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
1st Apr 2025
Glendale Craft market starts again today. Open every Tuesday from 10am until 4pm at the Community Hall.
There was a singing male chiffchaff at the Community Hall at 10am. The first of the spring. c.100 pink-footed geese when north over Lephin at 10am.
30th Mar 2025
There was a flock of c.40 whooper swans, far out, resting on the sea off Neist Point for at least an hour that took off West towards North Uist.
Several meadow pipit singles flew off Neist Point, heading over the sea towards North Uist.
There were at least 8 wheatears on Neist Point, mostly singing males but a couple of females.
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.