Dun Caan
Height – 443 metres. Map – OS Landranger 24.
Climbed – 4 February 2010. Time taken – 2.75 hours.
Distance – 6 kilometres. Height climbed – 350 metres.
Trip Report Details:
A number of years ago I read the book Calum's Road which tells the story of Calum MacLeod who toiled for over a ten years to build a road to his croft on the Island of Raasay after failing to win public funds for the construction of the road. His exploits were featured in the press, on radio and television and in the above mentioned book. Since reading the book I had been interested going to Raasay to see this road.
We set off for Sconser on the Island of Skye to catch the 0925 ferry to Raasay and arrived early which was fortunate as two lorries were booked on this small vehicle ferry. The crossing took fifteen minutes and once disembarked we drove north on a very quiet single track road to south of Brae. (NG 5612040554) Here there was a small parking area and a sign for Dun Caan.
The path was icy in places but the overnight snow had turned to rain so it was also wet in sections. However an easy gradient eventually led to Bealach Ruadh where there was a small frozen lochan. From here we descended fairly steeply on a snow covered path to Loch na Meilich before the path zig zagged to the summit trig point of Dun Caan. Fortunately the earlier cloud had cleared the top although visibility across to Applecross was rather hazy. However we did have some views of the Island of Raasay itself. After taking several photos we returned to the car by the outward route.
We then drove north to the ruined Brochel Castle which was the starting point for Calum’s Road. Driving along this section of road was amazing with its numerous twists and turns and steep gradients. Calum MacLeod didn’t have the equipment to blast away the rock, instead he used a pick, shovel and wheelbarrow. It made me think of the hardships he endured to construct this road which is now maintained by the Local Authority and brings tourists to the Island.
On the drive north we saw a couple of eagles and on the return journey to catch the 1540 ferry back to Skye we saw a crow chasing off a couple of eagles.
Photos taken on walk.