Читать книгу The Isle of Skye - Terry Marsh - Страница 15

WALK 1.4

Sgurr na Coinnich

Start/Finish	Bealach Udal (NG753207), limited parking
Distance	4km (2¼ miles)
Total ascent	460m (1510ft)
Map	OS Explorer 412

With its near neighbour, Beinn na Caillich, Sgurr na Coinnich lies in a rough corner of Skye, the first aspect of the island seen by visitors arriving via Kyle of Lochalsh. A better view is to be had from Glenelg, across the Sound of Sleat, and it is from this direction, by way of the Kylerhea ferry, that strong walkers might come to effect a quick sortie on the tussock grass and heather flanks of these craggy, infrequently-visited hills.

You can park at Kylerhea, cross the Sound as a pedestrian passenger, walk up Kylerhea Glen to Bealach Udal, tackle the summit from there, and return to Kylerhea by way of Beinn Bhuidhe; not a prospect for the faint-hearted, but a good and satisfying round that will require between 5 and 6 hours once on the island.

The untracked ascent from Bealach Udal is initially very rough and crag-ridden, but can be eased, slightly, by setting off from a little lower down Kylerhea Glen, from the point where the road starts to descend steeply towards Kylerhea. From here you can reach the south ridge, though it is not very prominent as such, by keeping to the left of a conspicuous buttress (due south of the small lochan at NG760209, for which you should first navigate). Once round the buttress head for the south ridge and another, larger lochan at NG759220, from where you can gain the summit ridge and so the top of the hill. As you climb, you leave much of the difficult terrain behind, moving rather more easily on short turf, which comes as a fine reward for the effort lower down.

The summit view is quite spectacular – a phrase that could be used for almost every mountain top on the Island – embracing the kyles at your feet, the mainland peaks, and the great thumb of the Sleat peninsula. The speediest return is by your outward route, though the ascent of Sgurr na Coinnich is usually combined with that of Beinn na Caillich (see Walk 1.5).

KYLERHEA

Glenelg and the surrounding area was believed to be one of the main strongholds of the mystical race of giants called the Fiennes. Kylerhea is named after one of the Fiennes called Mac an Raeidhinn, who, racing back to Glenelg to defend it from attackers, failed in his attempt to leap the Sound at this point.

The kyle is a valuable sanctuary for wildlife, especially otters, seals and the wide variety of seabirds that visit these coastal waters. Sharks, too, pass this way from time to time.