Temptation Hill – A Ferry to Raasay and a View Back to Skye
A few hours, from the ferry slip at Sconser and back.
The route
Temptation Hill rises behind Raasay House, a short, steep climb to a view over the Sound of Raasay to the hills of Skye.
Forestry and Land Scotland's trail up it starts and ends at the island's ferry pier, takes in a broch and a hill loch, and is 4 km round. The car stays at Sconser and the boat takes 25 minutes each way.
- Time
- Two hours: 2½ miles (4 km) round from the ferry pier, graded strenuous for one long steep slope. A short hill walk.
- Distance
- About 2.5 miles on foot.
- The path
- One long steep slope; gravel, tarmac, earth and grass, with steps and gates.
- Where to start
- None needed: the trail starts and ends at the ferry pier, and the car stays at Sconser.
- Set off
- Off a morning boat, with an afternoon boat back in mind.
- When to go
- All year, by the ferry's timetable: in winter the last boat back is 6pm from Monday to Saturday and 4.30pm on Sundays. No boats on 25 December or 1 January.
- Dogs
- Under close control.
- Toilets
- Public toilets at the ferry terminal.
- Before you set out
- Mostly firm gravel and tarmac, with uneven, narrow and muddy stretches, some steps, gates and short lengths of road. The return along the shore path is not waymarked.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The day
Raasay on foot
Over on the Raasay ferry on foot, up a short, steep hill for the view back to Skye, and down by a broch and the shore to the pier again.
About four hours from Sconser, with both crossings
The ferry from Sconser to Raasay
The Raasay ferry leaves from the slip at Sconser, on the A87 beside Loch Sligachan. Leave the car in the free car park at the terminal and cross on foot, as the walk starts and ends at Raasay's pier. Sailings can't be booked: buy a ticket online before you travel, and be at the slip at least 10 minutes before the boat sails. An adult return on foot was £5.30 in summer 2026. The crossing takes 25 minutes. CalMac's winter timetable runs from Monday 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, and until then the summer one applies, so read the timetable on CalMac's Sconser to Raasay page before you set out. In winter the morning boats leave Sconser at 8.25am, 9.25am, 10.25am and 11.30am from Monday to Saturday, and the only morning boat on a Sunday is at 10.30am. Check the service status on the day as well, as wind can stop the boat. There are public toilets at Raasay's ferry terminal. The island has no bus and no petrol.
About 1 hr 20 min on foot
Temptation Hill
A walk
Forestry and Land Scotland's trail up Temptation Hill starts and finishes at the pier. It's 2½ miles, or 4 km, round. Two hours are allowed for it, and it's graded strenuous for one long, steep slope. The rest is mostly firm gravel and tarmac, with narrow, muddy and grassy stretches, some steps and gates, and short lengths of road. The hill stands behind Raasay House, and the view from it runs over the house and the Sound of Raasay to the hills of Skye. A weathered stone cross stands in the heather on the way. The trail takes in Dun Borodale, a broch, and the hill loch of Loch a' Mhuillin, then comes down by the Emigrants' Walk and Inverarish village and returns along the shore path to the pier. That last stretch isn't waymarked. Keep dogs under close control. From late October bring food and a flask. Raasay House, at the foot of the hill, and the island's other places to eat keep shorter winter hours, and none should be counted on without ringing first. Two hours' walking fits easily between a mid-morning boat over and an afternoon one back.
About 10 min on foot
The ferry from Raasay to Sconser
On the winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, boats leave Raasay for Sconser at 12.15pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 5pm and 6pm from Monday to Saturday. The 6pm is the last, except on a Saturday, when a 7.30pm boat runs only if you telephone CalMac on 0800 066 5000 by noon that day. On Sundays there are three boats back, at 10am, 12.15pm and 4.30pm, and the 4.30pm is the last. A Sunday walk means the 10.30am boat over and the 4.30pm back, with a long wait between. No boats run on 25 December or 1 January. Miss the last boat and nothing sails until the next morning. Be at the pier 10 minutes before the boat. Until 18 October the summer timetable applies, so check CalMac's page.
If it rains
The crossing is short, but the hill is open and its one steep slope is slippery when wet. Wind, more than rain, is what stops the ferry: check CalMac's service status for Sconser to Raasay before you set out.
For further reading, before you go.