Altitude954 FeetTrail ConditionsForestry road followed by intermittent bogs and sheep trailsDifficultyLowExperience8/10Est. Time2-3 hoursDistance3 MilesStarting LocationVarragill River Lay-By on th…

Altitude 872 Feet Trail Conditions Gravel road followed by short boggy area Difficulty Low Experience 7/10 Est. Time 3-4 hours Distance 7 Miles Starting Location Ben Aketil Wind Farm Access History of the Local Area There are no widely recorded battles or singular historic landmarks directly on Ben Aketil itself, and the surrounding area is mostly comprised of Shieling Huts and Cairns.

Altitude 1505 Feet Trail Conditions Forestry track, boggy uphill section, spongy moss Difficulty Low Experience 8/10 Est. Time 2-3 hours Distance 5-6 Miles Starting Location Forestry entrance or Foresty car park before Fairy Pools History of the Local Area The Fairy Pools found to the south east of Beinn na Bhraghad is today an extraordinarily popular tourist destination due to it's often crystal clear pools surrounded by the dramatic Cuillins as a background, however, in 1601 it was the site of a conflict between the Macleods and Macdonalds which has since been referred to as the "Battle of Coire na Creiche" (translates to "The hollow of the spoil" from gaelic), which was so bloody that it's said the Fairy pools ran red with blood.

Altitude 682 Feet Trail Conditions Well-maintained forest track followed by boggy uphill section Difficulty Low Experience 7/10 Est. Time 2-3 hours Distance 5 Miles Starting Location Ghlinne Bhig Forest Walk Turnoff on B885 History of the Local Area A notable archaeological discovery was made near Loch a' Ghlinne Bhig during the construction of the forestry track in the late 1970s. Workers uncovered a carved wooden bowl preserved in the peat, which was later radiocarbon dated to around 20 AD.

The Old Man of Storr, a prominent Isle of Skye landmark, features a medium to high difficulty trail of 7-8 miles starting at Storr Car Park. With stunning views, the hike takes 3-5 hours. It's surrounded by folklore and geologically significant formations, attracting over 220,000 visitors annually.

This walk actually took place near the end of last year. This time I found myself climbing Suidh' a' Mhinn "Seat of the Gentle" near Kilmuir on one of the last sunny days of the year.