Loch Mealt Lake
Clifftop freshwater loch overlooking Kilt Rock
A coastal cliff loch on Skye overlooking the sea near Kilt Rock; visitors come for seabird colonies and dramatic viewpoints.
Loch Mealt at a Glance#
Address: Near Staffin, Trotternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission: Free
About Loch Mealt#
Loch Mealt is a small freshwater loch on the Trotternish peninsula of the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It sits immediately above the coastal cliffs known as Kilt Rock and supplies the waterfall visible from the roadside viewpoint.
A short, well-used viewing point beside the main road is the primary visitor attraction, offering sea-cliff panoramas and a clear view of the waterfall where water from the loch drops over the escarpment. The site is a common short stop on the island tourist route and is accessible from a nearby car park.
The loch and its outflow form a simple natural feature linked to local crofting landscape rather than a built heritage site. The immediate area has long been used for small-scale agriculture and coastal observation.
Located on the eastern coast of the Isle of Skye near the village of Staffin on the Trotternish ridge, the loch overlooks the Sound of Raasay and sea cliffs.
- Kilt Rock viewpoint: offers the accessible Kilt Rock viewpoint where a short walk gives clear views of a waterfall plunging from the loch over coastal cliffs into the sea.
What to See#
- Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint: a coastal viewpoint at the top of the sea cliffs where a short path gives views of the falls as water from the loch drops to the sea and of the coastal cliffs named for their banded basalt formations.
How to Get to Loch Mealt#
Accessible from the A855 on the Trotternish peninsula; the Kilt Rock viewpoint has a small car park and is a short walk from the roadside. The nearest village with facilities is Staffin.
Tips for Visiting Loch Mealt#
- The cliff viewpoint at Kilt Rock gives a spectacular view down to the sea and the top of Loch Mealt; expect tourist crowds at the roadside viewpoint in summer.
- Combine a visit with a stop at Staffin for local geology walks and island views.
- The viewpoint car park is on the A855-park carefully and use the formal viewpoint path rather than the road shoulder.
Best Time to Visit Loch Mealt#
Loch Mealt is a small freshwater loch on Skye's Trotternish peninsula, best known for the dramatic Kilt Rock cliffs and waterfall that tumble to the sea near Staffin.
Weather & Climate near Loch Mealt#
Loch Mealt's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 2°C to 16°C. Abundant rainfall (1751 mm/year), wettest in November.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 7° | 0° | 187 mm | overcast | 86% | 7.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.1h |
| February | Poor | 2° - 6° | -1° | 122 mm | overcast | 86% | 7.1 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.2h |
| March | Poor | 3° - 8° | 1° | 149 mm | overcast | 86% | 6.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 11.6h |
| April | Acceptable | 4° - 10° | 3° | 87 mm | overcast | 84% | 5.8 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 14.1h |
| May | Acceptable | 7° - 13° | 7° | 80 mm | overcast | 84% | 5.3 m/s | 1.0 moderate | 16.4h |
| June | Acceptable | 9° - 15° | 12° | 99 mm | overcast | 85% | 5.3 m/s | 1.2 high | 17.6h |
| July | Acceptable | 11° - 17° | 14° | 105 mm | overcast | 86% | 4.9 m/s | 1.1 high | 17.0h |
| August | Acceptable | 11° - 16° | 14° | 117 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.8 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 15.0h |
| September | Poor | 9° - 14° | 12° | 184 mm | overcast | 87% | 5.5 m/s | 0.5 low | 12.6h |
| October | Poor | 7° - 12° | 6° | 206 mm | overcast | 86% | 6.3 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.1h |
| November | Poor | 4° - 9° | 3° | 213 mm | overcast | 86% | 6.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.8h |
| December | Poor | 3° - 7° | 1° | 202 mm | overcast | 86% | 6.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 6.4h |
