Raasay: Ferry Terminal to Calums Road

A 21 mile trip to the north end of Raasay and back which uses part of the famous Calum's road, hand built by local resident Calum Macleod

From the ferry pier follow the road to a T-junction. At the junction turn left and follow this road through forestry for a short way before emerging from the trees above the coast. Continue the traverse alongside but above the coast until after three miles the road climbs up and inland by way of a big horseshoe bend. ignore the first turning to the left and instead turn left when the T- junction is reached. Continue up this road which climbs quite steadily along the middle of the island before it eventually swings rightwards and drops down, sometimes quite steeply to Brochel on the east side of Raasay. Pass the ruins of Brochel Castle and continue for another 2 miles crossing back to the west coast of the island overlooking Loch Arnish.

This section, known as Calum's road is now a public road maintained by the Highland Council. However it wasn't always so -after decades of unsuccessful campaigning by the inhabitants of the north end of Raasay for a road local man Calum MacLeod decided to build the road himself taking around ten years to do so (from 1964-1974). Some time later, when the road was finally adopted and surfaced by the local council Calum and his wife, Lexie, were the last inhabitants of Arnish.

To return to the ferry, retrace the outward route to the T- junction above the big horseshoe bend. Ignore the turning and this time continue on the same road past the youth hostel and into the forest. Shortly after passing the church turn right along the edge of the forest and round the bay back to the pier.