A walk · Waternish

Waternish Point – A Long Track to a Lighthouse on the Minch

8½ miles3 to 4 hoursthere and back

dogs on a lead

Waternish Point is the northern tip of the Waternish peninsula, a long way from any road.

A track leads out to it over croft land and moor from the ruined church at Trumpan, past a broch and an abandoned house, and ends at a small lighthouse above the Little Minch. It's 13.5 km there and back, and boggy.

Where it starts

Start at the car park beside Trumpan Church, Waternish, IV55 8GW, at the north end of the Waternish road.

Directions to the start

Is it for me?

Tap who is coming, or the day you have, for the answer on this walk.

Before you go

Getting there

A picnic table; no toilets.

On the path

Three to four hours: 13.5 km there and back with 389 m of climbing, on a track over croft land and moor. A long walk, very boggy in places. For children, a long, wet walk with no shelter.

Good to know

All year in daylight. From November to January be walking by 11am. Dogs on a lead, at the crofter's request. Toilets none on the walk or at the car park. No shelter on the walk and nothing at the point. Low cliffs at the end.

The walk

Park in the car park beside Trumpan Church, where the Waternish road ends its run north and turns back. It has a picnic table and no toilets, and no bus comes this far. Walkhighlands gives the walk as 13.5 km there and back with 389 metres of climbing, three to four hours. Most of it is on a track over croft land and open moor, very boggy in places, so wear boots and expect wet feet after rain.

On the way out are a cairn to Roderick MacLeod of Unish, the broch of Dun Borrafiach and the roofless shell of Unish House, alone on the moor. The point itself is low and bare, with a small white lighthouse and the Outer Hebrides across the Little Minch. On a calm day it's a good place to watch for whales and dolphins. The crofter asks that dogs are kept on a lead.

There's no shelter on the walk and nothing at the end of it, so carry food and waterproofs. Trumpan Church, beside the car park, was burned in a clan feud in 1578 and stands roofless. From November to January, be walking by 11am.

If it rains

The track is boggy in a dry spell and worse after rain, and there's no shelter between the church and the point. Keep it for a dry day with a clear view over the Minch.

After the walk

Something to do with the rest of the day, nearest the end of the walk first.

With the rest of the day

Animal furs hang along a narrow timber-beamed corridor in a tannery

5 min by roadA shopSkyeskynsScotland's last commercial sheepskin tannery, on a croft at Lochbay on Waternish, open for free tours all year.

Stone chimney gable and church spire behind a moss-covered wall

6 min by roadThings to doWaternish FarmA working farm near Stein, farmed for corncrakes and wildflowers, with coffee, cake and a guided walk.

Purple honesty box with "Homemade Scottish Tablet" sign beside a fenced hillside path

6 min by roadA shopDonnie's Tablet ShedA purple honesty-box shed at the end of the road in Geary, filled every day with homemade Scottish tablet.

Places to stay near the walk

Our places to stay nearest the start, by road.

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