Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

BROADPORD.
487
keep, and faithful in its day, but now rent and riven, with huge
tenacious masses of fallen masonry lying among its ruined
outworks. On the angle next the land there is a small hex¬
agonal tower, or walled space, filled with water, probably the
ancient well. Built in the time of Alexander II. as a defence
against the Northmen, it has probably seen a good deal of
service in its day.
Proceeding onwards, we pass successively, on the right,
Balmacarra House (Alex. Matheson, Esq.), and Balmacarra
Inn, beautifully situated ; Old Loch Alsh House and Inn ; and
the ruins of Castle Moil.
The steamer again stops at Kyle Akin,* in Skye, with a
substantial pier, built by Lord Macdonald and the Parlia¬
mentary Commissioners, and in about an hour afterwards
reaches Broadford Inn-)-, from which the objects for which Skye
is chiefly visited—the Spar Cave, Loch Coruisk, and the
Cuchullin Mountains—are most naturally approached.
BROADFORD TO SLIGACHAN.
By the Spar Cave, Lochs Scavaig and Coruisk, and Glen
Sligachan.
Leaving Broadford by road to right of the inn, and by the
side of the Broadford water, the bare peaks of Ben-na-Caleach
are seen on the right. About half-way, the magnificent peak
of Ben Blaven comes in sight; but it is seen to greater advan¬
tage afterwards from the sea. Five miles from Broadford is
Torrin, a small cluster of huts at head of Loch Slapin, and
where, during the summer months, there are generally boatmen
with two or three boats waiting eagerly for the hire of the
* From Kyle Akin a boat may be got to Loch Carron and Jcantown, if it should
be wished to catch the mail for Dingwall. The distance by water in this way is
about twelve miles. Opposite Kyle Akin is Reraig Inn, from which the Skye mail
is continued to Jeantown and Dingwall.
+ On arriving here, in the event of the tourist continuing his route by Loch
Scavaig next day, he should send on his luggage by mail to Sligachan or Portree.
He may at the same time send a note to the innkeeper at Sligachan regarding beds
and ponies from Camasunary.