Scotland: Isle of Raasay, Inner Hebrides

Distance: 18km/11 miles
Time: 6hrs
Type: Island: moorland, hill and coast
Where: Circular walk from Raasay pier via Dun Caan and Hallaig
Start/End: Raasay pier (NG554342).
Terrain: Moorland, coastal paths, tracks and quiet road. Route is initially well signposted: Hallaig section needs careful navigation. Beware midges in summer!
Maps: OS Explorer 409; Landranger 24.

Raasay is one of the northern group of the Inner Hebridean Islands, situated between the Scottish mainland and the Isle of Skye. It’s a lovely, quiet island easily reached from Skye by regular daily ferry services, so it’s quite feasible to combine a day return with a walk on the island. The 20–25-minute ferry ride is worth every penny for the superb views back to the Skye mountains. Raasay’s highest point – the flat-topped and distinctive Dun Caan – is well within the ability of most walkers. Despite its modest height (443m/1453ft), it offers a wonderful panorama. During his Hebridean tour with Samuel Johnson in 1773, Boswell famously danced a reel on the summit.

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