How to Hike to Brothers Point on the Isle of Skye: A Hidden Gem
Brothers Point is easily one of the most beautiful hikes on the Isle of Skye coast. The trail offers breathtaking views of the rocky coastline, ocean, cliffs, and surrounding landscapes. If Brothers Point is not on your Isle of Skye itinerary, you should add it!
Brothers Point was a last-minute addition to our Scotland itinerary, and I am so happy we added it! I randomly came across a photo of it, which made me instantly add it to our must-see list. And let me tell you, it was breathtaking!
If you want to hike to Brothers Point on the Isle of Skye, this guide is the perfect place to start planning it! It has everything you need to know about hiking to Brothers Point.
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How to Get to Brothers Point
You have a few ways to get to Brothers Point. The easiest is to drive yourself, but you can also take the bus from Portree.
By Car
Brothers Point is about a half hour north of Portree on the Isle of Skye, and the parking lot is off A855. It is very small, only accommodating a handful of cars. The trailhead is across the street and has a few signs leading you where to go.
Because Brothers Point is becoming an increasingly popular hike, the parking lot fills up quickly. We stayed at The Glenview, right across from the trailhead, so we did not have to stress about finding parking.
I recommend hiking it in the morning or late afternoon to avoid most crowds. We hiked it after dinner and only saw one other hiker.
The trail passes private property, so as always, please be respectful. The trail also has sheep, and you should never feed or approach them. Although they are cute (we saw so many babies!), they are not meant to be approached.
By Bus
If you do not have a car, you can take a bus from Portree to the trailhead. Stagecoach 57A travels between Portree and Flodigarry, and one of its stops is Culnacnoc, which is a short walk to the trailhead.
It also stops at Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, and Mealt Falls. The bus is a great way to see a few of the must-see attractions on the eastern side of the Isle of Skye if you do not have a car.
I recommend catching a bus early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid crowds. Trust me, it is really nice to enjoy the hike with fewer people!
Brothers Point Hike Overview
Brothers Point is one of the most beautiful hikes along the coast on the Isle of Skye and should be on your bucket list. It was a last-minute addition to our itinerary, and we were so glad we hiked it because we were in awe of the beautiful coastal views!
Once you get past the first section near the private property, the trail is hard to follow. As always, I recommend having a map to help you stay on trail.
The first part of the trail descends towards the rocky coastline before steeply ascending to the viewpoint overlooking Brothers Point. If you want to continue to Brothers Point, the trail has a steep drop-off on the first section before ascending steeply to the top.
The trail continues down a steep section before flattening out to the edge of Brothers Point, where you get breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs.
Brothers Point Hiking Stats
Length: 2.1 miles (3.4 km) round trip
Elevation gain: 300 feet (91 meters)
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Best time to hike: Summer and Fall
Facilities: The closest restrooms are in Staffin.
Brothers Point Trail Map
What You Should Pack for the Hike
Scotland is known for its rainy and moody days, and the Highlands are no different. The weather is unpredictable, making it crucial to pack the appropriate gear.
The Isle of Skye has moody weather, with about 265 days a year of rain, and the wettest seasons tend to be autumn and winter. April, May, and June tend to be the driest months.
We visited in May because it is usually dry and has fewer crowds, and it only rained one day during our week in Scotland. But the weather still changed quickly, so we were glad we had warm layers and a rain jacket packed!
You should have hiking boots, moisture-wicking clothes, a rain jacket, and a hiking backpack with food and plenty of water.
How to Hike Brothers Point on the Isle of Skye: Step-By-Step Guide
Brothers Point on the Isle of Skye was one of our favorite hikes! The views of the ocean, cliffs, and mountains were stunning, and we were so glad we added it to our itinerary. I know you will quickly fall in love with this hike when you visit!
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in, leave no trash, and stay on designated trails.
Brothers Point Trailhead to the Gate
Brothers Point Trail begins off A855 on a gravel driveway, and it passes through private property, so please be respectful when hiking it!
Once on the driveway, you will see a sign pointing towards Brothers Point (also known as Rubha nam Brathairean), and you will continue to hike along the gravel driveway.
At the end of the driveway, the trail passes through a gate before turning right towards the rocky coast. The Brothers Point Trail has a sign right after the gate pointing you in the correct direction.
This section of the trail also passes through a farm with a lot of sheep, so please be mindful of them while hiking! We saw so many cute baby sheep!
The Gate to the Bog
Once the trail reaches the ocean, it crosses a river, which might be impassable after heavy rain. We visited in the drier season in Scotland, so we did not have any issues crossing it and easily rock-hopped our way across the river.
After the river crossing, the trail becomes faint. You will see a warning sign about the steep cliffs, with the faint trail next to it.
This section of the trail travels through a bog, and your feet can get very wet, making it crucial to wear proper footwear. We were glad to have our waterproof hiking boots because the bog was very wet and muddy.
The Bog to the Peninsula
Soon after the bog, you will see a trail ascending towards Brothers Point. This section of the trail is steep with a long drop-off, so it is not for the faint of heart. We definitely hugged the side of the trail as much as we could to make ourselves feel better!
Once you hike across it, you get a breathtaking view looking towards Brothers Point. You can either stop here or continue onto the peninsula.
We almost turned around here, but we saw another hiker further along the trail and decided to follow them to the point of the peninsula.
The Peninsula to Brothers Point
We decided to continue to Brothers Point to explore more, which was so fun! The trail heading towards Brothers Point becomes faint again as it travels onto the peninsula.
It then becomes very steep as it climbs to the highest point, but the views at the top are stunning and worth the effort! We were in awe of the 360-degree views overlooking the surrounding land, beach, cliffs, and ocean.
We stopped here to enjoy the views, but you can continue to the tip of the peninsula if you want! The trail descends steeply from the tallest point before flattening out as it travels along the peninsula.
Brothers Point to the Trailhead
Once you enjoy the views, you will follow the Brothers Point Trail back the way you came. Once you visit Brothers Point, it will quickly become one of your favorite things you saw on the Isle of Skye!
Brothers Point FAQ
Is the hike to Brothers Point worth it?
The hike to Brothers Point is absolutely worth it! It was easily one of our favorite hikes because the coastal views are breathtaking.
The entire coast of the Isle of Skye has easy-to-get-to viewpoints offering beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs, but Brothers Point provides better views, in my opinion. And the hike is fun as it travels to the final viewpoint.
How difficult is the hike to Brothers Point?
Brothers Point is an easy/moderate hike. It is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) with about 300 feet (91 meters) of elevation gain.
Although the trail is relatively easy, there are a few things worth noting.
Firstly, the trail crosses a river and bog, so you should have waterproof boots. Also, the river can become impassable if it has been really rainy.
Secondly, the trail is not easy to follow. I recommend having a map on every hike, but especially this one. It is not well marked once you cross the river, and we were glad we had a map to help us navigate the trail.
Lastly, the trail has some steep drop-offs along a few sections. We managed fine, but I always like noting them in case you are not a fan of heights.
When is the best time to hike to Brothers Point?
Although you can hike to Brothers Point year-round, the best time is in the late spring and summer. The trail crosses a river that becomes impassable when it rains heavily, making the rainy season not the best time to hike it.
When we hiked it in early May, we did not have any issues crossing the river. The water level was relatively low, allowing us to rock-hop our way across.
Although it was not raining when we visited, the trail was wet and muddy. We were glad we had waterproof hiking boots!
If you want to hike to Brothers Point on the Isle of Skye, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about hiking to Brothers Point.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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