Day Itinerary
9 Activities
Day 2
91 mi
Neist Point Lighthouse
Discover Skye's ancient fortifications and its more modern castles, while learning about its fairies and real life giants, all with the most beautiful landscapes as a backdrop.
11.5 mi
25 min
Dun Beagh
Historic Site
Open Details
Dun Beag is a broch, one of around five hundred to be found across mainly the north and west of Scotland. Brochs were built in the last centuries BC and the first centuries AD. Opinions differ as to their purpose. Some view them as primarily defensive structures, while others believe they were symbols of prestige and power. When originally built Dun Beag would have been at least 10m taller than it is today. The residents would have lived at first floor level and above, while the ground floor would have been used for keeping livestock. The whole structure would have been roofed over with wood and thatch and there may have been a defensive rampart around the top.
8.9 mi
15 min
Giant Angus Macaskill Museum
History Museum
Open Details
Giant Angus MacAskill Museum celebrates the life of Angus MacAskill, who stood 7ft8in (2.36m) tall, weighed 425lb and lived from 1825 to 1863. He was the tallest Scotsman ever to have lived, and the tallest recorded true giant.
He was born at the north end of the island of Berneray, in the Sound of Harris, the fourth of ten children of average sized parents. As a baby, Angus was so small he was not expected to survive. When he was 6, Angus's parents and their children were "cleared" from their land and forced to emigrate to the new world, where they settled in St Ann's, Cape Breton.
Angus added most of his size during his teenage years, and by his early 20s has become renowned for feats of strength, becoming known as Gille Mor, the Cape Breton Giant, or Giant MacAskill. Eventually he was recruited to take part in a travelling show, where he put on performances across North America and Europe, working alongside General Tom Thumb, the shortest fully grown man of the time. He retired back to St Ann's a wealthy man. Although never visiting Skye, the museum was founded here by Peter MacAskill to provide a lasting memory to a notable member of the clan.
1.2 mi
5 min
Open Details
Dunvegan Castle is the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the stronghold of the chiefs of the clan for more than 800 years. A curtain wall was built round the hill in the 13th century around a former Norse fort which was only accessible through a sea gate. A castle was then constructed within the curtain wall by Malcolm MacLeod in about 1350.
Look out for the the Fairy Flag as you walk around the castle and make sure to set aside time to walk the beautiful gardens.
4.7 mi
10 min
Fairy Bridge
Bridge
Open Details
The Fairy Flag, which resides in Dunvegan Castle, is treasured by the MacLeod clan, and has been used as a talisman during many of their battles. The legend behind the flag tells of how one of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod married a fairy; however, after twenty years she is forced to leave him and return to fairyland, but gave him the flag, promising that if it was waved in times of danger and distress, help would be given on three occasions. It was at the Fairy Bridge on the road to Stein (just after you leave the A850 road), where the legend states that she bade farewell to the chief.
4.1 mi
10 min
Open Details
Stein Inn is the oldest inn on Skye and offers light lunches and traditional bar meals. They use the best of Scottish ingredients and in particular from the Isle of Skye and the Highlands, including the freshest of shellfish. Eat in the bar, or reserve a table, or weather permitting, al fresco with the fabulous view of Loch Bay.
12.5 mi
40 min
Claigan Coral Beach
Beach
Open Details
From the car park, follow the path to the beach. The walk takes about 20 minutes and you may need to wear sturdy footwear.
Claigan Coral Beach is not actually made from coral, but the skeletal remains of a rare type of seaweed called Maerl. It is a beautiful beach with the small uninhabited island of Lampay accessible at low tide. From the carpark at Claigan, there is a mile long signposted path that leads to the beach.
15.9 mi
50 min
Open Details
Neist Point is a viewpoint on the most westerly point of Skye. Neist Point Lighthouse has been located there since 1909. Neist Point projects into The Minch and provides a walk and viewpoint. The basalt at Neist Point is very similar to that at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. Whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking shark can be seen from the point. Common seabirds include gannets, black guillemots, razorbills and European shags. Several rare plants, including saxifrages are found on the point.
Make sure to wear sturdy footwear when visiting.
32.6 mi
1 hr
Portree
0.4 mi
5 min
Open Details