The road takes you through Torrin, where you are greeted with a famous postcard view of Blaven, one of the best known mountains of the Cuillins and set apart from the rest of the ridge. You continue to drive around Loch Slapin where the local fishing boats anchor for shelter, beneath the shadow of Blaven and you eventually rise over a little hill to catch your first glimpse of the sea and the islands that lie off Skye.
Every mile you drive on your journey from Broadford to Elgol will fool you into thinking that the scenery simply cannot be bettered. However, you will be proved wrong when you arrive in Elgol and reach the shore and the little fishing harbour. There is simply nothing to compare to the sight of the Cuillin Hills beyond the Elgol shore - a breathtaking view whether it is sunny or stormy, and today it was certainly stormy.
There are various opinions as to the meaning of the name, 'Elgol' (or Ealaghol in the native Gaelic, some suggesting 'The Noble Dale' and others 'The Weeping Swan' (folklore details the story of a Viking captain who perished when his longboat named 'The Swan' came to attack the people of Elgol).
Boat trips can be taken to get you in to the Black Cuillin Hills but we visited out of season so could only view them from afar. I've been on them in previous years and they are well and truly spectacular plus there is an added bonus of watching the seals on a near-by island.
