Neist Point
Neist Point is the most westerly point of the Isle of Skye, a dramatic basalt headland jutting into the Atlantic from the Duirinish Peninsula with a lighthouse at its tip and cliff scenery of exceptional quality on all sides. The combination of the dramatic volcanic geology, the lighthouse approach descending steeply from the cliff top to the headland below, the views across the Minch toward the Outer Hebrides and the wildlife that gathers in the surrounding waters makes Neist Point one of the most rewarding and most photographed viewpoints on Skye.
The walk from the car park at the top of the cliff to the lighthouse is one of the finest short walks on Skye, descending steeply on a clear path to the broad lower headland and then following the cliff edge to the lighthouse buildings. The basalt geology of the headland is displayed clearly in the cliff faces, with the characteristic hexagonal column jointing of cooled basalt visible in sections and the dramatic black rock contrasting with the green of the cliff-top grass and the deep blue of the Atlantic when the sky is clear.
The waters around Neist Point are excellent for whale and dolphin watching. Minke whale, common dolphin and harbour porpoise are regularly seen from the lighthouse headland and from the clifftops, and less frequently orca and other large cetaceans are reported in these waters. The combination of the Atlantic swell, the cold nutrient-rich water and the concentrations of fish that gather in the tidal races around the headland attract marine mammals reliably enough that a patient vigil from the cliff edge is frequently rewarded.
The sunsets from Neist Point, with the sky over the Outer Hebrides turning red and orange above the Atlantic horizon, are among the most celebrated on Skye and draw photographers and visitors at every appropriate evening throughout the year.