A Long Walk on the Isle of Skye (Part 3)

Day 4 Broadford to Loch Coruisk.

My logistical problems had been solved by paying a visit to the bus stop to read the timetables on the way back to the hostel from the pub. It turns out that on school days there is an early morning bus service from Broadford to Portree via Torrin and other surrounding settlements.
And so at 07:20 I returned to the bus stop on a glorious frosty morning for the short journey along a narrow road to pick up my planned route at Torrin. I was the only passenger to board the bus at Broadford and chatted to the driver who explained that the bus service operated to transport pupils to the only secondary school on the island in Portree some 20 miles or so away.
Despite my disappointment of having to cut out part of the route due to the bad weather the previous day, I had enjoyed the break in Broadford. It is a friendly town with all the amenities I needed and I could see this being a good base for a future visit to Skye.
As it was, I alighted the bus by the shore of Loch Salpin and stood looking in awe at the magnificent mountain that is Bla-Bheinn soaring above the far side of the Loch.
The weather was outstandingly good once again as I set off along the road around the head of the Loch.

Snow capped Bla-Bheinn and the ridge line to Belig

Loch Salpin

Reflections

I followed the B road soaking up the views in all directions as far as Kirkibost where I turned off on a minor road, alongside the river to the beach at Kilmarie. An early lunch, which was becoming a feature of this walk, was taken looking out over Loch Salpin towards the west coast of Sleat that I had walked two days ago. 

I called in at an atmospheric old graveyard before continuing the walk along tracks and paths just above the coastline to Glasnakillie to pick up the minor road to Elgol.

This is the road to Elgol

I called in at the shop on the way into the village which also doubles up as a  tea room and stocked up on half price, out of date  Mars bars and enjoyed mugs of tea and coffee cake sat outside in the mid-day sunshine. 

While in the pub last night, I had researched the Elgol-Loch Coruisk boat trips on my smart phone and I had phoned Stuart at Misty Isle Boat Trips who explained that the boat ran trips all day and that a ticket could be purchased for a one way trip only. This had not been on my original route plan but I quite fancied the idea of travelling in to Loch Coruisk by boat. 

I made my way from the tea room to the jetty to await the next Misty Isle boat.

The Coullin Hills from Elgol beach

My idea of heaven

I had an hour or so to wait for the Misty Isle to return to Elgol and spent the time chatting to Anne in the kiosk and lazing about on and around the beach taking photos of the Isles of Rum and Soay and the stunning Coullin Hills. 

Eventually the beautiful Misty Isle returned to the jetty and I boarded the boat along with a few other passengers for the short journey across Loch Scavaig to Loch Coruisk.

Stewart  entertains whilst dad Seumas skippers the Misty Isle

Emerald lochans on the approach to the landing point 

Loch Coruisk and some joker

Unspoilt view of Loch Coruisk

Looking back, from the path by the Loch

Wild camp at the head of the Loch

Looking towards Sgurr na Stri from the best camp site in the World (probably). 

Waiting for the stars 

Cuillin skyline

All in all....not a bad day at all.