companion (north of Portree)
*Photo of me taken by Logan*
Chapter 8: The Big Old Man
Looking north from campsite towards the Old Man of Storr
*Approaching the Old Man of Storr above Loch Leathan*
*Old Man of Storr Car Park*
*Climbing up the hill in the rain*
*The clouds begin to lift*
The Old Man of Storr pointing skywards
*People admiring the view*
*Escarpment on the Trotternish Ridge*
*Breathtaking views to the north*
*Cloud patterns over land and sea*
Summit of Beinn Edra
*Sunset on the evening of day six*
Chapter 9: Amazing Skye
*First light on day seven*
Sunrise over my tent
*Leave no trace*
*Light and landscape*
Looking north along the Trotternish Ridge to Cleat
Looking north to the Quiraing
*The Quiraing Car Park, where I was given a lighter*
People admiring the view at the Quiraing car park
*Second breakfast*
Overlooking the Quiraing and Staffin Bay
*Path up from ‘The Table’*
The final summit at Sgùrr Mòr with the Outer Hebrides on the horizon
*Land’s End*
*Filtering water on the way down*
*Steep drop down to Glen Scamadal*
The Flat Lands: Crossing Abhai n Sneosdal
*Flowers to press for my notebook*
Tractor near Duntulm
Wedding photographs at Duntulm Castle
*A final swim in Tulm Bay*
*An underwater garden*
*Looking back to Duntulm*
Room with a view: Bothie overlooking Rubha Hunish
Sunset over the Outer Hebrides
Northern Lights
Chapter 10: Journey’s End
*View from my tent on the final day*
Sunrise on the final day
Morning calm
A final farewell: Rubna Hunish and the Outer Hebrides
*Waiting for the bus back to Portree with Toon*
Appendix 1: Kit List
My hiking kit
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Fabulous pics - I have just ordered the book!