Neist Point Lighthouse on the Isle of Skye is one of the most iconic sights on the island. This place is a photographers haven, especially as the sunsets over the sea here giving a stunning golden glow along the cliffs.
Being one of the most remote points on the Isle of Skye, you will need to plan your trip to this part of the island wisely within your Isle of Skye itinerary. In this post, we will share our top tips for visiting Neist Point Lighthouse.
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Neist Point Lighthouse is the perfect place to go on the Isle of Skye when there is a cracker of a sunset. In this guide, we will discuss the best time to go to Neist Point Lighthouse as well as the following
- Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye
- What is Neist Point Lighthouse?
- Where is Neist Point Lighthouse?
- How to get to Neist Point Lighthouse?
- Why Should I go to Neist Point Lighthouse?
- When Should I go to Neist Point Lighthouse?
- Preparing for your trip to the Isle of Skye
Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye
These recommendations may vary depending on what activities you are wanting to do whilst on the island. We have based these accommodations close to the centre of the island and near Portree. In the summer Portree is extremely busy and we would recommend that you look to stay elsewhere if you want to avoid the crowds and traffic.
In the winter months, however, Portree is a pleasant and central location from which it is easy to get to many of the sights around the island.
Luxury – If you are looking for a comfortable apartment stay to come home to after a day exploring, Quayside Apartment is the perfect place for you. With spectacular views and a good central location, this accommodation is comfort plus for your next trip to Skye.
Book your stay at the Quayside Apartments right here.
Mid-range – The Portree Hotel is a great central location for your stay in Skye. This hotel overlooks the main square in Portree and during the winter months, there are wood-burning stoves to keep you warm after a day of exploring.
Book your stay at the Portree Hotel right here.
Budget – If you are looking for a budget place to rest your head but still have a great view, The Pink House is the place to stay just for that. A continental breakfast is included in your stay and you can book a room with a great view out to sea.
Book your stay at the Pink House right here.
If hostels are more your scene, you can check out the hostels available in Isle of Skye here.
What is Neist Point Lighthouse?
Neist Point Lighthouse is one of the most iconic sights on the Isle of Skye, sitting on a short peninsula off the western coast of the island. There is a small car park at Neist Point lighthouse that can fill up quickly.
A steep, concrete path leads down to the lighthouse that you can follow which takes around 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can enjoy this stunning view from the top.
It is worth noting that if it is misty or there are high winds, this can become a very dangerous places due to the sheer drop off the cliffs.
There are no toilet facilities at Neist Point Lighthouse. However there is a small coffee shop window but the opening times appear to be infrequent.
If you are bringing your dog to Neist Point, it is important to keep it on a lead as there is a lot of livestock that roam freely around the area. During the spring months, you may be lucky to see lots of newly born lambs.
Where is Neist Point Lighthouse?
Neist Point is located on the most westerly tip on the Isle of Skye, in Durinish, near the small town of Glendale. Being the most westerly point of the island makes this an incredibly popular spot at sunset.
There is a long single track road of around 20 miles leading to Neist Point Lighthouse taking you through some of the most remote parts of the Isle of Skye.
How to Get to Neist Point Lighthouse
Neist Point is not the easiest place to visit on the Isle of Skye, however it is worth a visit to see the stunning coastline on this part of the island. If you are travelling from the town of Portree, it is around a 33 mile drive.
From Portree, follow the A87 out of the town past the large Co-op supermarket. After 4 miles, turn off left towards Carbost and continue along the A830. Follow signposts for Glendale and drive along the B884. The roads are narrow and the traffic can be busy in both directions, therefore, make sure you leave plenty of time in your Isle of Skye itinerary to get there.
When Should I go to Neist Point Lighthouse?
In our opinion, the best time to see Neist Point Lighthouse is at sunset when the colours are golden. However, bear in mind that the Isle of Skye has minimal days where the weather conditions are like this so the traffic will most likely be very heavy along the single track roads.
If the weather isn’t on point and you would rather avoid the crowds and get a parking space, visiting early in the morning would be the better option.
