The Isle of Skye is certainly one of Scotland’s most visited locations – and justifiably so.
A part of the Internal Hebrides islands off the west coast of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is stunningly lovely. It presents wild, windswept landscapes, fairy story waterfalls and lochs, a dramatic shoreline, historic castles, abandoned seashores, nice food and drinks and, in fact, a heat Scottish welcome.
Now we have visited the Isle of Skye a number of occasions and it’s certainly one of our favorite locations within the U.Okay.
You’ll be able to see the highlights of the island in 1 day however to completely discover all of the gems that the Isle of Skye has to supply (and at a leisurely tempo), we suggest spending at the least 2 -3 days on Skye.
We assure you received’t remorse it!
Easy methods to get across the Isle of Skye
Driving your individual automotive is one of the best ways to discover the Isle of Skye.
Having your individual automotive will allow you to get off the crushed monitor or cease once you wish to for photographs or for a scenic stroll. You’ll be able to set your individual timetable in response to the climate or crowds and it’s additionally helpful cowl to flee to when it rains on Skye (and it rains so much!).
Attending to Skye from the Scottish mainland is straightforward. You’ll be able to drive over the bridge from the Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland to Kyleakin in south-east Skye.
Alternatively, when you’re travelling south to north, you possibly can take your automotive over on the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale within the south of Skye.
Nevertheless you select to achieve Skye, we suggest travelling each methods (by ferry and by bridge) to maximise your Isle of Skye expertise. Be sure to ebook your ferry effectively prematurely of your journey because it will get booked up, particularly in peak season.
Learn our information – Easy methods to journey from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye excursions
If self-driving just isn’t for you, there are many wonderful and complete Isle of Skye excursions to select from.
Most island excursions cowl the highlights talked about in our itineraries under however you’ll have much less time at every location. In case you ebook a personal tour, you possibly can at all times ask to tweak the itinerary to incorporate locations you want to go to.
Isle of Skye highway journey itineraries
Please word that each one driving occasions under are approximate. You have to to drive slower in unhealthy climate and should should drive slower in peak season because of different site visitors on the roads.
Plus, when you get caught behind a tractor or a herd of sheep it will probably take for much longer to achieve your vacation spot!
A 1 day Isle of Skye Itinerary
If potential, keep on the Isle of Skye the evening earlier than embarking on this 1 day itinerary. Our itinerary begins from Portree which is a 1 hour drive north of Kyleakin and 1.10 hours north of Armadale.
This itinerary entails quite a lot of driving with restricted trip of the automotive so set off as early as you possibly can.
If you’re travelling in winter months, you’ll have shorter sunlight hours so remember that you just would possibly have to condense this itinerary.
Morning
Begin your morning with breakfast in Portree and a short stroll round this gorgeous coastal city. To avoid wasting time later within the day, top off on a picnic lunch and snacks while in Portree.
Drive north for quarter-hour on the A855 to achieve Skye’s iconic landmark, the Previous Man of Storr, a 55-metre excessive pinnacle of basalt rock. Get pleasure from a 1 hour stroll taking within the dramatic surroundings.
An extra 15 minute drive brings you to the general public viewpoint for Kilt Rock and Mealt falls.
Kilt Rock is a jaw dropping 90-metre-high cliff wall of hexagonal basalt rock columns. Mealt Falls plunges over it dropping 55 metres within the sea under. You’ll wish to cease and take photographs right here so permit round half-hour to your cease.
Drive one other 10 minutes north to the spectacular surroundings of The Quiraing, certainly one of Skye’s most visited areas. Look out for the parking zone and begin of the strolling path which is round 2.5 miles from the village of Staffin.
The total Quiraing loop stroll takes round 2 hours however you are able to do as little or as a lot as you want to slot in along with your 1 day Skye itinerary.
Get pleasure from your picnic lunch or proceed driving throughout the inland of the island to the village of Uig (20 minutes away) for a brief lunch cease.
Afternoon
After lunch, drive for 40 minutes to Dunvegan Fortress, the oldest repeatedly inhabited citadel in Scotland. It’s a 40 minute drive with out stops however it would be best to make stops to benefit from the surroundings so allocate round 1 hour for the drive.
