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While the non-Gaelic-speaking visitor will find their first encounters with pronunciation a confusing and tongue-twisting experience, understanding it is not difficult. The glossary of Gaelic words at the end of the book goes some way to helping with the translation. With only a little persistence, or a polite enquiry of a local, you can quickly gain sufficient mastery to render a good attempt at many of the more complex placenames.

To help with this understanding you will find a number of Gaelic dictionaries are available, along with books intended to assist you in coming to terms with this ancient language.

SECTION 1 SLEAT AND SOUTH-EAST SKYE

Kyle Rhea from the ferry slip (Walks 1.7–1.9)

INTRODUCTION

On the way to the Point of Sleat (Walk 1.2)

Sleat

Sleat (pronounced slate) is the southernmost area of Skye, and projects from the main road between Kyleakin and Broadford near the township of Skulamus. To the north and north-east of this, in that convoluted way Skye has of making a nonsense of contrived partitioning, lies south-east Skye, and the closest point to mainland Scotland. It is here, in a region neither Sleat nor Strath, that you will find the only mountains of note. None is especially distinguished, but all provide excellent escapism from the summer clutter of the Cuillin, with the added bonus of outstanding panoramic views.