Dog Walking on Waternish

The following are a few walks around Waternish, which are also featured in Walk Waternish.
However the difference in this listing is that it focuses on walking with your dog. It has been put together by Lesley MacLean of No 6 to whom we are most grateful.

(A few tried and tested routes in the local area.)

Dogs and Livestock

Your dog – your responsibility.

We make no apologies for the severe tone of the following – we take this matter very seriously and so should you.

The law in Scotland has changed. The phrase “under control” is no longer relevant where livestock is concerned. Your dog must be on a lead if it is near or around livestock. Some places will have signs advising you to put your dog on a lead – do not ignore these signs.

Dogs must be kept on leads when they are on or near ground which has livestock on it. If you can see livestock, put your dog on a lead. Sometimes you may not see livestock, but if there are signs that livestock is present – i.e footprints, wool, poo, feeding stuff – don’t risk your dog being the first to spot livestock. Pay attention to these indications and put your dog on a lead.

It is not sufficient to have your dog “under control”. There are very strict penalties for not abiding by the law and the farmer has the law on his side should your dog be considered to be worrying livestock then your dog can be shot for this offence. Please bear this very stark warning in mind and do not think that your dog is an exception. “Worrying” livestock can be as simple as causing an animal to take off in fear and alarm. There does not need to be a chase or physical contact. Please be particularly careful with your dog around sheep during lambing season and around cows with calves.

Dogs must be kept on a short lead close by your side. If you are using a retractable lead, ensure that it is locked in position and that the dog is close by your side. Do not allow your dog to approach livestock. Do not encourage your dog to bark or act in an aggressive manner towards livestock.

Having issued the appropriate warnings, the following are details of local walks, some of which are free of livestock and dog friendly and where you can let your dog roam safely off lead. But please always be on your guard.

Forestry Loop Walk

Approximate mileage 3.5 miles

Starting Point Fasach Woods

Approximate time 1 – 1.5 hours

Surface Forestry track.

Hazards 1 burn with workaround

Grading Easy but with a couple of wee inclines

Footwear Boots, sturdy shoes

Parking Yes

Dog friendly Yes – but see notes.

Dogs – leads on at the start of the walk. There are sheep for the first ½ mile until you get to the second cattle grid. This is not optional, it is the law in Scotland. Please ensure you have read the section on “Dogs and Livestock” and that you have your lead(s) with you at all times.

Enter via the “kissing gate” on the left. The first half mile is a fairly steady mild incline which leads to a second cattle grid. Go through the gate on the right. You are now safe to let your dogs off the lead.

After a further 0.2 miles you will come to a junction on the right. For this walk you are carrying straight on. Your next landmark is a quarried area on the left with the track carrying straight on and a junction on the right. This is where the loop portion starts and ends. You can go either way.

If you go straight on – this path leads to a very small burn which is easily crossed. The track gets a bit ragged for a spell – we recommend keeping to the right for a bit as the ground on the left can be very soft. You will soon reach a bend in the track. There is a wee burn and a gate off to the left. This leads to the car park at Gillen. You are not going that way! Follow the track round to the right and then to the left. You are heading for the big green shed.

There is a burn which is usually easy to cross but if it is too much, simply cut through the grass to the right and jump across where the burn has a very obvious bend and narrow channel.

When you reach the shed you have uninterrupted views across to Trotternish and the ferry terminal at Uig is visible from here. There is a beach which can be accessed by following the track to the left. It is a steep hill down and it seems a lot steeper on the way back up. However, this walk does not go there.

Carry on round past the shed and up the hill. This is a nasty wee hill but it doesn’t last long. After a mile you are back at the quarry. Turn left and you are now back on the track you came in on.

Remember and put the leads back on before you go through the gate at the cattle grid.

Cliff Path Loop Walk

Approximate mileage 5.3 miles

Starting Point Fasach Woods

Approximate time 2 – 2.5 hours

Surface Forestry track, grass, peat.

Hazards 1 burn with workaround, peaty

Grading Medium

Footwear Boots

Parking Yes

Dog friendly Yes – but see notes.

After a further 0.2 miles you will come to a junction on the right. For this walk you can go right, or carry on. For the purposes of these instructions, you are carrying straight on. Your next landmark is a quarried area on the left with the track carrying straight on and a junction on the right. This is where the loop portion starts and ends. You can go either way. If you go straight on, head for the big green shed and once you get past that, continue for a couple of minutes and there is a path to the left with some large logs forming a “bridge” over the ditch. If you go right (slightly shorter), the access is on the right shortly before the big green shed. The path is clearly defined. There are small peaty sections which can be walked around. The path is over well trodden grass. The first section is a fairly steady climb. Regular stops are advised – (a) to look back and admire the views and (b) catch your breath if you’re struggling ! Watch out for the sea eagles up here. There have been nesting pairs here for many years and they are regularly spotted around the cliffs. Keep your dog close – they are birds of prey and are known to lift lambs, rabbits etc and whilst we have not heard of any dogs being attacked, please be cautious.

