2nd September 2024 - Meall Tuath and Duntulm Castle
Walk Details
Distance walked: 4.5 miles
Total ascent: 754 ft
OS map used: 408 - Skye, Trotternish & The Storr
Time taken: 3 hrs
Route description: Layby on lane to Shulista, just off A855-Meall Tuath-Meal Deas-Duntulm-A855-Duntulm Castle-A855-Layby on lane to Shulista, just off A855
It's my first full day on the Isle of Skye after driving up from home yesterday. Thankfully there's some much better weather forecast for this week than I had when I visited this time last year. I'm going to have to wait a couple of days for it though. Today is a dull and overcast day, with the best of the conditions (most likely to stay dry) at the northern end of the island. So that's where I went, to the northern end of the Trotternish peninsula to visit Meall Tuath and the ruins of Duntulm Castle. Meall Tuath overlooks Rubha Hunish, the most northerly point of Skye, and it can be visited but only by a scramble down the gap in the cliffs of Meall Deas and Meall Tuath. Once I'd actually taken a look at what was involved I decided to give it a miss. The ruins of Duntulm Castle were busy, with plenty of cars parked on the roadside next to the path to it.
From where I parked my car in the layby on the lane to Shulista just off the A855 I briefly walked east along the road, across a cattle grid, and took a path on the left signposted for Rubha Hunish. I followed the path north across the moor until I reached the dip between the hills of Meall Deas and Meall Tuath, from where I climbed a path up to Meall Tuath and the Lookout Bothy. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way back down to the gap between the two hills, climbed to the top of Meall Deas and took in the view from there, then made my way south down to the shore of Tulm Bay. Sketchy paths and sheep trods were followed south along the shoreline and moorland above it until I reached a track that took me up to the A855 at Duntulm. I then walked west along the road to visit the ruins of Duntulm Castle, then back east to return to where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 754 ft
OS map used: 408 - Skye, Trotternish & The Storr
Time taken: 3 hrs
Route description: Layby on lane to Shulista, just off A855-Meall Tuath-Meal Deas-Duntulm-A855-Duntulm Castle-A855-Layby on lane to Shulista, just off A855
It's my first full day on the Isle of Skye after driving up from home yesterday. Thankfully there's some much better weather forecast for this week than I had when I visited this time last year. I'm going to have to wait a couple of days for it though. Today is a dull and overcast day, with the best of the conditions (most likely to stay dry) at the northern end of the island. So that's where I went, to the northern end of the Trotternish peninsula to visit Meall Tuath and the ruins of Duntulm Castle. Meall Tuath overlooks Rubha Hunish, the most northerly point of Skye, and it can be visited but only by a scramble down the gap in the cliffs of Meall Deas and Meall Tuath. Once I'd actually taken a look at what was involved I decided to give it a miss. The ruins of Duntulm Castle were busy, with plenty of cars parked on the roadside next to the path to it.
From where I parked my car in the layby on the lane to Shulista just off the A855 I briefly walked east along the road, across a cattle grid, and took a path on the left signposted for Rubha Hunish. I followed the path north across the moor until I reached the dip between the hills of Meall Deas and Meall Tuath, from where I climbed a path up to Meall Tuath and the Lookout Bothy. Once I'd taken in the view I made my way back down to the gap between the two hills, climbed to the top of Meall Deas and took in the view from there, then made my way south down to the shore of Tulm Bay. Sketchy paths and sheep trods were followed south along the shoreline and moorland above it until I reached a track that took me up to the A855 at Duntulm. I then walked west along the road to visit the ruins of Duntulm Castle, then back east to return to where I'd parked my car.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
From the A855 I take a clear path north across the moor
The hill of Cnoc Roll
Meall Tuath is the edge of the moor on the skyline
To my left, the headland that has the remains of Duntulm Castle on it and Tulm Island
At The Lookout Bothy on Meall Tuath
Taking in the view from Meall Tuath. To the northeast and east, the island of Eilean Trodday, and the hill of Ben Volovaig on the right.
Rubha Hunish, the most northerly point on Skye. I can just make out the Outer Hebrides in the far distance.
Meall Deas on the other side of a gap in the cliffs
A ship passes by..
There's been an improvement in the visibility while I've been here. The Outer Hebrides are easier to make out.
The headland of Rubha Voreven below from Meall Deas
Looking south across the moor to the scattered settlement of Kilmaluag
North Uist and South Harris on the skyline
Leaving Meall Deas I head down to the shore of Tulm Bay...
The ruins of Duntulm Castle sat on its rocky headland
Tulm Island, Tulm Bay, and Meall Deas
Looking back along the track that will take me to the A855
A view of Duntulm Castle, Tulm Island, and Tulm Bay as I walk west along the A855
In the ruins of Duntulm Castle
Looking back to the ruins as I return to the road
The view west along the coast across Lub an Sgoir
Passing Loch Cleat
Walking east along the road and back to where I'd parked my car