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PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

Sgurr nan Gillean (Walk 3.1)

In 1968, youthful and blissfully receptive to a new world of exploration that was only then opening up for me, I first set foot on Skye. An uncomfortable, midgebitten night in the car on the edge of Camas na Sgianadin gazing out to the island of Scalpay did nothing to diminish an enthusiasm to explore this remarkable island that has been sustained through all the following years. This was a vision of the Promised Land, full of hope and endless opportunities, a place of raw elemental forces, a land barely scratched by man.

On that first, exciting visit I travelled northwards through Portree and around Trotternish, round to Uig and out to Dunvegan, all on narrow, serpentine roads the remains of which you can still see beside the carriageways of modern-day Skye, bringing back happy memories every time I travel them. Bracadale, Glen Brittle, the Cuillin, the Elgol peninsula and Sleat, all were crammed into that hurried, mesmeric journey of discovery; it was a journey I have been making ever since, year on year, sometimes many times a year, and still, with the remarkable virtuosity for which Skye is famous among those who have fallen under its spell, I discover new nooks and crannies, odd corners never found before. It seems it will never end.

There is no compromise with Skye; you either love it or hate it, but, if you are still making up your mind, be advised, persistence does pay off. Tales of outrageous weather, days and days of a rain-lashed island, blasted furiously by winds that are as strong as any in Britain, are grossly exaggerated – true, but exaggerated. Come to Skye expecting and equipped for wind, rain and cold, and anything else is a bonus. But what a bonus!

To truly appreciate the charm of Skye you must see it in all its moods, and you must accommodate those moods, leaning on the wind, walking through the rain, and your reward will be bright, clear days of vibrant colours, of seemingly infinite interest, way beyond your wildest imagination. And you must be patient. Do not be put off – come again, and again.

But the weather is only one influence on the remarkable persona of Skye. Its geology and land forms are so diverse that the student of morphology and the landscape will find endless days of wonder here, while around its tortuous coastline the ubiquitous seas have taken their toll, and fashioned their own contribution to the Island’s grandeur. The Island’s history is a microcosm of human enterprise and endeavour, of resilience and mutual reliance on neighbours and fellow men – you don’t fall out with neighbours if tomorrow you may need them to save your life.

Yet over-riding everything, there hangs an indefinable, almost supernatural quality that breeds a deep and abiding affection among all those privileged to share Skye’s secrets. Some describe it as ‘the Magic of Skye’, Seton Gordon called it the ‘Charm of Skye’, others ‘Skye fever’. Perhaps it has something to do with the elfin lore that pervades this island of mist, or the invigorating purity of the air, or the clarity of its light, or the wealth of legend, or simply the indelible imprint Skye makes on an open and receptive mind.

Your passage and presence across the Skye landscape, a long-established feature of access in Scotland generally, is matched by a kindness and understanding from those who own the land, and those who use it to produce a living. Proper and responsible appreciation of that kindness and understanding will not go unrewarded.

To everyone who ventures on to Skye in search of the rewards I have found, I wish you well and many hours of enjoyment that I know will flow from your quest. Maintain your faith with Skye, and Skye will keep its faith with you.

Preface to the Fourth Edition

I have been visiting Skye since 1968, and many years have gone by since the first edition of this book was published in 1996; in the meantime I have returned to Skye only to carry out interim revisions, to check that everything was where I’d left it. Other work has taken me across the world, but it is with great anticipation that I return to Skye to work on new editions; it is like coming home. In intervening years many of the forest plantations on Skye mature or are felled or are in the process of felling. There are a few places where this may alter or temporarily suspend some routes.

Whatever is said of Skye, it remains, and always will be, a most remarkable place, a land of passion, legend, pride and loyalties. For the walker, especially one who may never have ventured here before, it is a land of wonderment, of diverse and inspirational landscapes, of amazing views and massive skies.

Bla Bheinn across Loch Slapin (Walks 2.5 and 2.6)