Talisker Bay

Talisker Bay is often described as the finest beach on Skye — a dramatic sweep of black and white sand, framed by a striking sea stack at its southern end and a waterfall plunging down high cliffs to the north, with a short, easy walk from the road making it accessible to almost everyone.

The route starts from parking near the end of the tarmac road to Talisker — a tiny settlement distinct from the Talisker distillery, which is actually located in Carbost. Care should be taken not to block the turning area or passing places; there's an old quarry further back along the road offering additional space if needed. The walk follows a track from the road end, signed "To the bay," passing through a gate to reach Talisker House — a stately white house dating from the 1720s, for centuries the home of the next-in-line to the Macleod chief, and where Dr Johnson and James Boswell stayed during their famous 1773 tour of the Hebrides.

Beyond the house, the track continues through further gates across farmland, home to grazing sheep and cattle, before emerging at the southern end of the bay. The beach itself is a striking mix of black and white sand, blended by the burns flowing out to sea into intricate patterns, particularly beautiful at low tide when a wide expanse of sand is exposed; at high tide, the beach becomes stones and boulders instead. A prominent sea stack rises from the water at the southern end, while the northern end of the bay is enclosed by high cliffs, with a waterfall tumbling down to the shore — famous for appearing to blow upwards in strong winds. The bay faces almost due west, making it a superb spot to watch the sunset.

This is a very easy, mostly flat walk suitable for most visitors, though the path can be muddy in places and livestock may be encountered along the way — dogs should be kept on a lead given the grazing animals.

Parking near Talisker is free but limited; there is no public transport to the start.