Once you have finished the climb, the path ambles on with spectacular views across to Uig and Kensaleyre. After a short downward section the path ends and you rejoin the main forestry track again. Turn right and follow this path for 2 miles until you reach the end and turn left. After just over ½ a mile you are back at the starting point.

If you want to shorten this walk, you can start from the carpark at Gillen and join the track closer to the green shed. This takes about 1 mile off the total distance.

Gillen / Fasach Loop

Approximate mileage 6 miles

Starting Point Gillen Car Park

Approximate time 3 – 3.5 hours

Surface Road, forestry track

Hazards 1 burn with workaround (optional)

Grading Easy

Footwear Boots, sturdy shoes.

Parking Yes

Dog friendly Yes – but see notes

Leads are essential from the car park until you are through the third gate. This is a private access to 2 properties and dogs must be kept on a lead and their poo picked up. Once through the first gate, you are entering an active croft and sheep graze here. Again, keep your dog on a lead and pick up the poo. Once you are through the third and final gate, you can let your dog off lead. Please ensure you close all gates.

Head towards Geary. Follow the road past the school on the left and then turn right at the bus shelter. Follow the road to the end where there is a small parking area. This is your starting point. You can go in either direction from here. The track is to the side of the carpark and is accessed via a series of 3 gates just beyond the house on the left. Once through the gate you have options. You can add on the loop round the shed, or you can miss that bit out. Your walk, your choice ….

Option 1 – You can turn left shortly after the second gate and this will take you on a poor condition track for a short spell which leads to a gate which comes out beyond the burn. You then go left to the big shed and round the loop to the quarry before turning left down to Fasach Wood and then a right on to the road. Dogs on leads at the cattle grid as there are sheep for the next ½ mile.

Option 2 – You can carry on through the third gate and you then have the option of turning left to include the loop round the green shed or turning right and heading for Fasach Wood and then a right on to the road. Dogs on leads at the cattle grid as there are sheep for the next ½ mile.

Keep going until you see the sign for Geary (approximately 1.5 miles) and then turn right up the Geary Road. Continue past the school and turn right at the bus shelter. Follow the road until you return to the carpark at Gillen.

You can do this walk from various points – Gillen Car Park, Fasach Woods or Geary Road end – basically anywhere you can safely park your car on the route. Do not park in a Passing Place.

Gillen Loop

Approximate mileage 2 miles

Starting Point Gillen Car Park

Approximate time 40 mins

Surface Forestry track

Hazards 1 burn with workaround (optional)

Grading Easy

Footwear Boots, sturdy shoes.

Parking Yes

Dog Friendly

Head towards Geary. Follow the road past the school on the left and then turn right at the bus shelter. Follow the road to the end where there is a small parking area. This is your starting point. The track is to the side of the carpark and is accessed via a series of 3 gates just beyond the house on the left. Once through the gate you have options. Your walk, your choice ….

Option 1 – You can turn left shortly after the second gate and this will take you on a poor condition track for a short spell which leads to a gate which comes out beyond the burn. You then go left to the big shed and round the loop to the quarry before turning right and back down over a small stream. Watch out for the exit on your left back to the Gillen Car Park.

Option 2 – You can carry on through the third gate and you then have the option of turning left or right. Going left you are heading for the big green shed and you continue on the loop until you get back to the quarry where you turn right as above. If you go right, you have a short incline before you reach the quarry and then you turn left to get on to the loop. After you come round past the green shed you have the option to cut off to the right through the gate and over a rougher path back towards the car park. This avoids the burn. You can also go to the left at the burn and step over it at the narrow bend.

This is a nice short walk. If you want to extend it you can add on a trip down to the beach at Sgorr Bay by going down the hill to your left as you are looking at the beach. It’s quite a steep path down – and it seems a lot steeper coming back up ! The beach is usually very quiet and a great place for a private swim and there’s plenty of scope to explore around this area as well.

Blue Tyre to Fasach

Approximate mileage 9 miles

*Important* Two cars required

Starting Point Blue Tyre (main road)

Approximate time 3 hrs – 4 hours

Surface Forestry track

Hazards None

Grading Easy, couple of inclines

Footwear Boots, sturdy shoes.

