Faraid Head
An Fharaird
A headland at the north end of Balnakeil Beach, reached over large dunes to the clifftop, where puffins and other seabirds can be seen in summer, with a view toward Cape Wrath.
Faraid Head is a narrow peninsula extending north from Balnakeil Beach. From the end of the beach, climb over the high dunes to reach the clifftop, with grassland and seabird cliffs along the way. From May to July, when seabirds are breeding, you can often see puffins, Manx shearwaters, and cormorants, and on clear days you can look west toward Cape Wrath and the Kyle of Durness. The northern tip of the headland has Ministry of Defence facilities, and the fenced area is off-limits. The round trip from the old church car park is about 8 km and takes 3–4 hours. There is no clear path, so read the terrain as you go, and watch your step near cliff edges in strong winds.
Opening hours
Open all day (Ministry of Defense facility area excluded)
Nearby sights
- Balnakeil Beach
- Balnakeil Church
- Balnakeil Craft Village
- Sango Bay
- Ceannabeinne Beach
- Loch Eriboll
- Cape Wrath
- Ben Hope