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A watercolour of the Quiraing under a stormy sky.
Isle of Skye

Aird Old Church Gallery

Peter McDermott's gallery in a converted church at Aird of Sleat, with watercolours, railway-style prints and jewellery.

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Welcome

Aird Old Church Gallery is a converted church at the far end of the road through Sleat, at Aird of Sleat, near the southern tip of Skye, and it is the gallery of the artist Peter McDermott.

The drive there is part of the pleasure: a single-track road rising and falling through moorland and birch, past whitewashed cottages, with the sea slipping in and out of view.

Peter's original watercolours give dramatic readings of the Highland landscape and its weather, and the gallery also sells limited-edition giclée prints of them, railway-style posters inspired by the advertising of the 1930s and 40s, and bright contemporary prints of Skye and beyond. His daughter Heather makes bold statement jewellery in silver and stainless steel, and some of it is for sale here. The gallery opens Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm; if you are making a special journey, get in touch first to be sure they are in.

Round the cornerCamas DaraichA beach of pale sand at the southern tip of Skye, an hour on foot from the road end at Aird of Sleat.1 min by roadSee itCamas Daraich from the air: a crescent of pale sand and turquoise water below dark headland, a boat moored offshore and the sun setting over the Small Isles beyond.
Before you go

The gallery opens Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and is closed at weekends.

If you are making a special journey, contact the gallery in advance.

Hours
Mon to Fri 10:00 to 17:00; closed Sat and Sun.
Where
Aird of Sleat, IV45 8RN.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
10am–5pm
Tuesday
10am–5pm
Wednesday
10am–5pm
Thursday
10am–5pm
Friday
10am–5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Where it is

Aird of Sleat, south Skye.

Close byIn Sleat.
  1. Small white lighthouse on a grassy headland surrounded by grey seaPoint of SleatThe south end of Skye, three miles on foot to a light nobody ever kept.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. Two walkers on the path above Camas Daraich, the bay and its white sand below them.Point of Sleat WalkAbout two and a half miles each way over track and moor to the south end of Skye.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. Armadale Castle GardensArmadale Castle GardensThe ruined seat of the Macdonalds and 40 acres of woodland gardens, half a mile from the ferry pier on Sleat.5 miles7 min by road
  4. White tower buildings on a rocky headland above the seaSabhal Mòr Ostaig – Gaelic College & Culture CentreThe Gaelic college at Sleat: a shop, a coffee, and a blether on Mondays.6 miles11 min by road
  5. The road sign for Tarskavaig above the bay.TarskavaigA crofting village on the west coast of Sleat, looking north across its bay to the Cuillin.12 miles16 min by road
Directions
Camas Daraich from the air: a crescent of pale sand and turquoise water below dark headland, a boat moored offshore and the sun setting over the Small Isles beyond.AttractionsCamas DaraichA step away
Yellow kayak passes through a narrow rock cleft towards open waterAttractionsSouth Skye Sea Kayak6.8 miles
Whisky barrels on grass before the Torabhaig distillery and pagoda roofAttractionsTorabhaig Distillery8.3 miles
Sheep grazing among ruined castle walls on a grassy coastal headlandAttractionsKnock Castle8.4 miles
The white Fisherman and Child statue on a round grassy platform at the end of Mallaig's harbour wall, an anchor beside it and the harbour behind.AttractionsThe Fisherman and Child Statue9.7 miles
The Mallaig Heritage Centre, a low building under a pitched slate roof beside the railway platform, a brick path and planters in front.AttractionsMallaig Heritage Centre9.8 miles
Empty café dining room with pale wooden tables, white chairs and hanging pendant lightsRestaurantsThe Cabin Restaurant and Takeaway9.8 miles
Backpackers Lodge building with The Tea Garden Cafe sign, "Seats insideRestaurantsThe Tea Garden, Mallaig9.8 miles
Picnic tables outside the West Highland Hotel overlooking Mallaig's church and coastlineRestaurantsThe Chlachain Inn9.8 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the gallery, and when each is next free.

Coruisk House
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Elgol
  • 9 miles from the gallery
Check datesEilean Sionnach Lighthouse Cottage
  • Sleeps 8
  • In the Isle of Skye
  • 10 miles from the gallery
Check datesA dark timber-clad cabin with a corrugated metal roof sits on a gravel drive amid moorland scrub.Stonechat Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In the Isle of Skye
  • 11 miles from the gallery
Free 2–5 NovBothan Beileag, Isle of SkyeBothan Beileag
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Heast
  • 11 miles from the gallery
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay on SkyeAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.

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Find out more

For further reading, before you go.