Waterstein Head – The Cliff across the Bay from Neist Point
Waterstein Head is the great flat-topped cliff across Moonen Bay from Neist Point, 296 metres from the sea to its top.
It fills the view from the lighthouse path, and it can be climbed from the landward side by a short walk from a lay-by on the Neist road. It's two to three miles there and back, about two hours, to a trig point on the cliff edge.
- Time
- About two hours: two to three miles there and back, up a grassy ridge to a trig point 970 feet above the sea. A short hill walk.
- The path
- Rough grass up a ridge, wet after rain, then a well-worn track near the cliff edge.
- Where to start
- The lay-by on the left of the single-track Neist road at its highest point, just before the road drops to Waterstein.
- When to go
- All year in daylight, on a clear, calm day. From November to January be walking by 1pm.
- Dogs
- On a lead: crofters' grazing land.
- Children
- A sheer, unfenced cliff at the top.
- Toilets
- None on the walk.
- Before you set out
- The cliff edge is sheer and unfenced. Not a walk for mist or a strong wind.
The walk
Park in the lay-by on the left of the Neist road at its highest point, just before the road drops steeply to Waterstein. The road is single-track, so if the lay-by is full don't leave the car in a passing place. There are no toilets. The walk is one of the Glendale community's own: two to three miles there and back, about two hours.
The climb is along a ridge beside an old dyke, a wall of stone and turf, then on a well-worn track near the cliff edge to the trig point, 970 feet above the sea. From the top the view runs all the way round, with MacLeod's Tables inland, Lorgill Bay down the coast, the Western Isles across the Minch, and Moonen Bay and the lighthouse at Neist below. The ground is rough grass, wet after rain, and the cliff is sheer and unfenced. Keep well back from the edge, and leave the walk for another day in mist or a strong wind.
This is crofters' grazing land, so dogs stay on a lead. Bring what you need to eat and drink, as there's nothing on this road. From November to January, be walking by 1pm.
If it rains
The ridge is open to every wind off the Minch and the grass is slippery when wet. In mist the cliff edge is hard to see: keep this for a clear, calm day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.