Isle of Raasay - Clachan, Dùn Caan and Inverarish

From the start the walk heads up into forests of pine and beech, the first point of interest being the lovely little Loch a' Mhuilinn. Although used by Raasay House Hotel and Outdoor Activity Centre for fishing and canoeing, it remains a haven of peace overhung by trees and rhododendron bushes.

Out in open countryside, marvellous views open up over to Skye on your left from a roadside viewpoint overlooking the tiny hamlet of Oskaig. The lochs to the right are excellent rest stops, filled with water lilies and dragonflies in early summer. Keep an eye out for scuttling sounds in the grass — Raasay has its own unique species of bank vole!

The mountain path offers a clear stony climb, fairly gradual until reaching the beautiful mountain lochs. The largest, Loch na Meilich, is Raasay's major source of drinking water. The smaller nearby loch marks the start of the steeper climb to the summit of Dùn Caan, where panoramic views across the straits to the mainland and down the coast (a common haunt of golden eagles) reward your effort.

The second half follows a less-trodden path over wild moorland with the turbulent Inverarish Burn guiding the way. Descending through forestry land, you reach Inverarish (Raasay's largest settlement), where remnants of industrial heritage — old mills and dismantled mineral railway remains from the iron ore quarry — can be explored before a short amble back to the jetty.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.