Dunvegan

Dunvegan (Gaelic: Dùn Bheagain) is a small village on Skye in the Scottish Hebrides. The main draw is the castle. Dunvegan is also a base for exploring Duirnish, the peninsula to the west.

Get in

By car take A87 then A850.

Stagecoach Bus 56 runs 3-5 times M-Sat from Portree via Skeabost and Edinbane to Dunvegan (50 min) and Lonmore, with a couple continuing west to Colbost and Glendale.

Get around

The castle and village are a mile apart with a road and walking track between. You need a car to reach the lighthouse or the start of the hike to the Maidens.

See

• 🌍 Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, Dunvegan IV55 8WF (A mile north of village off jcn A850 & A863). Apr-mid-Oct daily 10:00-17:30. Ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years, built in 13th C but much altered and prettified in 19th C. The "Fairy Flag" is an ancient silk heirloom, steeped in hoaky legend and tenuously-connected miracles; it's probably from Syria and may date back to the Crusades, though family tradition puts it much earlier. Other heirlooms are the Dunvegan Cup, dating to 1493, and Sir Rory Mor's Horn which may be 10th C Norse. Adult £14, child £9, senior £11. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Giant MacAskill Museum. Daily (Easter - end Oct) 9.30am - 6.00pm. Small museum about a giant (an ancestor of the owner) from Berneray, who emigrated to Canada. Giant MacAskill, (Angus Mor MacAskill, 1825-1863) was known as the world's largest "true" giant (normal proportions, no growth abnormalities), reaching a height of 7 ft 9 in. £2. (updated Apr 2017)

• 🌍 Neist Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse is a short walk from the road end. A longer walk leads to the Point. (updated Apr 2019)

Do

• Hike to 🌍 MacLeod's Maidens. These sea stacks are near the south tip of the peninsula, a 5 mile / 9 km hike each way, see Walkhighlands for a description. (updated Apr 2019)

Buy

• 🌍 Fasgadh Stores. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, Su 11:00-17:30. General store & grocer. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

• 🌍 Old School Restaurant, Dunvegan, ☎ [phone]. mid Mar-mid Oct daily 12:00-15:00 & 18:00-21:00. In the old school house, serves modern Scottish seafood, beef & game; limited vegetarian choice. Mains from £16. (updated Apr 2019)

Drink

• Basement Bar, Dunvegan (Beneath the Dunvegan Hotel), ☎ [phone]. A spacious pub with several pool tables and views across the water to Macleod's Tables, usually quite spectacular at sunset. Note also the more refined surroundings of the lounge bar in the hotel upstairs. 

Sleep

• 🌍 Dunvegan Hotel Bunkhouse, Dunvegan, IV55 8WA, ☎ [phone]. Two small rooms with bunks adjacent to the Dunvegan Hotel (see below). Linen provided, small bathroom but no kitchen facilities. £12.50 per person per night. 
• 🌍 Dunvegan Hotel, Dunvegan, IV55 8WA, ☎ [phone]. Small family run hotel in the quiet town of Dunvegan. Lounge bar and restaurant and pub downstairs. Stunning views (especially at sunset) west towards the Macleod Tables. £80 / £90 a night (more expensive with a view). 

Connect

Go next

• The obvious onward route is towards Portree, taking in the other peninsulas of northern Skye.
• You can also wind along the west coast, passing near Carbost (for the Talisker distillery) and rejoining the main road at Sligachan.