If you’re travelling between April and mid-October you possibly can spend an hour exploring the citadel (the house of the MacLeod Clan) and their spectacular 5 acre formal gardens. If the citadel is closed, you possibly can nonetheless get a superb view of it from the highway.
From Dunvegan, drive an additional half-hour to achieve Neist Level Lighthouse, probably the most westerly tip of the Isle of Skye. Perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, it’s a photographer’s dream.
It’s a 2.2km stroll to achieve the lighthouse so you are able to do as little or as a lot as you want relying in your timings. Notice that the trail again to the automotive park is steep in locations.
Drive for 1 hour again to Portree through Feorlig and Bracadale to finish your northerly loop of the Isle of Skye or detour at Sligachan to achieve Armadale or Kyleakin.
Isle of Skye 2 day itinerary
This itinerary entails much more strolling than the 1 day itinerary so ensure you carry sturdy closed toe footwear with you.
Day 1
Morning
Begin your morning with a leisurely breakfast in vibrant Portree and a short stroll across the coastal city.
Drive half-hour southwest of Portree to the Fairy Swimming pools, a sequence of crystal clear swimming pools set in opposition to a spectacular highland backdrop.
The return stroll to the primary pool is round 2.4 km and can take round 1 hour however you possibly can prolong your stroll to discover additional up the river to see extra swimming pools. We’d suggest permitting at the least 2 hours to your go to.
Drive northwest for 20 minutes (detouring off the A863 onto the B8009) to go to the Talisker Distillery in Carbost, the oldest working distillery on the island.
Take a 1 hour tour to find Talisker’s historical past and manufacturing processes. You’ll additionally get 3 dram tastings of Talisker’s award profitable single malts. Drivers will likely be given ‘driver’s drams’ to remove to take pleasure in as soon as the driving day is over.
Afternoon
Have lunch in Carbost or return to Portree for lunch earlier than heading north to the Previous Man of Storr.
You’ll have sufficient time left as we speak to do the complete 2.5 miles / 4 km path which can take round 1.5 – 2 hours relying on stops. It’s effectively price doing if you’ll be able to.
Afterwards, you possibly can select to remain regionally or drive quarter-hour again to Portree for the evening.
Try our complete information to lodging in Skye for all budgets right here.
Day 2
Morning
Make an early begin to beat the crowds and drive to the viewing level for Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls.
In case your go to coincides with a low tide, pop to Staffin Seaside to see its 3 toed dinosaur print embedded in rock.
Drive to The Quiraing the place you’ll have time to do the complete strolling path loop (round 2 hours).
Afternoon
Cease for lunch in Uig earlier than making a brief 6 minute driving detour to the Fairy Glen.
This uncommon, other-worldy panorama options cone-shaped grassy hills and basalt rocks shaped over 100,000 years in the past. It’s price spending a while wandering round right here when you can.
Drive for 1 hour to Dunvegan Fortress. If it’s open, permit at the least 1 hour to go to earlier than heading west for half-hour to Neist Level Lighthouse. Enable at the least 1.5 – 2 hours to stroll to the lighthouse and again.
Return to Portree through Feorlig and Bracadale or proceed driving to Armadale or Kyleakin.
3 Day Isle of Skye Itinerary
Day 1
Similar as day 1 of the two day itinerary
Day 2
Morning
Similar as day 2 of the two day itinerary.
Afternoon
Drive from The Quiraing to the small Rubha Hunish automotive park for a stroll to probably the most northerly tip of Skye.
The path to Rubha Hunish is round 6.2 km and can take round 2 hours to finish however once more, you are able to do as a lot or as little as you want. The path is tough and steep and could be uncovered in locations so take care the place you stroll.
In case you make it to the top of the path in good climate, you’ll be rewarded with a wide ranging view of Skye’s northern shoreline and possibly even the Outer Hebrides islands of Lewis and Harris.
This north coast is a famend spot for hen watching so don’t neglect your binoculars.
If the climate is unhealthy, we don’t suggest making an attempt the stroll. As an alternative, benefit from the coastal surroundings and drive additional on to the fifteenth century ruins of Duntulm Fortress earlier than heading to the Fairy Glen close to Uig.
