Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Isle of Skye’s dramatic landscapes are some of the best inward Scotland. The best means to experience its mountains, waterfalls, too sea cliffs is on a self-drive route trip.
When most people mean value of visiting Scotland, Edinburgh too Loch Ness are the commencement spots that come upwards to mind.
While both are nice, I mean value a route trip upwards through the Scottish Highlands too so upwards to the Isle of Skye is far better.
The scenery on Skye is rugged, breathtaking, too raw.
Free to explore at your ain pace, you’ll go stopping roughly each curvature of Skye’s notoriously narrow too winding dry reason roads for 1 incredible photograph chance after another!
I of late road-tripped roughly the Isle of Skye inward Scotland to experience 1 of the United Kingdom’s most adventurous too scenic go destinations for myself. It didn’t disappoint.
In this go guide I’ll assist you lot acquire the most from an Isle of Skye adventure.
Isle Of Skye Map
How To Use This Map
Above you’ll discovery a map of my itinerary for the Isle of Skye. Click on the top left of the map to discovery separate layers marker the route too points of interest. You tin shroud too present dissimilar layers, or click icons on the map to reckon the names of places I refer inward this go guide. “Star” the map to salve it to your ain Google Maps, or opened upwards the map inward a novel window for a larger version. Enjoy!
Driving The Isle Of Skye In 2019
If photography too exploring mount landscapes are your thing, so you’ll beloved route tripping roughly the Isle of Skye inward Scotland.
The surface area is steeped inward myth too legend — a identify where giants too fairies roam. Bloody clan battles were fought here, too ancient castles yet stand.
You’ll experience similar you’ve been transported into an epic fantasy novel.
The isle is separate upwards into a serial of peninsulas. For the purposes of this guide, I’ll encompass the Trotternish Peninsula inward the East, the Waternish Peninsula to the West, too the Black Cuillin Hills portion of the South.
Shimmering lochs (lakes) dominate the Waternish Peninsula, spell jagged volcanic formations left over from landslides from the Trotternish Ridge. Windswept Red & Black Cuillin mountains rising to come across the clouds inward the South.
Planning Your Road Trip
How Long Does It Take?
You tin drive roughly the isle inward one-half a 24-hour interval without stopping. But because there’s so much to see, I recommend spending at to the lowest degree 2 total days on the Isle of Skye. Plus you lot should schedule an additional one-half 24-hour interval to drive upwards from Fort William, too some other one-half 24-hour interval to acquire back.
Combine your Skye route trip alongside a few days inward the Highlands close Fort William, plus a total 24-hour interval inward Edinburgh or Glasgow, too you’ve got yourself a wonderful week-long opor-garai inward Scotland.
This is if you lot don’t innovation on whatsoever actually large hikes or other longer excursions.
When Should You Go?
You’re restrain to acquire some pelting whenever you lot go, but the best flavour for traveling to the Isle of Skye is summer. There’s a slightly ameliorate peril for dry out weather condition betwixt Apr too mid-June.
However, summertime is also high-season. The roads volition go to a greater extent than crowded, too accommodation is to a greater extent than hard to find.
Gas/Petrol
The isle is small. You should go able to stand upwards for a 2-day route trip inward on a unmarried tank of gas starting from Fort William. However, in that location are iv dissimilar gas stations on the Isle of Skye simply inward illustration you lot necessitate to fill upwards up.
Food/Groceries
In the principal towns, you’ll discovery enough of cozy pubs too cafes, alongside a few dedicated restaurants too. However, most of the towns are spread out from each other. So brand sure to stock upwards on sandwiches too snacks at a local grocery shop each morning. Sausage rolls are a large bargain inward Scotland, too spell non just healthy, they are perfect for route trips.
There is a wonderful pub & traditional Scottish eating theater at the Sligachan Hotel called Seumas Bar if you’re craving some neeps & tatties. Or my personal favorite, haggis! Mmmmm. Sheep guts…
Internet/Mobile Phone
Mobile mesh on the Isle of Skye is pretty bad. In Broadford too Portree you’ll withdraw maintain 3G, but exterior the major towns there’s a goodness peril you lot won’t withdraw maintain a signal at all. Vodafone too O2 seem to withdraw maintain the best coverage.
Getting To The Isle Of Skye
The most mutual means to acquire to the Isle of Skye is to wing into Glasgow, rent a car, too drive upwards through the highlands from there. It takes 5-6 hours. I flew into Edinburgh, took a prepare to Glasgow, too so started driving. Fort William is a bully identify to halt for a dark inward the highlands to assist suspension upwards the drive.
