Stein (Skye)

Stein (Gaelic: Steinn) is a small settlement on Waternish, the middle peninsula of the north coast of Skye, in the Scottish Hebrides. It's scenic but tiny.

More visitor facilities can be found a few miles east at Edinbane, which lies along the main road between Portree and Dunvegan.

Get in
You need wheels: follow A850 west from Portree. Stagecoach Bus 56 runs 3-5 times M-Sa from Portree to Edinbane on its way to Dunvegan but none go up the lanes of the peninsula. There are two lanes: one follows the west coast from Fairy Bridge on A850 north via Stein, Dunhallin and Trumpan, with a branch east to Geary. The other lane leaves A850 a mile west of Edinbane and follows the east coast as far as Greshornish. The two lanes don't join.

Get around
A bike maybe, but a car is better. Roads around Waternish peninsula are narrow single track roads with passing points.

See

 * is where the lane to Stein and Waternish Point branches off the main road, which now crosses the stream on a modern bridge. In folklore, the old stone bridge is where the fairy wife of a chief of the MacLeods left to return to her people.
 * is reached by the west-side lane, which gets you within a mile, then walk. Vaternish Lighthouse was built by the Stevensons in 1924, but replaced by the present stubby tower in 1980. Nearby is the ruined settlement of Unish.
 * is reached by the west-side lane, which gets you within a mile, then walk. Vaternish Lighthouse was built by the Stevensons in 1924, but replaced by the present stubby tower in 1980. Nearby is the ruined settlement of Unish.

Buy

 * No stores hereabouts, do your shopping in Portree.

Drink

 * The public bar at Edinbane Inn is open M-Sa 3-11PM, Su noon-11PM.

Sleep

 * Skye Camping & Caravanning is by the main road a mile north of Edinbane, for CCC members only.
 * Edinbane B&Bs are Shorefield House, Ronan House and Kilcamb.
 * Redwood House is a B&B just south of Greshornish House.
 * Redwood House is a B&B just south of Greshornish House.
 * Redwood House is a B&B just south of Greshornish House.
 * Redwood House is a B&B just south of Greshornish House.

Connect
As of June 2024, Stein and Edinbane have 4G from EE but no signal from O2, Three or Vodafone. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * West along the main road is Dunvegan, where the castle dates from 13th century but is mostly a Victorian concoction.
 * Uig is the ferry port for the Outer Hebrides, and the access road around Trotternish peninsula.
 * Portree the main settlement on Skye has the most visitor amenities. Continue south via Broadford to return to the Scottish mainland.