Circular cycling route
A hilly but spectacular route starting from the largest and capital town of Skye, Portree. You’re rewarded with views along the way of the Trotternish and Cullin mountains, breathtaking lochs and most importantly the famous Neist Point lighthouse, where on a clear day you can make out the many isles of the Outer Hebrides.
On leaving Portree we steadily climb and follow the A87 north-west turning onto the A850 towards Carbost and Skeabost, here we follow Loch Snizort Beag and around the coast towards Edinbane. It’s here we have the largest climb of the day where at the top you’ve the choice to take the optional detour right towards Lovaig Bay and Waternish, home to the fabulous YurtTea for excellent coffee and cake – open during the summer months in their stylish yurt.
Either way it’s then south where we narrowly miss Dunvegan and it’s castle (should you wish to detour) to Lonmore, heading west along the B884 and following Loch Dunvegan. Here you’re greeted with phenomenal views across the loch to Dunvegan and beyond, along largely quiet roads. As the road continues straight and bears left be sure to continue following the B884 towards Borrodale (left).
Shortly afterwards you’ll see two signs marked Waterstein and Neist Point, take the road here and follow the narrow winding road for three miles where you’ll find the spectacular Neist Point Lighthouse.
At the lighthouse providing there’s good visibility, you can see across to Outer Hebridean islands of North and South Uist, Benbecula and Lewis and Harris. If you’ve time whilst on Skye it’s well worth another trip here, taking a walk down to the old lighthouse and soaking in the tranquility of the North Atlantic. It’s also very common to spot minke whales, dolphins or porpoises along with an abundance of birds.
It’s now back the way we came until we reach Lonmore, where we then head south to the hamlet of Roskhill passing Loch Bracadale until we reach Bracadale itself. We’ve then the second largest climb and last leg of the day, travelling in a north-east direction along the B885 towards our start point at Portree, passing underlating terrain and a sparsely populated area of Skye.