Complete Guide To the Rubha Hunish Lookout Hike, Skye

Walking the remote and peaceful trail to the Rubha Hunish Lookout is one of our absolute favourite Skye hikes - coastal views, wildlife, and blissfully quiet. This guide is filled with practical tips from my time on the trail.

Written by: Lesley Stewart | June 2025

There’s a special kind of hush that falls over Rubha Hunish, the Isle of Skye’s most northerly headland. Though it sits right on the Trotternish Peninsula - an area packed with headline sights - Rubha Hunish remains under most visitors’ radar.

That’s part of its charm. While coach groups crowd into lay-bys further south, Hunish quietly offers one of the island's most peaceful, panoramic walks.

The first time I stepped onto the trail, on what looked like a perfect blue‑sky morning, an Atlantic breeze barrelled in and nearly stole my hat. That clash of sunshine and salt‑laden wind is exactly what makes this walk stand out from Skye’s more famous trails.

ULTIMATE ISLE OF SKYE ITINERARY:

Before you dive in, discover our five-star rated Skye road trip itinerary. Created by Highlands locals, its a day-by-day guide and carefully curated list of places to visit, see, hike, and experience, as well as hotels, eateries, and other hidden gems on Scotland’s most magical island. Download it here.

Unlike the busy paths at the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, Rubha Hunish remains blissfully uncrowded.

Many travellers pass the unmarked turn‑off, unaware they’re bypassing one of Skye’s most rewarding walks - a trail that combines sweeping seascapes, a hidden bothy, and some of the island’s best wildlife‑watching, all in an easy (if remote) hiking trail.

As a local itinerary planner, I’ve come to think of Rubha Hunish as Skye’s best open secret, though there’s surprisingly little practical information on getting to the lookout.

In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know, from squeezing into the tiny cliff‑top car park to negotiating the remote trail to the little white lookout hut. I’ll share a few tips learned on my Rubha Hunish walk so you can set out prepared for the route and the weather.

Rubha Hunish Hike: Quick Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about the Rubha Hunish hike (full details below!):

• Distance & time: 6 km / 3.7 miles out‑and‑back loop; allow 2–2.5 hrs to complete the loop.

• Start point: Small (free) car park by the red phone box at Kilmaluag on the A855.

• Terrain: Moderate; mostly level but boggy ground and one steep, rocky section up to the bothy

• Facilities: None. Bring everything you need and carry it out again.

• Eat: Brunch at The Hungry Gull, coffee at Burr, or bring a picnic.

• Best time: Stunning all day, though sunset is spectacular.

Travel tip: You’ll find all the spots mentioned in this guide in our ultimate Skye itinerary, with exact location pins for an easy planning experience. From a Highlands local, I’ll take you straight to our favourite Skye adventures, outlining in detail the best spots and how to get to them.

Getting to Rubha Hunish

The easiest way to reach the Rubha Hunish trail is by car. The walk begins just beyond Kilmaluag, around 40 minutes north of Portree along the scenic A855.

There is a public bus (Stagecoach 57A/57C) that travels from Portree’s Somerled Square to Kilmaluag, with a stop just a short walk from the trailhead. However, the service is infrequent, running only a few times a day, and there’s little shelter in the area. If you’re visiting on public transport, check the Stagecoach timetable carefully and plan your return in advance to avoid getting stuck - remember, this is one of the more remote corners of Skye.

Car rental: The best way to explore Scotland is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our car rental in Scotland, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Hertz, Enterprise, or Sixt. Book your car with Discover Cars here.

The Rubha Hunish Car Park

Look for the classic red telephone box at Kilmaluag on the north‑east edge of the Trotternish Peninsula. Turn off the A855 here and you’ll reach a gravel pull‑in just before a cattle grid; it holds about 10 cars at a squeeze, so arriving early or later in the afternoon avoids a shuffle for space.

There’s also a rough piece of dirt ground to the left of the car park, which is best for larger vehicles (we parked here in our medium-sized campervan). If you use this, please park considerately.

If you’re travelling without a car, Stagecoach bus 57 from Portree will drop you beside the phone box on request, handy for one‑way hikers tackling the full Skye Trail.

Top tip: the trail’s official start point is marked with a green signpost at the back of the car park, beside the metal farm gate. This is the only waymarker, and although most of the route is obvious, my number one tip is to download the route onto OS Maps.

Walking the Rubha Hunish Trail

From the cattle grid in the car park, cross and swing immediately left onto a grassy track hugging a low escarpment. The walking is gentle for the first 1.5 km: springy turf underfoot, sheep for company, and sweeping views to Duntulm Castle ruins on your left.

But don’t be lulled - the path soon narrows, bog‑patches appear, and after the gate by the Erisco township ruins, you’ll meet a short, rocky descent that drops you to the headland’s saddle. Sturdy boots with decent grip are a must; on my last visit, the wind whipped enough spray over the cliff edge to keep the rocks slick.

