Sunday May 19th, 2013
Fàilte gu Gleann Dail
Welcome to our guide to the very best things to see and do in Glendale on the extreme North-Western corner of the beautiful Isle of Skye.
Glendale is an 18,956 acre estate that extends from Neist Point in the West, to Loch Pooltiel in the North, to Loch Dunvegan in the East. To the South it covers vast acres of moorland, skirting the slopes of MacLeod's Tables and extending almost down to MacLeod's Maidens at Idrigill.
The name 'Glendale' is the anglicised version of its gaelic name, Gleann Dail, which means 'valley with level fields by a river'.
Glendale experiences the most incredible sunsets in June.
Latest News
Recent Wildlife Sightings
18th May 2013
There was a record count of 30 grey seals on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel today (Steve & Julie Carter).
The first early purple orchid has come into bloom at the boatshed on the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, which is almost three weeks later than last year, and the first bluebells are starting to push through in sheltered spots.
14th May 2013
There first basking shark of the season and a minke whale were seen off Neist Point in the morning (Bob McMillan).
More recent wildlife sightings
In the Residents' Lounge
Borrodale School & Free Church
Borrodale School Sale - Meeting
Sixties Night
Fascinating Attractions
Glendale has many of Skye's major tourist attractions close at hand. These include:
- Dunvegan Castle, with its landscaped gardens, the famous Fairy Flag, and Seal Boat Trips.
- Neist Point, with its Lighthouse and unusual rock formations resembling the Giants' Causeway.
- Skye Silver, Colbost Croft Museum, Borreraig Park Piping Centre, The Raven Press, The Glendale Martyrs Monument and The Three Chimneys restaurant.
- At Claigan, you can enjoy the beautiful, white sands at the Coral Beaches.
- The magnificent mountain-ridge of the Cuillins and the breath-taking, turquoise-blue Fairy Pools are just a 45 minute drive away.
- Dun Beag, Skye's best preserved Broch, can be explored at Struan.
- In the deserted village beside Galtrigill you can sit upon the Manners Stone, which is reputed to bestow good manners upon those who do so.
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Amazing Wildlife and Flowers
The steep cliffs of Glendale are home to thousands of seabirds and this area is undoubtedly the best place on Skye for seeing whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking shark.
Seals bask on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel and Loch Dunvegan at low tide. Otters can be seen fishing for sea urchins.
Sea eagles, golden eagles, buzzards, merlins and kestrels all nest nearby.
Glendale is renowned for its striking displays of
wild
flowers, with meadows carpetted with bluebells, orchids, violets and
primroses.
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Waterstein Head and Moonen Bay from Neist Point
Fantastic Food
At the heart of Glendale is the post office and village shop, together with a community centre.
Skye's finest restaurant, the acclaimed Three Chimneys, which is amongst the top 100 in the UK, is to be found at Colbost, one of Glendale's Eastern-most townships.
The extremely popular Old School House restaurant at Dunvegan is just at 20 minute drive away.
Fresh sea-food can be bought directly from the local fishermen who operate out of Meanish Pier in Milovaig.
Glendale is only a 50 minute drive from the island’s capital at Portree.
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Stunning Scenery and Sea-Views
There is a beautiful, clean beach of black, volcanic sand at the head of Loch Pooltiel, the perfect place for a picnic.
This is a very peaceful and unspoiled corner of Skye that makes an excellent base for walking, fishing, birdwatching, cycling, climbing and diving holidays.
The scenery is quite simply breath-taking all year round.
Loch Pooltiel and Dunvegan Head from Milovaig.