Parking Yes

Dog Friendly Yes – but see notes

This walk needs two cars – unless you want to make it a particularly long loop walk ! Leave one car at the back of the woods at Fasach as this will be your finishing point. Drive the other car to Fairy Bridge (7.5 miles) and then turn left on to the main road. Continue for approximately 1 mile and look out for a bellmouth with access to the Forestry on the left. A blue tyre on a post marks the start of this walk. It’s a bit faded now, but at the time of writing, it is still there. There is a locked metal gate and a wooden access gate to the left. There is parking for 3-4 cars. Please ensure that you park sensibly and leave the access clear as this road is used by the Forestry.

Follow the track and when it splits, keep to the left. This is a very straightforward walk and is all on a good forestry track. Again, you have options with this if you want to extend it.

Option 1 – Stay on the track. After nearly 8.5 miles you will come to a junction. Turn to the left and you will shortly come to the cattle grid. If you have dogs, please put the leads on here as there is stock for the next ½ mile before you get to the second cattle grid and your vehicle.

Option 2 – After approximately 6.5 miles you will come across the sign for the cliff path. This is a small sign on the right marked “path”. You can take this turning and include the cliff path as part of the walk. This will bring you out on the loop near the green shed and you can then go left up the wee hill and turn left at the quarry and straight on back to your vehicle. This adds on approximately ½ a mile to your walk. When you get to the cattle grid, if you have dogs, please put the leads on here as there is stock for the next ½ mile before you get to the second cattle grid and your vehicle.

Waternish Point

Approximate mileage 8.5 miles

*Important* Dogs on leads at all times

*Important* Livestock throughout

*Lambing Time* No dogs on hill ground

Starting Point Road to Ardmore

Approximate time 3 hrs – 4 hours

Surface Mixed – rough track, grass, bog

Hazards Boggy ground, cliffs

Grading Medium

Footwear Boots

Parking Not required

Dog Friendly Yes – but better without

This walk goes over what is known as “hill ground” – this is open grazing for sheep and cows. Dogs must be on leads at all times. We would prefer that no dogs are taken on the hill during lambing.

The start is on the road to Ardmore and Trumpan, where the road takes a sharp left. (No parking at gate but there is some further along the road at Trumpan Church.) Go through the gate at the left and follow the track. The second gate is very heavy and is easier with 2 people. Lift the gate and slide out the lock. Please ensure that you close all gates securely behind you.

Once you are through the second gate, you have options:

Option 1 – continue on the track. If it is very wet, this track can become quite tricky and boggy in places. You may have to deviate to the sides to avoid these areas. You will sometimes see quad bike tracks and these generally indicate a drier option. Just beyond the memorial there is a bridge. Please take care crossing this. Continue on the track until you get to a ruin on the right and an old fank on the left. Continue through the broken wall. Unish House is off to the right – this is an interesting place to wander around so if you want to do this, cross over the wee burn and explore. The house is in serious disrepair so please be very careful. Head over to the left and aim for the cliff and the fence and follow round to the lighthouse. There is no specific track and you are heading for the lighthouse which is now visible. The ground can get a bit boggy so please take care. My usual route is to head left towards the cliff, but it’s your walk and your choices ….

Option 2 – After you get through the second gate there is a narrow track visible on the left. Simply follow this. You have to cross over a couple of small burns but these are reasonably easy to cross if you keep to the path. This option leads you out to the cliff where you will follow a grass / dirt track along the side of the cliff. This is my preferred route and the views are spectacular. You have to make your way through a couple of broken down walls but nothing difficult. This path will keep you away from Unish House, but you can go back that way or just cut across to see it and then head back to return by the cliff path again.

There are cows and sheep all over this walk. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times. During lambing (April – June) we would rather you did not take dogs in this area.

Other Walks

Ben Aketil

to Fairy Bridge and turn left on to the main road. Continue past the turn-off to Greshornish on your left and shortly after this turn to your right to the road to the windfarm. Park sensibly so that you do not block the access. Head on through the gate and just follow the path towards the turbines. There is no livestock on the first part of this walk. When you get to the double gates you have the option to go right or left. For the purposes of this walk, we turned left and went to the furthest away turbine. Caution – there are sometimes sheep on this section of the walk so please be aware and maintain appropriate control of your dog and put them on the lead if necessary.

Forestry / Sgorr Bay

The Forestry tracks give you plenty of scope to do short walks or add bits on here and there. If you are near the big green shed, you will see the beach at Sgorr Bay. This is accessed by going past the digger buckets on your right and continuing down the hill. It’s a steep descent but you get great access to the beach and further areas to explore. This is a good swimming spot – if you don’t mind lugging your kit about …..