Walk Report for Sunday 22th October 2011 by Evelyn

Unish and Waternish Point : Skye

After moving to Clachamish on Skye in September, recovering from the trauma of the move and taking in the sheer delight of being here, one of the first things on my list was to find a walking club. After years in Edinburgh, hill walks few and far between, this was a priority.
 
A few hours of internet trawling and LTC looked like a definite possibility. Walks in Skye and Lochalsh - new members welcome - perfect. Even better the first walk was on Waternish Peninsula, close to my new home, and an area still to be explored.
 
The morning of the walk was wild - wet and windy, on first sight solitary Trumpan church looked really striking under the grey sky. Peter, Stella and Leslie were already at the car park when I arrived.
 
The planned circular walk was along a good path to Waternish Point lighthouse, continuing along the line of the cliffs and back to Trumpan, via Geary. However as the wind was so strong we agreed that it may not be wise to walk the very high cliffs beyond the lighthouse and would be best to return on the same path.
 
On route we passed Dun Borrafiach which we would explore on return. We also passed a commemorative cairn for a man who had died in a local battle between the Macleod’s and MacDonald’s. On the whole the path was not hard going but very waterlogged. The sight of a cliff waterfall spouting vertically into the air is definite proof of a windy day. Another Dun appeared out of the rain, Dun Gearymore, and soon after the little white lighthouse came into view.
 
On the way down to the cliffs we spent some time exploring Unish House, a massive black ruin of a house, gothic and imposing, surrounded by remains of croft houses. Peter discovered a sheltered spot by the cliffs for lunch and was the first to spot a seal with its big inquisitive doggy head. Another three appeared as we eat lunch, as interested in us as we in them. No view of the Outer Hebrides but the seals more than made up for that.
 
On return we walked along the cliff-top before returning to the path which had evolved into a river. Trumpan church in sight and we were so lucky to see at least six large hares in a field, close together, one jumped in the air shaking off droplets of rain and the rest ran in all directions.
 
My first LTC walk, exhilarating, wet and lots of fun.