Of all Scotland's islands none casts its spell quite so dramatically as the Isle of Skye. Celebrated in song and story, Eilean a'Cheo is a place of astonishing natural beauty and attracts climbers and walkers from all over the world

The 70-mile long Skye Trail connects two of the island's most extraordinary landscapes; the world-famous Cuillin, the most rugged mountain range in Britain, and the Trotternish ridge, a rolling escarpment of basalt hills that look over the sea to the tumbled landscapes of mainland Scotland.

This long walk through the island, the 'Skitis' of the Celtic world, follows ancient byways, cattle drovers' routes, mountain footpaths and an old railway line, through landscapes where the first inhabitants sensed the presence of their gods in every nook and cranny, on every hill and crag, in every corrie and loch. Landscape and weather and an affinity with wild nature made up the fabric of their lives.

The Skye Trail visits castles, takes in geological gems like The Quiraing and The Storr, follows rivers and loch-side paths and recalls those who were brutally removed from their homes during the Highland Clearances. It visits the site of the 'last battle on British soil' and climbs Bla Bheinn, surely the finest mountain on this island of fine mountains. The route then takes its finale along the old Marble Lane to Broadford and the end of a magnificent island journey. The Skye Trail is destined to be one of the most popular walks in Britain.

Cameron McNeish is known throughout the UK as one of the country's most respected mountain commentators. For 20 years he was the editor of the award-winning TGO (The Great Outdoors) magazine and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. A passionate mountaineer and wilderness backpacker, Cameron lives with his wife Gina in the Scottish Highlands.

Richard Else is fast making a name for himself as one of Scotland's finest wilderness photographers. A multi award-winning adventure film maker he is series producer of the highly popular BBC Scotland programme, The Adventure Show and is a Professional Fellow at St Chad's College, Durham University. He lives close to the Cairngorms with fellow film-maker Margaret Wilks.