Isle of Skye Tour – Sailing to Loch Coruisk a Hidden Gem on Skye

This post was most recently updated on August 30th, 2019

Undoubtedly, Skye has some of the most majestic landscapes I have ever seen. A rugged countryside filled with magic. From castles, to lochs, to mountain and glens, it seemingly has it all. It’s also very crowded especially during the summer months. And while I love Skye, I do not however love crowds. Therefore, I decided to go on an Isle of Skye tour that would be unique and transport me away from the masses.

It seems that social media and other marketing efforts have done their job and Skye is no longer a secret. Tourists come in droves to experience its wonder. And there is a serious overcrowding at some of the more popular spots. Unfortunately, the infrastructure of the small Isle cannot cope with the huge influx of tourists that arrive on a daily basis.

However, there are still a few places on Skye that are a bit less known.  More secluded. Wild and untouched. It might require a bit more planning and determination to get there. But if you are looking for some peace and trying to figure out what to do in Skye while avoiding the crowds. Then Sailing to Loch Coruisk might be exactly the Isle of Skye tour you are looking for. It is certainly in my opinion one of the last hidden gems on the Isle of Skye.

How to Get to Loch Coruisk

There are two ways to get to Loch Coruisk, you can hike or you can take a boat.  Hiking is harder and longer and will take more preparation but it is definitely possible.  You could take the coastal walk from Elgol, however it goes through a very difficult section aptly named “ The Bad Step”. Alternatively, you can hike from Sligachan.  But since I did not do either of these hikes to get there I am not the best source of information.  You can check out sites like Walking Highlands who will have more details on different hikes around Skye.

Booking Your Isle of Skye Tour to Loch Coruisk

The first thing you need to do is book your tour to Loch Coruisk. There are several companies that operate the boat trips to Loch Coruisk and the small isles. We booked with Bella Jane because they were the only ones sailing to Loch Coruisk on Sunday. I cannot compare with other tour operators as I have no experience with them. However, I can say that the Bella Jane is a great Isle of Skye tour company to use. They provide great customer service and are very flexible.

The booking process was fast and simple.  They have a great website where you can find out more about each trip. You can select your dates, group size and type of tour you want. Then make a reservation with a secure payment in minutes. The hardest part was deciding the length of the trip. Here are your options:

1. One Way In: This is for people who will take the boat in and will hike back to Elgol or on to Sligachan. It is recommended that you be an experienced hiker for this option.
2. Standard Return Trip: This is the standard 3 hr trip. You still have choice of hours to depart and return. 
3. Maxi Day or Flexi Day: This is what you book if you want to spend the full day there to are unsure how long you will be. It allows for maximum flexibility. 
4. Mini Trip: This one is only the boat trip.  You do not get time on shore. It is a trip out and back for the scenery only. 

If you are not sure which tour to book you can reach out to them via phone or email and they are quick to respond and provide assistance. I also found them very accommodating.  They were able to add an extra person last minute and allowed us to bring a puppy at no charge.  It is always encouraging to find a company that is dog friendly and able to make adjustments for you last minute. 

The Road to Elgol

Before you can go on your Isle of Skye tour you will need to get to Elgol. Elgol is where the boat trips to Loch Coruisk depart from. If you are coming from Broadford, like we did, then Google Maps will tell you it takes 30 min to drive there.  However, the going can be slow and I would estimate more like 45 min. Time will depend on how comfortable you are driving on single track winding roads and on traffic. 

By traffic I don’t mean car congestion. Fortunately, this part of Skye does not see near the car traffic as the trotternish peninsula. At least not yet. What I mean, is traffic caused by the wildlife. Specifically coos or sheep taking their morning walks and blocking the road.  During our drive we encountered a heard of Heilan’ Coos who naturally believed they owned the road.  It took them a while to moooove and allow us space to pass. 

So just to be safe give yourself 45 min to 1 hr to get to Elgol from Broadford. This way you don’t need to rush and can make as many stops as you want for pictures. Do not be foolish like we were. I wish we would have left earlier to have more time to stop and take proper pictures of the coos.

Pro Tip: Parking can be a bit challenging. So give yourself sufficient time to find proper parking. The car park by the boats is small and gets filled quickly. However, there is an additional lot towards the top of the hill. This is also where the bathrooms are located. So its a good place to stop before you check in even if there is parking by the dock. 

Sailing to Loch Coruisk 

After you check in with your tour operator you will soon board your boat. As I mentioned above we booked with the Bella Jane.  They have a few different boats as part of their fleet but we got to ride on the original. According to their website “The Bella Jane is Lochin 38 – a high-specification, modern, powerful sea-going vessel with a comprehensive range of safety equipment commensurate with our 2 operating licences”. It has a weather canopy and non-slip surfaces and I felt safe at all times. It is a small boat however the ride was actually quite smooth and the views were incredible.

