Up the hill, behind Kinloch Lodge is a Kinloch Forest Walk, maintained by the Forestry Commission of Scotland. Henry and I were advised to drive down the lodge’s long driveway to the A851, the main highway on the Isle of Skye, turn right, then follow the signs to Kinloch Forest Walk/Letir Fura to a roughly surfaced road leading to a parking lot. The walk on a well-maintained track took roughly two hours, and led us through forests with underbrush of heather and fern. We turned uphill, climbing along a narrow path through meadows filled with wildflowers. Henry and I loved being in the countryside, and especially enjoyed the climb to an overlook where we could see more of the islands of the Inner Hebrides. The Sound of Sleat separates the Isle of Skye from the mainland, where ferries, working boats and sailboats ply these waters. All was quiet above the smooth surfaces of the sound. We spotted the lighthouse across Loch. On the hillside overlooking the lock is the stone remains of a 19th century village.  Its inhabitants  eventually emigrated to Nova Scotia, and their descendants returned to Kinloch Forest to plant a tree in this little village of Letir Fura, its name taken from the name of a great oak tree that one stood here, Fura Mor. On our walk through Kinloch Forest, we eventually descended to the main track and retraced our steps to the car park, the outlines of the mountainous terrain with Cullin Ridge and Bla Bheinn visible in the distance.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. Wildflower in the meadows of Kinloch Forest.  It resembles a Queen Anne’s Lace,l but is different! Let me know if you know the name of this pretty plant. 2. First views of  Loch Huorn from the forested areas of Kinloch Forest Walk. 3. Henry, on a bench overlooking the Sound of Sleat near the top of the hill. 4.& 5. Two views overlooking the Sound of Sleat. 6. View of Knoydart and Loch Huorn. Beinn Sgritheal, the mountain, towering above them. Center, Top: Map of the area, provided by  Kinloch Forestry Commision. Center, Middle: The lighthouse on a point across Loch Huorn. Center, Bottom: The Sound of Sleat  visible beneath the hillside of the Kinloch Forest Walk. Right Column: 1. A hillside of low-branching trees along the Leitir Fura road in Kinloch Forest. 2. A sea of fern growing in the moist environment of the forest. 3. Heather and fern growing along the trail.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                     BACK TO MAP  PAGE