Camasunary and the Elgol Peninsula

This beach in the South of Skye is a magical place, only accessible by a 2.5 mile walk across a highish ridge on a rough track from south of Kirkibost/Kilmarie, which weeds out 95% of potential visitors.

Wedged between sheer, sharp-ridged Sgurr na Stri at the foot of Glen Sligachan, which divides the Black and the Red Cuillin mountains, and the ridge you've just walked across, is a long stretch of pebble and sand beach, with rough meadows behind it where a community of crofters once lived before the Clearances. 

Behind the beach are a bothy provided by the brilliant John Muir Trust (Walkopedia would love a night here) and a couple of other houses.

You will meet a few walkers, and some campers arrive in the evening for their midge rendezvous, but it remains a beautiful and peaceful place, where the only thing Walkopedia could hear on the bright, still, perfect west coast day it was there, was the occasional plash of a wave and Walkopedia's tinnitus.

You can explore beautiful Loch na Creitheach up behind the bay, or climb amazing Sgurr na Stri.

Return the way you came (8km return, moderate walk); or walk down the rough, remote and beautiful coast to Elgol, and indeed on round to the east coast of the Elgol peninsula to the start of the walk (appx 18km, strenuous). Or, walk on round the base of Sgurr na Stri (negotiating the alarming Bad Step) to stunning Loch Coruisk right in under the Black Cuillin, where that is another bothy (booking needed) or you can camp, and where you can explore the  southern end of the famous Black Cuillin Ridge and even arrange a boat ride back to Elgon. Or walk the long but superb route out northwards along Glen Sligachan between the magnificence of the Black and Red Cuillin’s highest peaks.

Skye has notoriously fickle weather. Always come fully prepared.

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information, see our Isle of Skye walk page.