As an avid traveler, I’m fortunate to visit many beautiful locations, but with a world to see it takes a decidedly special destination to bring me back more than once. I have visited Neist Point Lighthouse at least five times and it never disappoints.
Neist Point is located on the most westerly tip of Skye (close to the town of Glendale) and was engineered by David A Stevenson (of the famous Stevenson engineer family) in 1909. The 19-meter tower produces a signal (automated in 1990) every five seconds which can be seen 16 nautical miles away (and rated at 480,000 candle power). The adjacent cottages were controversially let to tourists some years ago, but this was stopped after a campaign by the locals. Today there is no public access to the lighthouse or surrounding buildings. Neist Point is widely considered the best place on Skye to spot whales, dolphins, porpoises, and even basking sharks (it’s also famous for fishing, with 14 species caught in nearby Moonen Bay). Moreover, it’s home to a wide variety of birdlife including gannets, shags, razorbills, guillemots, and more. It’s also a fascinating geological site with basalt rock formations that are similar to those found at the iconic Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Finally, Neist Point is one of the best destinations on Skye to watch the sunset and is extremely popular with landscape photographers.
Neist Point has exploded in popularity over the past decade and I can’t recommend visiting Skye during peak season as the singletrack roads are chaos. Shoulder season or even wintertime is a much better choice for exploring (remember no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing). On the way to the lighthouse, you’ll pass through the town of Glendale on the B884, which is home to Café Lephin. I highly recommend stopping in for amazing coffee, cakes, or lunch (they also have a tasteful selection of local goods). As you continue on the road becomes very narrow so be prepared to let others pass, watch for livestock, and drive slowly. The road culminates at the Neist Point parking, which has been expanded over the years but still fills quickly. Here you’ll find a small shack selling food/drink and the trailhead for the lighthouse.
The 1.7-mile hike (total out-and-back distance) is paved and well-marked, but is steep and requires a reasonable level of fitness. There’s also an optional detour once the trail levels out to the landing site and the crane previously used to resupply the lighthouse when manned. Alternatively, you can take a right at the trailhead walk along the clifftop to the Neist Point Viewpoint, which is the most popular spot for landscape photographers (sunset here is phenomenal). Please take great caution when leaving the marked path, especially with young children, as there are many sheer drops and unstable cliffs.
Neist Point is a place close to my heart and a destination where I’ve taken close friends, family, and most recently my partner, Amber. On my most recent visit, I woke at 4:30 a.m. to shoot the lighthouse in soft morning light on medium format film (seen below). We’d arrived in darkness the previous evening, so it wasn’t until first light at the famous viewpoint that Amber set eyes on the lighthouse. I knew the destination would blow her away, and I can’t express how magical it was to share in her excitement. If you’re planning to visit the Isle of Skye then Neist Point Lighthouse should be a priority.
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