Mallaig Ferry
From Fort William, drive 1 hr West on route A830 to the pocket-sized angling town of Mallaig too grab the thirty infinitesimal long Skye Ferry to Armadale.
Skye Bridge
From Fort William, caput North on routes A82 too A87 to the Skye Bridge, a trip that takes almost 1.75 hours non-stop. But you lot volition sure desire to halt alongside so much to reckon on the route. Like the incredible Eilean Donan Castle.
To mix it upwards a bit, I recommend trying them both. I started my route trip riding the Mallaig ferry over too finished it driving dorsum on the Skye Bridge.
Car Rental
Discover Car Hire searches all the large machine rental companies too finds the best price. This is likely the easiest means to rent a machine inward Scotland.
Renting a machine on the Isle of Skye itself is a flake to a greater extent than expensive alongside fewer choices, but possible through Skye Car Hire or HM Hire.
Southern Skye Highlights
Sligachan Bridge
Sligachan is a pocket-sized hamlet located at the base of operations of the Black Cuillin mountains. It’s been a hub for climbers too travelers to Skye since 1830, forming a major crossroads to other parts of the island.
The onetime stone dyad at Sligachan is likely the most photographed spot on Skye. Legend has it the mutual frigidness waters beneath the dyad grant eternal beauty to whoever dips their human face upwards inward for vii seconds…
Fairy Pools
The Fairy Pools are a long serial of pocket-sized waterfalls too beautiful crystal bluish pools cascading downwards from the Black Cuillin range. Hiking from the machine green takes 30-40 minutes depending on high upwards you lot create upwards one's hear to venture.
If you lot desire to acquire for a swim, experience costless to saltation in! The icy mutual frigidness H2O mightiness simply withdraw maintain your breath away — but so volition the views.
Black Cuillins
A serial of 36 imposing peaks huddled together at the southern cease of Skye, the Black Cuillins withdraw maintain been a hiking too climbing mecca for 150 years. Dark rocky formations that seemingly rising straightaway out of the sea. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 narrow 12km ridgeline scramble called the Black Cuillin Traverse tin go tackled inward 2 days alongside equipment.
We decided to withdraw maintain the Bella Jane Ferry from Elgol to the base of operations of the mountains too spent a morning time hiking roughly Loch Coruisk. When the weather condition is clear, you lot tin hike to the summit of Sgurr na Stri for the best persuasion inward the United Kingdom.
Trotternish Highlights
Old Man Of Storr
You can’t see the Isle of Skye without hiking upwards to the Old Man of Storr. Large pinnacles of stone that rising from the ground, this location has been used equally a backdrop for many movies, including the sci-fi thriller Prometheus. Legends tell the rocks are fingers of a dead giant.
A dingy trail leads upwards to the rocks too takes almost 45 minutes (one way) from the parking surface area below. The Old Man is oftentimes covered inward clouds, but it’s non likewise far from Portree, so you lot tin ever come upwards dorsum afterwards inward the 24-hour interval too travail in 1 lawsuit again when it’s clear.
The Quiraing
Definitely my favorite location on the Isle of Skye, The Quiraing is an other-worldly landscape where huge landslides withdraw maintain created a serial of foreign cliffs, jagged pinnacles, too plateaus. Trails crisscross the area, too it’s a bully spot for hiking.
A steep winding route leads upwards to the top of the plateau, alongside first-class views of the coast below. On a clear day, you’ll reckon the Islands of Raasay too Rona too. Take a stroll along the steep cliffs, but go careful, it’s a long means down!
Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls
Located off the A855 coastal road, in that location is a viewpoint on the border of the cliffs hither called Kilt Rock. The massive Kilt Rock Cliffs form of resemble a Scottish kilt, therefore the name. Mealt Falls is a long waterfall that cascades off the cliffs into the sea below. You necessitate to lean your caput out to acquire a goodness photograph (or convey a drone!).
Waternish Highlights
The Fairy Glen
A foreign too magical place, the Fairy Glen is hidden away off the principal route close the hamlet of Uig. It’s a miniature light-green valley alongside odd, perfectly conical hills, gnarled dwarf forests, too packs of grazing sheep. Whoever named this identify couldn’t withdraw maintain picked a ameliorate one.
Hiking the maze of trails, you’ll discovery a novel wonder roughly every bend. Like white stones arranged inward concentric circles on the valley floor. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 solitary stone tower rises higher upwards it all, alongside first-class views of the enchanted landscape below. If fairies produce exist, this is their kingdom for sure!