Keep within the native space in a single day.
Day 3
Morning
There’s quite a lot of driving as we speak so begin early to suit every little thing in. If the climate is nice, we suggest choosing up a picnic lunch to take pleasure in alongside the way in which and to save lots of time.
Drive from Uig to Dunvegan Fortress (half-hour). If the citadel is open, permit 1-2 hours to your go to.
From Dunvegan, drive to Coral Seaside (25 minutes) and spend a soothing hour strolling top-of-the-line seashores on the Isle of Skye.
Coral Seaside is comprised of tiny particles of crushed white coral so the seashore seems to be pure white which additionally helps to offer the ocean a turquoise Caribbean hue. If it’s a sunny day, you’ll discover it onerous to depart this lovely seashore. We like it right here and in summer season, it’s a perfect picnic spot.
Afternoon
From Coral Seaside, drive to Neist Level Lighthouse (1 hour). Enable 1.5 – 2 hours to stroll to and from the lighthouse.
Drive to Carbost earlier than taking a tour of the Talisker Distillery (at the least a 1 hour drive). Enable a further hour to your tour.
Drive again to Portree (30 minutes), making a fast cease at Sligachan Bridge, or proceed on to Kyleakin or Armadale for the ferry to the mainland.
Suggestions for visiting the Isle of Skye
- Self driving is one of the best ways to discover Skye. Alternatively, be part of a small group tour or prepare a personal tour. There’s very restricted public transport on the island.
- Use Tripiamo to arrange to your highway journey. Their complete driving guides are particularly designed to show worldwide travellers what they should know to confidently and safely drive in a foreign country. We promise utilizing a Tripiamo information will prevent time and stress!
- Be careful for sheep on the slim winding roads, a few of which will likely be single monitor.
- Parking is proscribed on Skye and parking areas at important sights refill shortly. Arrive early to safe your spot and use Parkopedia to search out out there parking on the island.
- Most automotive parks settle for bank cards however carry some money simply in case. We suggest downloading the RingGo app prematurely of your go to as a number of Skye automotive parks use this.
- E-book eating places prematurely of your go to. Skye is a small island with restricted eating choices so if there may be someplace particularly you want to eat, we suggest reserving lunch or dinner reservations forward of time. We suggest the Edinbane Inn between Portree and Dunvegan and The Oyster Shed in Carbost. Additionally, don’t miss the wonderful Harbour Fish and Chip store in Portree.
- E-book your Isle of Skye lodging prematurely. Lodges, B+B’s and tenting pods refill shortly, particularly in peak season.
- You received’t discover many grocery outlets on Skye so benefit from having your individual automotive and top off on meals, drink and snacks earlier than arriving on the island.
- Put together for all weathers. You will need to count on rain so ensure you pack a water-proof jacket and durable, waterproof footwear with good grip for strolling. We additionally suggest maintaining a tally of the climate forecast while on the island because the climate can change shortly.
- Be ready for midges. Peak midge season is between Might and September which, sadly, is the height season for guests. Midges are most prevalent in good climate (they don’t like wind!), round water sources and within the early morning and night. Be sure to carry insect repellent – and a few chunk reduction – to the island with you notably when you go to in peak season.
- Look out for Highland cattle; you’ll see them in fields as you drive alongside. If you wish to pull over to take a photograph, ensure you park in a secure place which won’t hinder site visitors.
- The Isle of Skye will get very busy in U.Okay faculty holidays, notably throughout July and August. Keep away from these months when you can.
- Most locations on Skye take bank cards however carry some spare money simply in case. Some retailers could have minimal card spends.
- Obtain Google Maps forward of your go to. Cellphone alerts could be weak or non-existent in rural elements of Skye so it’s a good suggestion to have a backup possibility, simply in case.
- In case you take a automotive to the island, refill with gas on the mainland first. It’s cheaper and can prevent attempting to find gas when on Skye.
Hopefully our tried and examined driving itineraries on the Isle of Skye will allow you to get probably the most out of your go to to the island – and prevent time and stress.
We assure you’ll love the Isle of Skye as a lot as we do and can go away planning to return.