Glendale, Skye - Tourist Guide
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.
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
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.
Recent Wildlife Sightings
20th Aug 2026
Minke Whale - Neist
August 2026
Minke Whale - Neist
August 2026
Minke Whale - Neist
August 2026
There were two distant fin whales south of Neist Point from 11am until 11:30am. Only the second known record of this species at Neist Point.
Two minke whales put on an amazing show very close to shore at Neist from 11:30am until 12:30am, with dozens of surfaces.
19th Aug 2026
Peregrine - Milovaig
August 2026
There were two peregrine falcons interacting with each other at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at 7pm.
18th Aug 2026
Black-Tailed Godwit - Milovaig
August 2026
A black-tailed godwit was on the shore below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, near to Meanish. It flew to the white beach before heading south over land along the allt mor burn. This is the first known godwit record in Glendale for over 20 years.
More recent wildlife sightings
In the Residents' Lounge
Christmas Wreath Making
Christmas Market
At the heart of Glendale is the post office and village shop, together with a community centre.
Skye's finest restaurant, the 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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Neist Point from Ramasaig Cliff.