Oronsay – A Tidal Island in Loch Bracadale
About 3.1 miles on foot.
Oronsay is a small grassy island in Loch Bracadale, joined to Skye at Ullinish by a bar of stones that the sea covers for hours either side of high tide.
Across it lie dry turf, sea cliffs on the far side and wide views up and down the loch. The walk is 5 km there and back, and it has to be timed to the tide.
- Time
- Two to two and a half hours: 5 km there and back with 155 m of climbing, over croft land, a stony tidal bar and the island's turf. A walk ruled by the tide.
- The path
- Wet, boggy croft land, then about 220 metres of pebbles and larger rocks across the bar, then dry turf.
- Where to start
- The small car park at the end of the side road signed for the Oronsay path, off the Ullinish road from the A863: about five cars.
- Set off
- On a falling tide, with the tide at Loch Harport below 3.8 metres: look up the tide before you leave, and be back across with time in hand.
- When to go
- All year, on a falling tide and in daylight. In winter don't cross with less than three hours of light left.
- Dogs
- On a lead through the crofts.
- Children
- The tide is the hazard, and the cliffs on the far side of the island are unfenced.
- Toilets
- None on the walk.
- Before you set out
- There is no other way off the island. Never wade. Unfenced cliffs on the island's far side.
The walk
Park at the end of the short side road signed for the Oronsay path, off the Ullinish road, which leaves the A863 near Struan. The car park is tiny, with room for about five cars. If it's full, don't block the road or the croft gates. Look up the tide before you leave. The bar is under the sea for two to three hours or so either side of high water, and there is no other way off the island. The Admiralty's EasyTide gives the predicted heights for Loch Harport, and the bar can be crossed when the tide there is below 3.8 metres.
Cross while the tide is still going out, never when it's coming in, and be back over with time in hand. If the stones are under water when you reach them, don't wade. Wait, or come another day. Walkhighlands gives the walk as 5 km there and back with 155 metres of climbing, two to two and a half hours. The way out is over croft land and wet moor, boggy in patches. The bar is about 220 metres of pebbles and larger rocks, rough underfoot, with sand either side at low water, and an old fish trap, a broad arc of stones, lies against its east side.
The island is dry turf rising to cliffs on its far side. They're high and unfenced, so keep back from the edge. About forty shieling huts, from the days of summer grazing, lie at the far end. Keep dogs on a lead through the crofts. There are no toilets. In winter the tide and the daylight both have to fit: don't cross with less than three hours of light left.
If it rains
The croft land is wet at the best of times and the island has no shelter at all. The stones of the bar are slippery in rain: keep it for a dry day with the tide right.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Skyewalker Hostel, 2 miles away. Sleeps 1.
For further reading, before you go.