THE TRIALS OF A NOVICE WALKER - Weight Loss Part 17

The day is Friday the 12th of January 2018 and I decided to go for a walk. The walk I chose was the trail from Strollamus to Torrin, in the South of Skye where I live.

OS Map of Route from Digimap

I got everything ready the night before, map, compass, food, clothing, sticks etc. So, I was all set! Or so I thought...

First mistake. Not setting my alarm!!!

I woke up at 11am... Which is fine in the summer, but at this time of year, you kind of need to get up early enough to make the best of the limited daylight.

I eventually got to my starting point at 12:30 and decided, regardless of where I was, I needed to turn back by 2:30 to avoid walking in the dark... Although I did pack a head torch just in case.

Allt Stòlamas

I set off and found the start of the trail off the farm road easy enough. Looking at the map, the trail follows the burns, Allt Stòlamas (the burn of Strollamus) and Allt an t-Sratha Bhig (the burn of the little strath), through the glens, An Slugan (the gullet) and Srath Beag (the little strath).

So, I figured as long as I was walking alongside the burn, I was on the right track (literally). I was wrong!

At some point the trail continues up the hill. However, I somehow found myself at the point where the first burn forks with Allt na Teangaidh (the burn of the tongue), and the trail I was on went across the burn.

My route using the Map My Walk App

I misread the map and assumed I was at the point where the two burns on the trail start and you have to cross over and walk on the other side of the second burn.

I was now walking in between the fork and came across a small dam on what I thought was the second burn. I took the map out as I did not see a dam on the map previously. I was right, no dam. So, where was this dam?

Back tracking on the map I realised my mistake. I realised the trail I was on was for the dam and turned around and went back. I crossed the burn at a different point where there looked to be a trail and eventually found the correct trail again.

Time wasted and lesson learned!

Not a bad spot for lunch!

At 2pm, an hour and a half after I set off I sat on a rock and had some lunch. By the time I'd finished it was 2:20pm, and I figured I might as well head back.

Unsurprisingly, the route back didn't take as long. In fact, only an hour compared to an hour and a half out. I got back to the car about an hour earlier than originally planned.

View of Allt Stòlamas from the trail.

Whilst walking past the area where I had gone wrong I was quite high up above the burn. I realised that when I came to the point where the trail forked for the dam I must have assumed that the trail to the right would take me up the hill rather than along the burn. It doesn't help that the dam trail isn't on the map...

Other than my little detour, it was a good walk, and a learning experience! I didn't quite get as far as I would have liked. Not even half way. But that's what happens when you sleep in and go off track. On the plus side, I didn't get stuck in a bog, I didn't fall on my ass once, and I got some lovely views of Beinn na Caillich!

Beinn na Caillich (left) and Beinn Dearg (right).

Next time I will set my alarm, I will read my map properly, and I will complete the walk!

Useful tip: If you decide to do this walk take sticks! If nothing else they are useful as bog probes to determine where you can put your feet without losing them...