Introduction

This evening, I am posting information on the scenic viewpoint of Neist Point. This can be found on a remote, far west location on the Isle of Skye off Scotland’s West Coast. This part of Skye is known as ‘Duirinish’.

Location

Neist Point is 12 miles west of Dunvegan (famous for it’s castle) and 34 miles west of Portree. Final leg of access is along a narrow, single track road via Waterstein.

General information on the site

In the right weather (not guaranteed) the cliff-side scenery is stunning.The images herein were taken during a visit which coincided with heavy rain which resulted in saturated clothing. In the right weather and visibility conditions outstanding photographs can be obtained, particularly of sunsets and sunrises.

Neist Point Lighthouse

This is is one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland. It was built in 1900 from a design by David Alan Stevenson. This is the same family that produced the author, Robert Louis Stevenson. R.L. Stevenson is famous for writing Treasure Island and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Originally manually operated, the facility has been automated. The light is 43 meters above sea level and can be seen up to 16 nautical miles offshore.

Weather: This walk is not suitable in all weather conditions. As the route passes near high cliffs it cannot be recommended in windy or low visibility conditions.

Parking: There is a car park at the site but at peak times it can rapidly fill up.

Hike to the Lighthouse: The start of the walk is at the very end of the single track road near Glendale. Go to an old, battered shed from where starts a concrete path with hand rail. Follow this path all the way to the lighhthouse. It covers a distance (round trip) of 1.4 miles, with the average time to complete the walk being 45 minutes

Explore: Upon reaching the lighthouse care is required due to the dangerous cliffs.The rocks by the lighthouse are especially good for fishing from, large Pollock can be caught. Off the point in the summer months whales are regularly seen, as are Basking Shark.

Acknowledgement: Core of information regarding the hike was sourced from https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/top-ten-skye-walks/neist-point-lighthouse

More information

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland contains information on the Isle of Skye, many of the other islands around Scotland and, of course, the Scottish mainland. ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.