Matt

Lealt is a crofting settlement on the western coastline of the Sound of Raasay on the Trotternish peninsula of Skye.  The River Lealt which gives its name to Lealt, passes through on the way to the Sound of Raasay.

The Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway was a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge which ran parallel with the River Lealt.

The western end of the line was at Loch Cuithir, where diatomite - known locally as Cailc (Scottish Gaelic for chalk) - was extracted from the lochbed and dried on wire nets. The seaward terminus had warehouses on the cliff-top at Invertote. At the base of the cliff was a factory where the diatomite was kiln dried, ground and calcined. The line was extended from the factory onto a pier into the Sound of Raasay. During its existence, the Skye Diatomite Company extracted 2000 tons of diatomite.

Please note: Whilst we try to replicate each colour on our website, colour on screen may vary due to a number of factors including screen resolution. We therefore advise that you order a colour card or sample pot to check actual finished colour.

Loch Coruisk is an inland fresh-water loch, lying at the foot of the Black Cuillin. Loch Coruisk is reputed to be the home of a water horse.

Sir Walter Scott visited the loch in 1814 and described it vividly:

“Rarely human eye has known

A scene so stern as that dread lake,

With its dark ledge of barren stone...”

Lord Tennyson reported more prosaically:

“Loch Coruisk, said to be the wildest scene in the Highlands, I failed in seeing. After a fatiguing expedition over the roughest ground on a wet day we arrived at the banks of the loch, and made acquaintance with the extremest tiptoes of the hills, all else being thick wool-white fog.”

Please note: Whilst we try to replicate each colour on our website, colour on screen may vary due to a number of factors including screen resolution. We therefore advise that you order a colour card or sample pot to check actual finished colour.