If you’d prefer to skip the final stretch out to the very tip of the headland, you can veer right instead, climbing a short but steep, rocky embankment that leads onto open moorland. In late spring, the turf is jewelled with thrift and sea campion—low‑growing flowers that seem to shrug off the wind.

From there, the white lookout bothy comes into view, standing solitary against the skyline.

In summer, I often bring a flask of coffee and settle in at the bothy for a while - it’s a quietly spectacular spot for sunset, especially if you don’t mind a later walk back in the golden light.

Plan for around two hours return, though you’ll likely want longer for photos (trust me, you’ll keep stopping). If the weather’s on your side, I usually allow closer to three hours to include a relaxed picnic with a glorious coastal view.

Personal note: Overall, I would say the Rubha Hunish trail is reasonably easy. Unlike the Storr, it’s pretty flat, and the more challenging cliff section is easy to avoid. However, it is remote and open to the elements, and there are no signposts after the car park.

I recommend saving the route in OS Maps and ensuring you have a fully charged phone.

The Weather

Hunish sits fully exposed to Atlantic weather. Wind is the default setting, and even a mild forecast can translate to buffeting gusts out on the cliff edge. Layers, waterproofs, and a woolly hat are non‑negotiable.

On my “sunny but very windy” June‑day walk, the temperature at the car park read 16 °C yet felt closer to 10 °C on the headland, and my sandwich wrappers threatened a bid for freedom the moment I opened my pack.

The upside? Extraordinary visibility. From the Lookout, you can trace the entire length of the Outer Hebrides on the horizon, scan for sea eagles patrolling the thermals, expect gannets torpedo‑diving offshore, and listen to the Atlantic’s constant beating against 200‑million‑year‑old Jurassic cliffs.

It’s exhilarating, raw, and profoundly peaceful all at once.

Insider info: Tucked at Skye’s northernmost tip, Rubha Hunish also marks the dramatic starting point of the Skye Trail, a challenging long-distance route that traces the island’s spine from coast to coast.

The Lookout Bothy History

Perched just shy of the tip is a squat white hut that looks a little more Mediterranean than Hebridean.

Built in 1928 as a coastguard watch station, it guarded the Minch shipping lane until the 1970s before falling into a derelict state; a brutal storm in 2005 blew out every window. Volunteers from the Mountain Bothies Association stepped in, and by 2007 “The Lookout” reopened as a simple shelter with bunks, benches, and a communal pair of binoculars (sadly gone) - perfect for spotting gannets or the occasional minke whale.

Step inside, peruse the bits and bobs left by recent campers, sign the visitor book, and imagine the coastguards who braved winter gales here.

A simple shelter, the bothy is first‑come, first‑served; if you intend to stay overnight, pack a sleeping mat, warm layers, and a stove and be prepared to share the space. If, like me, you’re visiting, you’ll find a handful of stools perched perfectly to take in the unrivalled sea views from the big windows.

Where to Next

If you’re someone who values Skye’s quieter corners, you’ll likely enjoy a few of the other lesser-known gems I’ve written about. One favourite is Loch Coruisk, tucked away in the Cuillin mountains and accessible only by boat from Elgol or on foot via the dramatic Camasunary coast path. Like Rubha Hunish, it’s wild, remote, and deeply atmospheric—perfect for travellers who want to feel a little lost (in the best way).

I’ve also covered Brothers Point, another often-overlooked stop on Trotternish that offers stunning sea views and ancient geological formations, without the foot traffic of its more famous neighbours.

Taken together, these spots allow you to visit a side of Skye beyond the obvious: wilder, windier, and in many ways more rewarding.

Or continue your journey around the wild Trotternish Coastal Loop, and experience Skye’s most remote northern parts.

You’ll find guides to all these locations on my ultimate Skye itinerary - designed to help you navigate, connect, and fall in love with the Skye that most visitors miss.

Rubha Hunish Hike: Wrap Up

Rubha Hunish rewards every step with big‑sky drama and that intoxicating feeling of standing on the edge of Scotland. It’s a manageable half‑day outing that slots neatly between the Trotternish heavy‑hitters, yet feels worlds away from the tour‑bus bustle.

Treat the landscape gently - stick to paths, shut gates, and carry out litter - and it will give back memories of wildness that linger long after you’ve returned to Portree.

If you’re building your itinerary and want to balance the island’s big hitters with a few soul-stirring, far quieter landscapes, Rubha Hunish is the perfect place to start.

If you found this guide helpful, keep an eye on the blog for my upcoming “Trotternish Coastal Trip” and weather‑proof itinerary ideas. Until then, lace up, layer up, and let Rubha Hunish work its windswept magic.

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