Greshornish: Circular Walk, History and Views

The Greshornish landscape area encompasses the small peninsula on the western side of Loch Greshornish. Here, sweeping views sit alongside archaeological traces and architectural history. If you are planning a stay, you can use these different aspects of the destination to help plan your trip.

Views across the loch and peninsula

The Greshornish landscape offers views towards Waternish to the west and Trotternish to the east. On clear days, Harris is also visible. The summit of Maol na h-Airde is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the entire peninsula. These named destinations give an impression of how the view changes depending on your location and the conditions; views of Harris depend on clear weather.

The coastal landscape also shapes the underwater scenery: west of Greshornish Point is a steep wall known for dives with particularly clear water and correspondingly good visibility. Diving conditions can vary. The expansive views over the peninsula and the underwater visibility thus offer two distinct perspectives on Greshornish.

Circular walk and archaeological traces

The circular walk at Greshornish Point begins at the Greshornish House Hotel and passes the remains of Dun na h-Airde. Check the route details locally before setting out. Dun na h-Airde is an Iron Age fort on a prominent rock above the sea. The combination of the fort and its coastal setting makes this a specific stop for anyone interested in the history of the peninsula.

There is also a so-called shieling hut at Greshornish Point. Around most of the circumference of the hut circle, both the inner and outer faces of the walls are visible. These preserved wall surfaces make it possible to imagine the shape of the circle without requiring a reconstruction. There is also a circular, stone-walled hut site at Greshornish measuring about 6.5 metres in diameter. A layer of peat largely conceals the wall. The dimensions and condition of the wall offer another specific glimpse of the building remains on site.

Architectural and local history

Orde of Greshornish is a house dating from the mid to later part of the 18th century. It has two storeys and three bays; the reference to bays describes the arrangement of the façade. Its outstanding restoration shows a continental influence on building design on Skye. The house thus adds another chapter to the archaeological remains: this is about architecture and its restoration, rather than a hut circle or a fort.

The recorded history of the headland also reaches further back. According to a local historical account, Sir Rory Mor MacLeod of Dunvegan transferred Greshornish to his youngest son Donald in 1636. In his 1865 book A Summer in Skye, the poet Alexander Smith described the headlands of Greshornish as part of MacLeod country. The transfer and Smith’s literary description are distinct historical references: one concerns the headland and its recorded history, while the other concerns its portrayal in a book.

When looking for a hotel in Greshornish, you can consider whether the views, the circular walk with its archaeological site, or the architectural history should be the main focus of your trip. This lets you shape your stay around what interests you at the destination, without combining the landscape, history and architecture into a single experience.

Discover more destinations: Fort Augustus, Shandwick, Carbost, Oban, Breakish, Camusbane, Drumnadrochit, Bonar Bridge.

For the regional travel overview: Highland.