The Road to the Isles

This photographic tour was inspired by the famous Scottish song "The Road to the Isles" which first appeared in the 1917 book "Songs of the Hebrides" and has remained popular ever since.

It's the far Cuillins that are pullin' me away
As step I wi' my cromack^* to the road.
It's the far Cuillins that are puttin' love on me
As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.

Sure by Tummel and Loch Rannoch
And Lochaber I will go
By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles.
If it's thinkin' in your inner heart
That braggart's in my step,
You've never smelled the tangle o' the Isles.

It's the far Cuillins that are puttin' love on me
As step I wi' my cromack to the Isles.
It's by Shiel water the track is to the west
By Ailort and by Morar to the sea.

*crooked walking stick

In keeping true to the lyrics, our tour starts at Loch Tummel in Perthshire heading west past Loch Rannoch and the River Gaur to Rannoch Station.

We then head north into Lochaber on the path to Loch Ossian, Corrour and Loch Treig then over the Lairig Leacach path to Spean Bridge and onward to the Caledonian Canal at Gairlochy.

From Gairlochy we take the Canal towpath to Banavie near Fort William and then head west to Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Sheil. It's then westward to Loch Ailort and Loch Morar to our final destination at Mallaig and Loch Nevis where we catch the paddle steamer "Waverley" over to Skye.

I do hope you enjoy the photographs.

Pitlochry — the starting point east of Loch Tummel



Loch Tummel from the "Queen's View"



The River Gaur on its way to Loch Rannoch near Rannoch Station



Loch Laiden near Rannoch Station



A glimpse of Schiehallion on the path from Rannoch Station to Corrour



Evening light, Loch Ossian



Deer in Corrour Forest



Daybreak at Corrour



Corrour Station, Leum Uilleim in the background



Looking east to Loch Ossian from the slopes of Leum Uilleim



Looking down on Loch Ossian from Meall na Lice



The Grey Corries from the Corrour to Loch Treig path



Creaguaneach Lodge near Loch Treig



Cruach Innse and Sgurr Innse from the Lairig Leacach path



The lighthouse at Gairlochy



River Lochy looking north east to Glen Gloy



View to Ben Nevis from the Caledonian Canal at Banavie



The Caledonian Canal at Corpach, Ben Nevis in the background



The Glenfinnan Monument at the head of Loch Sheil



Loch Sheil at Glenfinnan, Sgurr Guibhsachain in the background



View to Roisbheinn from the Lochailort to Meoble track



The River Meoble (flows from Loch Beoraid to Loch Morar)



Loch Ailort from Roshven



View across Loch nan Uamh to the Isle of Eigg from the Peanmeanach track



Bothy and ruins at the deserted settlement of Peanmeanach



The islands of Rum and Eigg from Camusdarach on the road from Arisaig to Morar



Loch Morar



Loch Nevis and the mountains of Knoydart from Mallaig



Paddle steamer "Waverley" at Mallaig harbour



Over the sea to Skye on the "Waverley"




Click here for map of the route taken.


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