A Winter Walk to Rebel Wood, Isle of Skye

View of the snow capped Cuillin from the track to Rebel Wood

Skye has a habit of drawing you back—usually with a mixture of unfinished business, questionable weather, and scenery so beautiful you start to forgive absolutely everything. This February, we returned determined to conquer something that had defeated us once before: the walk to Rebel Wood.

You start the walk from the Orbost area, where there’s a small informal car park at the farmyard opposite Orbost House—exactly where several walking guides indicate parking is possible. It’s not a marked car park as such, just a sensible place to tuck the car away without blocking tractors or locals (always the golden rule on Skye).

The good news is that the route itself is relatively easy. There’s a clear track, and at one point we even passed a couple pushing a baby in a pram along part of it—which is the universal sign that you’re not on a hardcore expedition. It’s the kind of walk where you can enjoy the outdoors without needing trekking poles, energy gels, or any special level of fitness.

Rebel Wood holds a special little pocket of Skye magic. It’s dedicated to Joe Strummer—yes, The Clash’s Joe Strummer—who was closely connected with Future Forests, the charity behind the woodland project. The trees here were planted in his memory and fenced off to protect them from the very enthusiastic local deer population (a detail confirmed by descriptions of the wood’s dedication and protective fencing). There’s something genuinely touching about this quiet, living tribute tucked away on a windswept peninsula.

This really was a torrent on our previous visit

Before we even reached it though, we’d already had our first triumph of the day: crossing The Burn. On our last attempt, it had been a roaring, boot‑filling torrent. This time—after over a week of dry weather—we rolled up in wellies rather than proper walking boots and sploshed across with only mild drama. A victory a year in the making.

A Tunnocks and a flask of tea as a reward is always in order

The beach comes before Rebel Wood rather than at it, and we took full advantage on the way back to the car. Reaching Bharcasaig Bay from the track is easy, and the views open beautifully as you approach the coast, something echoed in guides describing the Orbost–Bharcasaig track route. With the tide out, the wet sand turned into a giant mirror, reflecting soft winter sunlight and the distant shape of Skye’s wild edges.

View from the beach

And then—my favourite part—the snow‑capped Cuillin came into view. Even from a distance they look dramatic, moody, and enormous, as if someone carved them specially to sit as the backdrop to your walk. A couple of herons were fishing in the shallows, looking sleek, statuesque, and frankly far more composed than we were in our wellies.

Rebel Wood itself feels peaceful and quietly significant. You don’t need to know anything about its connection to Joe Strummer to appreciate it, but if you do, you can’t help smiling at the thought of those young trees growing defiantly on a hillside in the wind.

If you’re on Skye and want a walk that’s big on scenery but gentle on effort, this one’s perfect. A simple track, a bit of beach, a snow‑dusted mountain range, some curious wildlife, a memorial wood—and a small, satisfying river crossing for added adventure. Just don’t forget the wellies.