Scotland - Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye is one of my favourite spots. A small island off the coast of Scotland connected by the Skye Bridge has beautiful rugged landscapes, adorable fishing villages, fantastic riding roads and beautiful hikes. This is a 3 day itinerary but you could easily stay a week here. Whether it’s summer or winter this island has so much to offer. Just make sure to pack for the weather. The island has such a romantic rugged feel to it that you’ll fall in love with it’s beautiful scenery and want to keep coming back.
Travel Days
Whether you are driving/riding up from other parts of the UK or flying into Edinburgh/Glasgow to rent a vehicle and make sure to take A82 through the Glen Coe Valley to Isle of Skye. I promise you won’t regret this. Either way, to make the most of it I would ensure one day of travel to get to Isle of Skye, getting there by the evening to ensure 3 full days before heading either home or to another part of Scotland.
Where to Stay
The wonderful thing about Scotland is that it is legal to wild camp. Depending on weather or time of year this is a fantastic option. If not, here are a few options that were lovely and give you a break from the elements.
View from the Bird Song Bothy Skye
View from The Wee Both
View from The Cowshed Hostel
Day 1 - Quairaing Trail
Using Portree as my base for a couple days and having arrived there the night before I got an early start to hike the famous Quiraing Trail with a quick stop at the Fairy Glen enroute. The views are well worth it even if it was practically a hurricane. Starting at the The Quairaing Car Park, the Quairaing Trail is a 4 mile (6.5 km) loop taking about 3-4 hours. It’s a beatiful hike with only a slight ascent of 374m. After completing the hike take the short drive back to Portree stopping at the Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls Viewpoint and the Lealt Falls Viewpoint. Make sure to take some time to explore the little harbour town Portree.
Key Points of Interest
Map of Route
Day 2 - Old Man of Storr
Day 2 started with an early morning to hike the Old Man of Storr. Starting at the Old Man of Storr Car Park I decided on the 8.5km circular trail rather then the 1.5 km hike. It gives you amazing view of the Old Man but also takes you away from the tourists that come for that specific IG shot of the Old Man. Luckily, hiking even 20 minutes generally gets you away from the crowds and takes you to some amazing views. The day I hiked this the far side of the loop the trail had pretty much been completely washed out and I spent a good chunk of it scrambling and hoping I wouldn’t fall off a cliff. A bit stressful but well worth it. Due to the path being washed away scramble this hike did take almost 7 hours rather than it’s 3-5. After quickly showering and a change into clean dry clothes I headed to the wonderful Scorrybreac Restaurant for dinner. This little resturant looks out over Portree harbour and is a must if you are here. The chef is brilliant. The restaurant is small with just a few tables and only offers a tasting menu, but oh so worth it. Be be sure to book in advance due to the limited seating.
Day 3 - Fairy Pools and Whiskey
The third day is a bit of an easy day starting with a drive to The Brother’s Point and Duntulm Viewpoint for some lovely coastal views. Working your way to west coast of Skye you have Dunvegan Castle and Neist Point Lighthouse. All this spots are lovely for small walks but nothing to extreme, especially after the last couple days of hikes. A stop for lunch at The Oyster Shed is a must if you love seafood. Followed by a tour of Talisker Distillery. You can either finish your day here or finish at the Fairy Pools. One of Isle of Skye’s most famous spots. It does get quite busy so I would advise either going first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening to avoid the crowds. If the weather is nice and you are feeling brave go for a swim in the Fairy Pools!
Points of Interest
Map of Route
Day 4 - Leaving Skye
Sadly, it’s come time to leave Skye. If you are starting your morning with the Fairy Pools make sure to get there nice and early before the rush if not enjoy a lovely drive back to Skye Bridge. If you didn’t stop at Eilean Donan Castle on the way to Skye you must on the way back just over the Skye Bridge. It’s the most romantic looking castle and has also been featured in the TV series Overland as well as the James Bond film The World is Not Enough. Interested in seeing more of Scotland? Check out my NC500 and SWC300 itineraries!
