Loch na Crèitheach

Loch na Crèitheach lies in a deep glacial strath on the Isle of Skye, barely a kilometre from the sea at Camasunary Bay. It is a loch of roughly 45 hectares, running close to a mile from south to north and perhaps a quarter of a mile at its widest, with a moderately simple shoreline and water of moderate depth. The setting is among the most dramatic in Scotland — Bla Bheinn rising steeply to the east, Sgurr nan Eag to the west, Ruadh Stac closing the head of the strath to the north, and Sgurr na Stri to the south. The loch drains seaward through the Abhainn Camas Fhionnairigh, which meets the coast near the old bothy at Camasunary.

The loch has a long association with sea trout, and fish of notable size have been taken here over the years. Salmon pass through on occasion. The feeder burn from the north, connecting Loch an Athain to Loch na Crèitheach, fishes well in its own right after rain when fish are running. The most productive stretch is generally the north-west shore, close to the inlet burn. Bank fishing throughout; wading is not advisable. The outlet river between the loch and the sea is not available for fishing.

Access begins at Elgol on the B8083, following the coastal track north to Camasunary. From there, cross the bridge over the outlet river and continue to the southern end of the loch — a total of nearly seven kilometres on a well-used stalking track, with the ground rising gently on either side as the strath narrows towards the water.