The 20-minute ferry journey that transports passengers to the Isle of Raasay from Skye offers up a feast for the eyes in every direction. Breath-taking views of the Cuillin mountain range, Skye’s east coast and the Five Sisters of Kintail abound, while sea birds, seals and porpoises vie for attention in the waters below.
Once on the rugged and rocky ‘Isle of the Roe Deer’, the exploration begins. The community-owned Raasay House – complete with its wonderful garden – is an excellent first port of call with a superb range of outdoor activities on offer. Along the road is the Isle of Raasay distillery, where gin and whisky fans can enjoy guided tours and tastings. Beyond here, the best way to get to know Raasay is on foot with fantastic walks and hikes in all directions across this spectacular island landscape.
An island of stories for the generations
Raasay House was the seat of the MacLeod chief of Raasay, after the original clan house was burnt down following the battle of Culloden. The Highland Clearances that followed left their mark on both Raasay and its residents. Sorley MacLean, heralded as ‘one of the major Scottish poets of the modern era’, was born on the island and his works in Gaelic and English reference the pain his ancestors felt at being forced to leave. It is fitting that the walk to the clearance township of Hallaig – the title of one of Maclean’s best-known poems – passes a monument to Raasay’s most famous son.
Other popular walks include the ascent of Dùn Caan and the miles of Calum’s Road. The latter named after Calum MacLeod who lived in Arnish, a township that was once nearly two miles beyond the end of the road. In the 1960s, following years of unsuccessful lobbying to have the road extended, Calum proceeded to single-handedly build it himself, a mission he completed a decade later. Perhaps it was this story of spirit and perseverance that saw Raasay selected as the location for Channel 4’s hit TV show ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’.