On your way to Loch Coruisk one of the crew provided live commentary with information on our surroundings and pointed out some of the small Isles we passed. The crew also kept their eyes open to point out any wildlife along the way. One of the highlights was seeing a colony of seals who were lazily basking in the sun. 

Then as we approached the docking area I became speechless. And I am sure I was not the only one. Because the chatter dissipated and the only thing I could hear were the sounds of the boat, the waves and the wind.

The scenery unfolding in front of us was bewitching.  At that moment the sun decided to hide, and the mountains were shrouded in a soft mist. I could hear the enchanting song of the waterfall cascading down the mountain. Thus the whole scene took on a mystical aura. I had certainly arrived in heaven.

As we disembarked, made our way across the ramp I took in my surroundings. Immediately I felt a sense of peace followed by euphoria. There is nothing better than being out in a remote area seeing the beauty of a new place for the first time.  I was ready to explore and for the adventure to begin. 

The Path Less Traveled – A Walk Around Loch Coruisk

As expected this Isle of Skye tour is unique and it takes you away from the crowds. Sailing to Loch Coruisk is only the start of the adventure. The rest of the adventure begins on ground as you walk the path less traveled and explore on foot. 

Once you disembark a short walk takes you to Loch Courisk.  Here you will have to decide which path you will take. If you stay to the right there is a river with some stones you can use to cross over.  This is the way to go if you want to gain height to see the loch from above.  If you are fit and able I encourage this route for the views alone. You can see an example of what it looks like below. Picture courtesy of my friend Jason – check out his Instagram account for more.

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A post shared by Jason (@jasonjpturner)

Pro Tip – If you intend to go this route bring wellies or water shoes otherwise your feet are very likely to get soaked. Not sure about you but I do not enjoy hiking with cold wet feet. So bring a pair of wellies or water shoes to wear across the river. Once you cross, change into your regular waterproof hiking shoes and leave the wellies there to use on your return. Feet stay dry and you don’t have to carry them during your hike. 

We did not have wellies or water shoes. Additionally, we traveled with children and a small puppy.  Therefore we decided that crossing the river was not a smart idea. So we chose to go left and walk around the base of the Loch instead. It was a beautiful peaceful walk with excellent scenery and plenty of spots to chose to have our picnic lunch. 

While the walk around the base does not offer the panoramic views of Loch Coruisk you can get from above it is still a stunning hike.  Best of all there is literally no one else around. This tour of Skye is like no other. Lock Coruisk is still unspoiled, no paths, signs or markers. Just nature, and you forging your own path. 

If you enjoy hiking here are five of the best hikes in Skye

The Boat Trip Back to Elgol

As I mentioned before, The Bella Jane is a very flexible tour company. We were scheduled to return on the last boat back to Elgol. But the kids and the puppy were tired. Therefore we decided to try and catch an early boat back. And stop at a cafe for and afternoon cake and much needed coffee.

We made our way back to the ramp and waited for the Bella Jane to arrive. I was nervous that they would not let us board as it was not our scheduled time. But the captain and crew welcomed us on board and checked us in with no issues. They were organized and efficient. And I was quite pleased that they were flexible in accommodating the entire group to return earlier than planned. 

Once onboard we were given our choice of a hot chocolate, tea, coffee or juice. Then we began the return journey to Elgol.  The boat ride back was just as beautiful and smooth. And before we knew it we were docking and this wonderful adventure had come to an end.  We will have memories to last a lifetime. And I can highly recommend this Isle of Skye tour to Loch Coruisk.

If you are looking for other ways to avoid the crowds in Skye then going in winter can be a good idea. If you need a bit of convincing then here are 6 reasons to visit Skye in winter. 

Additional Tips:

• If you think you want to hike across the river and to a high point for the views then book the longer day trip.  Also pro tip above under “The path less traveled – a walk around Loch Coruisk)
• Hiking shoes are essential even better if they are waterproof.  Regardless which section you want to explore, the terrain is uneven, wet and boggy. 
• Rain jacket or poncho is a must. Weather is changeable so even if the day starts out sunny make sure to have some type of rain jacket or poncho. Also make sure to layer so you can keep warm or cool as needed.
• If you stay at the Camping Skye camp site like we did then you will receive a discount on your tour to loch coruisk with the Bella Jane. They offer other discounts on local tours as well.
• Highly suggest some bug repellent especially if going in the summer months. Midges are bothersome beasties. Plus this is wild unspoiled land and deer roam the area.  This means you might encounter ticks. Bug repellent is always a good idea when hiking in this type of terrain. 
• Pack snacks and food for lunch, and enough water to last for the day. 
• Make sure to use the bathroom either in Elgol before you board or on the boat before you disembark. There are no facilities once you arrive at Loch Coruisk. 
• Pack a small first aid kit for small cuts, blisters, bug bites, etc.. Better safe than sorry as there is no way to get you treatment once you are there.

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Have you been on an Isle Of Skye tour? Would you want to take a day trip to Loch Coruisk? Always happy to hear from you so leave your comments below or feel free to get social with me on Instagram or Facebook.