Neist Point Lighthouse
Located on the most Westerly indicate of Skye, Neist Point is a finger of dry reason stretching out into the sea alongside a powerful 480,000 candle powered lighthouse on the tip. Massive cliffs band the coast here, too it’s a wonderful photography spot, specially roughly sunset.
A walking path takes you lot all the means to the lighthouse if you lot desire some exercise. It gets really windy on these cliffs, too in that location withdraw maintain been cases of tourists falling to their deaths. So go really careful close the edges.
Dunvegan Castle
A magnificent castle perched on the border of a lock, Dunvegan has been the ancestral habitation to the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years. Still owned yesteryear the MacLeods, it’s pretty cool that you lot tin walk through their home, too it’s total of onetime heirlooms too paintings.
One of the treasures on display is the mystical Fairy Flag, a sacred banner alongside miraculous powers. Supposedly given to the clan yesteryear the queen of fairies, legend says when unfurled during battle, the MacLeods would ever defeat their enemies.
Talisker Distillery
The Talisker Distillery has been on the isle since 1831. Scotland is famous for its whisky roughly the world. The flavor of a whisky changes depending on where inward Scotland it was distilled too whiskeys similar Talisker brewed on the islands withdraw maintain a strong, peaty taste.
This is my personal favorite type of whisky, too it seems author Robert Louis Stevenson agreed. In 1 of his poems, he says “The Rex o’ drinks, equally I conceive it, Talisker, Islay, or Glenlivet.”
Where To Stay On Skye
The Isle of Skye is a pocket-sized island, so it doesn’t withdraw maintain a ton of accommodation options. During the summertime high season, accommodation tin go sold out. So volume inward advance! If you’re wondering where to remain on the Isle of Skye, hither are my recommendations:
Have you lot ever considered short-term even out rentals? It’s a bully means to salve money! Click here to larn how to acquire $35 off your commencement booking.
Camping Options
Here is a goodness listing of official campsites on the Isle of Skye. Wild camping ground is allowed, equally long equally you lot follow Scotland’s Outdoor Access Code. There are a few “bothys” likewise — wilderness cabins costless for hikers to use.
We spent one-night camping ground on the coast at Camas Malag, too some other dark at the Rubha Hunish bothy on the border of a massive coastal cliff.
Hiking & Cycling The Isle Of Skye
Accompanying me on my route trip roughly the Isle of Skye was Scott from Wilderness Scotland. Working equally a guide inward the Highlands for years, he showed some of his favorite spots. If you’re looking for a flake of adventure during your trip, check out their Isle of Skye tours.
Hiking
Whether you’re into brusk walks or long-distance hikes, Skye has it all. The Skye Trail is a 128km route that covers incredible mount & coastal scenery. It takes almost vii days to complete.
Cycling
Road cycling tours are really pop on Skye due to the island’s paved winding roads too amazing scenery. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 back upwards vehicle tin withdraw maintain your gear to the side yesteryear side town where it’s waiting when you lot brand it to pass the night.
Isle Of Skye Travel Tips
- Google’s typical driving times are non what they seem, due to all the scenic stops, it tin withdraw maintain 2-3 times equally long equally you lot think.
- The weather condition changes apace on the Isle of Skye. So simply because the famous “Old Man Of Storr” happens to go covered inward clouds at ix am doesn’t hateful that volition go the illustration an hr or ii later.
- It’s wise to boot the bucket along some waterproof go gear (jacket, pants) packed alongside you lot at all times when you’re exterior on a hike or visiting an attraction.
- Roads hither are narrow, oftentimes without shoulders, too most dorsum roads are unmarried lane. If you’re non used to Scotland driving itinerary, it tin go nerve-wracking.
- Single dry reason roads withdraw maintain special passing areas every 400 meters or so. Proper etiquette is the machine closest to the turn-off pulls over first.
- The Isle of Skye is a pocket-sized island, so accommodation must go booked good inward advance, espcially inward the high flavour of summer.
Travel Video: Scotland’s Isle Of Skye
(Click to sentinel The Land Of Fairies – Isle Of Skye on YouTube)
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a go backpack, photographic television set camera gear, too other useful go accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to discovery deals on airlines. Also brand sure to read how I discovery the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a bully site for comparison machine prices to discovery the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than almost how I volume inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget go insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than almost why you lot should ever bear go insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Highlands & Islands
Suggested Reading: Scottish Fairy & Folk Tales
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Have whatsoever questions almost traveling the Isle of Skye? What almost other suggestions? Drop me a message inward the comments below!
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