Discovering Nest Point

From Portree, take the A87 north. Leave this road fairly quickly and turn left onto the A850 towards Dunvegan. Near Dunvegan, take the B884 west. This narrow, bucolic road leads to the large car park at Neist Point.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head west towards the end of the road.

Go around a barrier and take the downhill path with a handrail. The path is paved with asphalt. The steep descent is punctuated by steps at regular intervals.

At the bottom of the descent, the path continues flat through a grassy area and heads towards Nest Point Lighthouse.

(1) Go around the small peak of An t-Aigeach on the right, climbing slightly.

The path then descends gently towards the lighthouse. When you reach it, pass it on the left to see the lighthouse and its outbuildings. On the right, you will see a kind of large foghorn.

From here, there is a beautiful view of the tip of the cape and the hundreds of cairns left by visitors.

(2) Go back to the crossroads on the east side of the lighthouse. Turn right and descend gently towards the small harbour with its crane on the edge of the cliff.

(3) Continue along the top of the cliffs (a poorly marked path) to return to the main path as it climbs east of the small summit of An t-Aigeach. There, turn right onto the main path and follow it to the highest point about a hundred metres away.

(1) You can climb up to the summit of An t-Aigeach on the left and back down again to enjoy a beautiful view.

(1) Return to the main path by turning left as you descend from An t-Aigeach.

After a slight descent and a flat section, the path climbs steeply up the cliffs with steps interspersed with flat sections.

Return to the car park, which marks the end of this hike. (S/E)

Hike on asphalt to Neist Point lighthouse and on beautiful grassy and rocky terraces elsewhere.

Be careful of high cliffs.

There are sometimes sheep grazing freely, so keep dogs on a leash.

This route is easy to follow and the paths are in good condition. However, part of the route is on stony or grassy paths, so you will need suitable footwear.

In addition, it is advisable to follow the directions in this description and on the map provided by Visorando, while also taking note of the landscapes you pass through. The distance indications from the starting point, and even the GPS coordinates of the waypoints (including the starting point), can also help hikers find their way.

It is possible to walk all the way around the headland, where you can see beautiful examples of local wildlife, including golden eagles and numerous gulls.

Hike completed by the author on 15 May 2024.