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Kilmuir Heritage Route

  • J. Skye EBikes
  • A. Museum of Island Life
  • B. Duntulm Castle Ruins
  • C. Kilmuir Cemetery
  • D. Loch Sneosdal Circuit Walk
  • E. Kilvaxter Iron-Age Farmstead and Souterrain
  • F. Camus Mor Bay
  • G. Dun Borneskitaig Broch and Cairn
  • H. North Viewpoint
  • I. Ruined Church
  • Highland Deli - located beside A


Explore Skye’s long action packed history with this local heritage route, from the geological formation of the Isle, through the time of the dinosaurs and early peoples to more modern periods, taking in amazing views over the Minch to the outer Isles along the way. 

This is a starter-difficulty route. It is shorter than our Trotternish Explorer Route, and is mainly on very quiet back roads, there is only one somewhat more challenging climb on the return of the optional add-on section to Duntulm Castle ruins and the Dinosaur disco. The total route length is 8.7 miles/ 14 kilometres, with the optional extra section of 5.6 miles / 9 kilometres.

  • J. SKYE EBIKES, you start and end your journey here.
  • A. THE SKYE MUSEUM OF ISLAND LIFE offers an award-winning, traditional experience of an old Highland village. Located at the museum is the Highland Deli.
  • B. (optional) DUNTULM CASTLE was the seat of Clan MacDonald of Sleat in the 17th century. It now stands in ruins and is a scheduled monument. Below the remains of the castle, in Score Bay, you can see the largest track way of dinosaur footprints ever found in Scotland. Discovered in 2015, it has been referred to as a ‘DINOSAUR DISCO’, located on the central mud spit when looking out to sea with the castle on the right hand side.
  • C. Above the Museum is the KILMUIR CEMETERY. The 16th century church is gone now, but the cemetery includes a wealth of historic graves and monuments, including that of Flora Macdonald, a Jacobite heroine, whose white marble Celtic cross monument is 28 feet/8.53 meters high. More modern memorials include Mr. Lee Alexander McQueen CBE, the famous fashion designer and couturier, and a few Templars.
  • D. LOCH SNEOSDAL CIRCUIT WALK (Not suitable for cycling): This up to 5m/8km-length circuit walk leads up the lower hills, over traditional grazing and peat cuttings to a hidden Loch with impressive cliff overhangs. It can be very boggy in places, but offers spectacular views both inland and over Kilmuir to the Outer Hebrides.
  • E. KILVAXTER IRON-AGE FARMSTEAD AND SOUTERRAIN: Underground galleries like this appeared along the Atlantic seaboard between 300BC and 300AD. Their purpose is unknown, possibly used for storage or ritual.
  • F. CAMUS MOR BAY: At the shoreside, looking out over the Minch to An T-Iasgair and the Outer Hebrides beyond. From here you can walk over the headland and to the Neolithic Dun Liath Fort. Along the ridge you can also see the Cairn Liath chambered cairn. Just along the coast from here is where Bonnie Prince Charlie is said to have landed on the “Misty Isle”. There are picnic benches located here.
  • G. DUN BORNESKITAIG BROCH AND CAIRN: A ruined Iron Age broch, possible remains of a pre-historic fort.
  • H. NORTH VIEWPOINT: Excellent views along the northern coast towards Duntulm Castle Ruins and Rubha Hunish, the Northern tip of Skye. The cliffs are a popular nesting sight for seabirds. On the other side it looks out over the Minch towards Lewis, Harris, Uist (listed from North to South).
  • I. RUINED CHURCH of Borneskitaig dates from 1810. It was destroyed in the 1930s due to a storm. Famously used as an album cover. On the upper inner walls you can see drawings in the plaster.

Other Notable Local Sites

  • The Old Village of Greaulin was first shown as a township in 1662, it was depopulated by 1875. It comprises 25 ruined houses and enclosures.
  • The drained Loch of Chaluim Chille contains two man-made islands connected by a causeway. On one stand the remains of a typical Celtic monastery founded by Columba and on the other a cashel (stone fort). The loch was drained between 1717-1763 by what was then Europe’s longest stone-lined drain at the time. Several carved ivory chess men and a dugout log boat made of oak or fir can be seen here. It is suggested that this was the ferry.
  • The place names of this area are of both Norse and Gaelic origin.
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