| Altitude | 1148 Feet |
| Trail Conditions | Road followed by bogs and thick heather |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Experience | 3/10 |
| Est. Time | 3-4 hours |
| Distance | 5-6 Miles |
| Starting Location | Kilmuir Community Hall |
History of the Local Area
The area surrounding the walk below Creag Sneosdal shows signs of early habitation, including a possible prehistoric kerb cairn.
However, the site has seen little archaeological investigation. The most notable study took place in 2012 during excavations for the Kilmuir Water Treatment Works. While researchers documented the cairn, they stopped short of excavating it. There is also mention of a nearby roundhouse, also classified as prehistoric, though details about it remain scarce.
Creag Sneosdal, the ridgeline encircling Loch Sneosdal, has an intriguing etymology. Its name appears to blend Gaelic and Old Norse. “Creag” means “rock” or “crag” in Gaelic, while “Sneosdal” likely derives from the Norse “dalr” (valley) and “Sneos,” possibly a personal name. This suggests the name translates roughly to “Sneosi’s Valley” or “Sneosi’s Valley Crag.”
Gallery
The Walk
The walk begins at the Kilmuir Community Hall car park. Alternatively, you can drive up the single-track road and park near the large gate on the right, ensuring you don’t block access. Once parked, follow the road uphill, passing a turnoff to the left, until you reach a large gate on the right just beyond the turnoff, pass through the gate into the field.
Ahead, you’ll see the remains of a field dyke leading up the hill to the left. Follow this until it merges with another dyke running parallel. Take the right-hand fork, heading towards the prominent hill known as Suidhe a’ Mhinn, which translates to “Seat of the Gentle” or “Smooth Seat” in Gaelic.
Continue in the direction of the hill, using the dykes as a guide where possible, while navigating around any degraded sections or boggy patches. Upon reaching the base of the hill, begin a short but steep ascent from around 170 to 340 metres in elevation . At the top, carefully cross over the fence.
From here, continue south, where you should soon spot the Trig Point on a small hillock in the distance. The terrain ahead is boggy, so take care to avoid the worst sections as you make your way towards it. While this particular Trig Point may not be the most scenic, on a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with lovely views of the surrounding coastline.
To return, you can retrace your steps back to the starting point or extend your walk by heading northeast for a loop around the beautiful Loch Sneasdal via the Creag Sneosdal ridgeline. If you choose the loop, stay on the nearer side of the fence and follow the ridgeline east, descending into the corrie before heading north. The slope down to the loch gradually eases, offering multiple routes to reach the water’s edge.
From here, prepare for a bit of a slog through tall heather and boggy ground until you pick up the remnants of a poorly maintained track. Follow this track back to the end of the road you originally turned off from, then enjoy a short and easy walk back to the Kilmuir Community Hall car park.
The Skye 56 
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