📌 Minginish, Isle of Skye
★★★★
The formidable hump rising out of the landscape east of the Talisker road end is Preshal More. Composed almost entirely of perfect dolerite columns (like basalt, but with larger crystals), its spectacular southern side is riven by steep gullies carpeted with shattered crystals, allowing a adrenaline rich escape to the moorland beyond. A little-visited broch, Dun Sleadale, breaks up the tough traipse to the massive sea cliffs behind, with stormy Talisker Bay’s boulder beach making up the third of the trio. The dramatic bay is backed by a tall waterfall which gets blown back upwards on windy days (which is most of them). Pathless, tussocky ground and steep ascents help to characterise this energy-sapping circuit. But between basalt, broch and bay, Preshal More, moor and more, there’s plenty to keep spirits high – or you could top them up again afterwards at Talisker Distillery, named after this place.
📷 Chronological photo guide
View north across the River Talisker from near the start 
North face of Preshal More 
View up the River Talisker from the ascent of Preshal More 
View north across the glen 
Talisker Bay from Preshal More summit 
Talisker Bay 
The descent from Preshal More is by a scree gully 
View back up the gully 
South face of Preshal More 
Looking back to Preshal More 
Dun Sleadale, Preshal beg beyond 
Preshal More from the broch 
Beinn nan Cuithean cliffs 
Talisker Bay ahead 
Distant Preshal More from the descent to Talisker Bay 
Steep descent on sheep paths 
Talisker Bay, with waterfall being blown upwards on the far side 
Preshal More from the return track 
Unexpected company at the car park – an unexpected sight!
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at minor road end, Talisker Bay, 3 mi west of Carbost, Skye
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 326306
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.287385,-6.438808
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Limited space at public road end (gets full) – don’t block access
📝 Key info
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 520 m | ⌛ 4-5 hr
Features: △ Preshal More (320 m); ⭕ Dun Sleadale; 🏖️ Talisker Bay
⬤ Tough | Mostly pathless on tussocky ground – occasionally wet. Steep ascent to Preshal More, with descent by steep scree gully. Sleadale Burn crossing would be tricky in spate. Later on the route is close to cliff edges, with another steep descent at Leathad Beithe. First & last section on tarmac road / clear track.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit with extension to Talisker Bay: start – minor road bridge over River Talisker – Preshal More (including west end) by minor valley to northeast – gully to south of Preshal More – Dun Sleadale – Beinn nan Cuithean cliffs – Leathad Beithe – Talisker Bay – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Peacocks at the car park; frogs, sheep.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with some blue skies over Talisker glen; strong, cold wind.
August 2015
