Elgol, Isle of Skye
★★★
Bonnie Prince Charlie must have been pretty desperate when he slept here, in this smelly and muddy cave, for his last night on Skye. Fleeing along the cliffs from Elgol, he probably didn’t fully appreciate the coastal scenery, or views back towards the Cuillin Hills. Hidden from the coast path by a vertical drop, accessing the 50 metre-long cave involves continuing to where the cliffs relent at Port an Luig Mhor then doubling back along the shore. The last section along the bouldery beach is incredibly slippery and fully submerged at high tide – there’s just as much chance of a slip here as on the Cuillin Ridge. At least if you get stranded here one evening with a twisted ankle you’ll know where to stay
Chronological photo guide
Location
O.S. Grid Reference: NG 516135
GPS coordinates: 57.145509,-6.107329
Extremely infrequent bus to Elgol Community Centre
Car park
Key info
4 km / 2 mi | ▲ 170 m |
2-2.5 hr
Features:
Elgol & coastline;
Prince Charles’s Cave
⬤ Moderate | Moorland coastal path, fairly boggy in places. Very slippery, bouldery foreshore for last section. Short scramble to enter the actual cave. Be aware of tide times for accessing the beach.
Out-and-back walk: start – Suidhe nan Eun – Port an Luig Mhoir – double back along tidal beach to Prince Charles’s Cave (the second cave you reach) – return by outward route (minor shortcuts available)
On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep, cows; rockpool life on beach.
Weather: Light rain coupled with a strong southerly wind made for an unpleasant outward journey.
August 2015
