Aird Of Sleat is a small crofting settlement, scattered along a hillside above the Sound of Sleat. The area offers different starting points for planning a trip: routes towards the Point of Sleat, Camas Daraich beach, wildlife watching and the Aird Old Church Gallery. This combination brings together nature and culture, though each calls for a different kind of exploration. You can plan your stay around what interests you most: a walk, the shore at low tide, or art and local history.

Crofting history and art

The area's history is closely linked to crofting. In 1811, Aird of Sleat was divided into 19 crofts. This number gives the historical division a concrete scale and adds to the present-day picture of the small, scattered settlement. If you are looking for a cultural landmark as well as scenery and routes, you will find one at the Aird Old Church Gallery.

The gallery displays a wide selection of original watercolours and prints by Peter McDermott. It also offers contemporary jewellery by Heather McDermott. This brings two different art forms into the gallery's offering: pictures and jewellery, each with its own artistic focus. This cultural visit offers an alternative to outdoor activities such as walking and exploring the coast.

Routes to the Point of Sleat

The Old church path, Sleat, begins in Aird of Sleat and ends at the harbour of Acairseid an Rubha at the Point of Sleat. Another route from Aird of Sleat continues south to the Point of Sleat Lighthouse. The Point of Sleat route has a detour to Camas Daraich, one of the few fine sandy beaches on Skye. The harbour, lighthouse and beach are different destinations, each giving the outing a different focus.

For navigation, note that the Heritage Paths are being resurveyed: consult up-to-date maps before setting out. There is a car park for the Point of Sleat route at the end of the road in Aird of Sleat, beyond the entrance to the Aird Old Church Gallery. Please keep entrances and access roads clear.

Coast and wildlife watching

White sand is revealed at Camas Daraich beach at low tide. The tide level is therefore a specific planning consideration for anyone wishing to experience this stretch of coast. Another point of interest is the Point of Sleat viewpoint, where you may spot seabirds, including gannets, as well as dolphins. The beach and viewpoint connect the coast with two different interests: the shore and wildlife watching.

Planning your stay around your interests

When choosing accommodation in Aird Of Sleat, you can first decide what you want your stay to focus on: routes to destinations at the Point of Sleat, Camas Daraich and its sand revealed at low tide, or art and crofting history. This gives you different things to consider when planning: up-to-date maps for the routes, the tides for the beach, and the gallery as a cultural focus. This way, you can connect your hotel search with the experiences that interest you in Aird Of Sleat.

Discover more destinations: Dunvegan, Fassfern, Rhiconich, John o' Groats, Dunbeath, Fortrose, Camusbane, Ullapool.

For the regional travel overview: Highland.