Loch Slapin

Loch Slapin is a sea loch on the south-east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands. It stretches inland from the Sound of Sleat for about six kilometres and is framed by the Red Cuillin and Black Cuillin ranges. Bla Bheinn, a 928-metre peak, rises above the eastern shore and dominates the skyline. The village of Torrin sits on the western edge of the water and was once the centre of a marble-quarrying industry. Stone from Torrin helped build Armadale Castle and Iona Abbey. Nearby Dun Ringill is an Iron Age fort later used by Clan MacKinnon as their stronghold. The loch’s dramatic scenery draws hikers, photographers and wild campers from across the Highlands. Bla Bheinn’s ascent is counted among Skye’s most rewarding climbs, with wide views over the Cuillin and the surrounding lochs. Kayakers glide along the calm waters while photographers frame the mountains reflected in the loch. The Iron Age fort at Dun Ringill offers a glimpse of the area’s ancient past. Torrin’s former quarries add layers of industrial history to the landscape. Visitors find a shoreline path that follows the water’s edge, giving easy access to changing views of Bla Bheinn and the Cuillins. The rocky promontory of Dun Ringill can be reached on foot and rewards climbers with panoramas over the loch and hills. Photographers wait for light to catch the water and peaks at dawn or dusk. Wild campers pitch beside the loch under wide Highland skies. The route to Bla Bheinn starts close by, leading walkers up one of Skye’s finest ridges.