Broadford: Coastal Walks and Heritage

Broadford stretches along the sheltered waters of Broadford Bay. The village brings together coastal landscapes, walking routes and historical themes. If you are looking for a hotel in Broadford, you can also consider the destination in terms of the activities that interest you: Broadford Forest offers forest roads, coastal walks and views, while the bay adds opportunities for nature watching and heritage exploration.

Forest, Coast and Birds

In Broadford Forest, you can explore forest roads and paths along Skye’s rocky coast. The forest offers views of Scalpay, Pabay and the Crowlin Islands. These named island views give the landscape a clear maritime connection and complement the area’s walking routes.

Camus na Sgianadin is a sheltered bay where many birds come to feed. Broadford Bay also regularly attracts migrating birds during brief stopovers. You can watch the bay from places including the New Pier, Old Pier and Co-op Car Park. Sightings vary by season, so the time of year is a relevant consideration if you are planning to go birdwatching.

Broadford’s History and Heritage

Broadford’s origins date back to a cattle market in the late 18th century. In 1904, a railway was built to transport marble to Broadford Pier. These represent different chapters in the village’s history: the cattle market as an early landmark, and the later railway built to transport marble.

The history of Drambuie liqueur is also connected with Broadford. It has been known by this name since September 1893. A copy of the liqueur recipe was given to John Ross, the owner of the Broadford Hotel. This story about the recipe is a distinct strand of history; it should not be conflated with the later marble transport or the village’s origins.

In the wider area around Broadford, Cill Chriosd is considered a nationally significant parish church of medieval origin. It adds a regional cultural and historical connection to the local themes.

Walks with Different Focuses

The Broadford Bay Heritage Trail connects important sites and themes along Broadford Bay over a route of around three miles. The project was developed to highlight the area’s archaeological, industrial, maritime and cultural heritage. Its broad range of themes makes the route appealing if you would like to explore different aspects of heritage as well as the landscape around the bay.

The Broadford Marble Line is signposted and easy to walk. It follows a railway track to the marble quarries near Kilchrist. However, one section is rough, and the stretch to the second quarry is steep. When planning your walk, it is worth taking these sections into account alongside the route’s generally easy-going character.

The two walks therefore offer different points of interest: the Heritage Trail focuses on the route along the bay and several heritage themes, while the Marble Line follows the route to the quarries and has sections with varying characteristics. You can choose between them depending on whether you are more interested in a variety of themes or a route connected with the marble quarries.

Discover more destinations: Cononbridge, Forres, Croick, Dornoch, Shandwick, Dundreggan, Greshornish, Cannich.

For the regional travel overview: Highland.