Coire-chat-achan
One more cache in the Historic Skye series, in a superb setting
Beinn na Caillich and Coire-chat-achan
Coire-chat-achan is generally thought to mean the ‘Corrie of the Wild Cats’ in commemoration of the last habitat of wild cats before their extermination in Scotland. But some Gaelic speakers see a reference in the words to a corrie filled with patchy snow.
The cache is located near the crossing of Broadford River, along an excellent circular walk from Broadford (preferred), or can be reached by car along the road to Old Corry. If you do drive in, then please use the parking place at Old Corry, rather than trying to drive to the river. Or you can drive along the Broadford-Elgol road and park in a layby close by the Chambered Cairn (An Sithean) – see below – and walk from there.
At Coire-chat-achan itself you find the remains of the Mackinnon home twice visited by Johnson and Boswell in 1773, and a year earlier by Thomas Pennant, who ascended the huge dome of Beinn na Caillich. Arguably the first recorded ascent of any mountain on Skye...that Thomas was quite a lad!
Want to do the walk?
Leave Broadford along the B8083, the Broadford-Elgol road, taking care against approaching traffic once the roadside footpath ends, follow the road as it climbs gently and passes beneath power lines. A short way further on, you leave the road, by turning left through a gate onto a signed path for Coire Chat-achan. The path follows the course of an old railway that served the marble quarries at Kilchrist; it makes a delightful trek across the moorland at the entrance to Strath Suardal, but eventually divides. Take the right fork, towards the B-road, and finally cross it close by a grassy mound that bears the name An Sithean (Chambered Cairn on maps). This means ‘Fairy Hill’, and there are those who are certain that on a quiet night you can sit here and listen to fairy music rising from the mound.
Continue past An Sithean, beyond which the gravel path continues, sweeping round to meet the Broadford River, finally crossing it at a footbridge near the cache site. This section of the path is an old highway, first appearing on maps in 1885, but in use for many years before that.
Now walk up towards the farm buildings at Coire-chat-achan. Pass around the farm buildings, and up to the modern cottage above. There you reach a surfaced road-end that should now be followed through the linear settlement of Old Corry. Eventually you emerge on the A87. Turn right and walk beside the road towards Broadford for 50 yards, then cross the road and rejoin the old highway at a fenced opening. Turn right and follow a path all the way back to Broadford.