Whilst you are admiring the stunning scenery, it is also worth looking out for wildlife whilst you are at Neist Point Lighthouse. It is not uncommon to see dolphins, whales and maybe even basking sharks in the sea below.
Why Should I go to Neist Point Lighthouse?
Neist Point Lighthouse is one of our favourite spots to visit on the Isle of Skye. The views of the rugged cliffs are breathtaking and the walk down to the lighthouse boasts some fantastic scenery.
You can also view Neist Point Lighthouse from the cliff where many gather to photograph this popular sight on the Isle of Skye.
Before You Leave on Your Trip to the Isle of Skye
Before you leave on your trip to the Isle of Skye there are a few things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. These include how to get there and around the island, what to pack and where to stay, all of which are discussed below.
How to Get to the Isle of Skye
Drive
The Isle of Skye is connected to mainland Scotland by the Skye Bridge, a free road bridge, from Kyle of Lochalsh to the village of Kyleakin on the island. In high winds, the bridge will close to high vehicles and on days of particularly extreme weather, the bridge may close to all vehicles.
Ferry
Another option is to get the ferry over to Skye which typically takes around 30 minutes, leaving from Mallaig on the mainland to Armadale. You can check the timetables online as there is typically only a morning and afternoon ferry running.
Bus
If you are travelling to Skye without a vehicle, buses run from Scotland’s major cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh direct to Isle of Skye’s capital, Portree. Buses to the Isle of Skye run from other areas in Scotland and you can plan your bus journey to Skye here.
Once you are on the island, you can book onto a tour that departs from Portree and takes you around the best sights that there are to see on the island. Read more about this tour and book your place right here.
Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye
These recommendations may vary depending on what activities you are wanting to do whilst on the island. We have based these accommodations close to the centre of the island and near Portree. In the summer Portree is extremely busy and we would recommend that you look to stay elsewhere if you want to avoid the crowds and traffic.
In the winter months, however, Portree is a pleasant and central location from which it is easy to get to many of the sights around the island.
Luxury – If you are looking for a comfortable apartment stay to come home to after a day exploring, Quayside Apartment is the perfect place for you. With spectacular views and a good central location, this accommodation is comfort plus for your next trip to Skye.
Book your stay at the Quayside Apartments right here.
Mid-range – The Portree Hotel is a great central location for your stay in Skye. This hotel overlooks the main square in Portree and during the winter months, there are wood-burning stoves to keep you warm after a day of exploring.
Book your stay at the Portree Hotel right here.
Budget – If you are looking for a budget place to rest your head but still have a great view, The Pink House is the place to stay just for that. A continental breakfast is included in your stay and you can book a room with a great view out to sea.
Book your stay at the Pink House right here.
If hostels are more your scene, you can check out the hostels available in Isle of Skye here.
What to Pack for the Isle of Skye
When it comes to packing for a trip to Scotland there is one item of clothing that you are going to need all year round: a waterproof. It rains in Scotland on average 250 days a year, meaning that during your trip to the Isle of Skye in winter, you can expect rain at some point. Due to this, the number one item on your packing list is a good waterproof jacket.
Second to that, another item to not leave home without is a good pair of warm and, if possible, waterproof boots. A lot of the best sights on Skye require a bit of walking to reach them and the conditions underfoot can become very muddy. You do not want to ruin a good pair of white trainers so pack some sturdy boots.
You will definitely need a hat and gloves during the winter months as the wind chill can be bitter.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around the Isle of Skye, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
You can read what else we keep in our camera bag over here.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Shure VP83 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 9 Black and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socket
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Scotland
We know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, your guide to visiting Neist Point on the Isle of Skye. If you are visiting this incredible place and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was! Did you get a clear day to see the sights? Did you manage the trip without getting caught in the rain? Let us know in the comments below!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience completing this stunning walk.
If you are planning a Scotland trip soon then check out our other Scotland content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
Read Now:
- Visiting the Isle of Skye in Winter – All You Need to Know
- Isle of Skye – The Best Things to Do in Skye
- Isle of Skye 2 Day Itinerary – A Unique Itinerary Including the Best Things to do on the Isle of Skye
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