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Old Sleat Road path

Proposal code: THC-2026-04-114

To extend and improve the Old Sleat Road path linking the communities of Broadford and Drumfearn and the wider Sleat Peninsula.

1. The project proposes to improve and extend an existing disused road. It will do this by building two new short link paths resulting in 6.5km of contiguous off road active travel path. It will create an active travel link where the only alternative is to travel by car or to travel along an existing carriageway where there is no off-road pavement or nearby path. Existing barriers to access will be removed maintenance actions will improve path resilience.

2. We have identified a need for this project within the local area through consultation as follows:

Broadford & Strath Community Company, Paths For People Project, Community Survey Results, Alan Jones Associates – June 2024 – This survey did not specifically poll this project, but it was mentioned multiple times in response to the ‘are there any other paths?’ question.

Broadford and Strath Local Place Plan – Identifies this project as a placemaking priority: Encourage creation of continuous off-road path from Sleat road junction to Kinloch using old road.

Social Media – in a survey of Sleat residents on Facebook, 37 people said that they support this project of which 16 people said that they would use this path more often if the missing link was connected.

Doorstep survey in Drumfearn – 12 households (24 people) were surveyed. All of them are supportive and all but one said that they would be likely or very likely to use the path more for active travel if the missing link was connected.

Survey Monkey of Sleat residents – of 8 respondents all are supportive and 6 say that they would be likely or very likely to use the path more for active travel if the missing link was connected

The Sleat Local Place Plan consultation received over 450 comments, of which more than 30 called for improvements to cycle and active travel paths. As a result, the first Sleat LPP identifies 9 key visions of which one is ‘Active travel and reliable public transport connect our communities’. The plan elaborates with the need for walking/cycling path maintenance in the short term, and in the long term a call for a comprehensive cycle network.

 

3. Outcomes

The proposed path will be used for everyday journeys by Drumfearn and Sleat residents to access Broadford for; shops, workplaces and other amenities, or attend events and visit friends. The path would be used by Broadford residents to access major employers in Sleat, to attend cultural events, and to access the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and onward trains.

The path would reduce the number of car journeys between Drumfearn, Broadford and Sleat by providing a contiguous path that bypasses the most intimidating and dangerous section (high speed vehicles) of the A851. The journey of 12km would take 20-30 minutes by bicycle.

Active travel beneficiaries are adults travelling between Sleat Peninsula and Broadford, and high school children living in Drumfearn and walking to the school bus. The population of Broadford and Sleat is 2000 people.

Recreation: the path is heavily used for recreation; children learning to cycle, dog walkers, runners, nature lovers. Extending and improving the path will make it more accessible and allow longer excursions and deeper immersion into nature connecting moorland, lochs and woodland.

Cycle Tourism: in the tourist season many cycle tourists use the A851 between Broadford and Armadale ferry terminal. This path will enhance their experience of Sleat.

 

4. Milestones to date

The project received Planning Permission in 2025 and a tender exercise was completed, with £40k design funding from Ian Finlay Paths Fund.

Phase 1 of the project, maintaining the existing disused road, building one link path and installing signage, was completed in March 2026. The Highland Council delivered this phase with £250k funding from Ian Finlay Paths fund, and £10k from the Highland Council.

Phase 2, to build the second link path including two new bridges is currently seeking funding. The tendered cost of this work is £500k

5. Start date is as soon as funding is in place.

• Isle of Skye & Raasay