Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, a jewel of Scotland's Inner Hebrides, is a place of rugged and breathtaking beauty. Its dramatic landscapes feature towering, mist-shrouded peaks, emerald-green valleys, and rugged coastal cliffs that plunge into the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors to Skye are treated to an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, with opportunities for hiking amidst the Fairy Pools, exploring the otherworldly Old Man of Storr, and witnessing the captivating Quiraing rock formation. Quaint villages like Portree offer a taste of Scottish charm, while the island's rich Gaelic heritage and folklore add an enchanting layer to this remote and unspoiled destination.
Isle of Skye Travel Video
Check out a short travel edit of traveling through the Isle of Skye to gain inspiration for your trip.
3 Day Itinerary
This itinerary is probably best to tack onto a trip to Edinburgh or somewhere else in the UK. Since it takes a good bit of travel to get to the Isle of Skye, and with no way to fly directly in from major airports, it isn’t conducive to only spend three nights in this amazing place coming all the way from the US.
Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Inverness, Loch Ness, Portree
Day 2: Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Mealt Falls, and Fairy Glen
Day 3: Neist Point Lighthouse, Talisker Distillery, and The Fairy Pools
DAY 1: Arrival in Portree
Isle of Skye is located on the west coast of the highlands of Scotland. The closest large airport that you can fly to with a relatively short drive is Inverness. Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and is best known for its proximity to Loch Ness. We landed around lunchtime in Inverness, and picked up a rental car which is absolutely necessary for driving the Highlands on your own.
If you want to see a bit of Inverness before immediately heading out, stop at McLeod’s Fish & Chips to kick off your Scottish adventure the right way. The restaurant is basically a walk up counter, but is a great local spot for this famous dish.
As you leave Inverness, you immediately come up on Loch Ness. There are plenty of signs and tourist shops with pictures of “Nessie” (The Loch Ness Monster) in the towns you drive by on the western banks of the loch. Once the road peels away from the loch, the scenery becomes much more rugged and you begin to feel you are really in the Highlands. There are some good places to stop for views of the surrounding landscapes, lochs, and cozy little inns that you can stop for a coffee.
A must see stop is Eilean Donan castle, which sits on a tiny rock in the middle of the Loch Duich. It’s a really picturesque castle and one of the last places to stop before taking the bridge off the mainland and onto Isle of Skye.
The biggest town on Isle of Skye is Portree. It’s a quaint coastal village famous for its colorful harborfront buildings, views of the surrounding Cuillin Mountains, and its role as a gateway to exploring the rugged beauty of Skye's landscapes. There are also multiple renowned restaurants and plenty of hotels and rental homes to pick for your accommodation. Cuillin Hills is the nicest hotel, but requires a short drive to its location, so not the best option if you want to be able to walk through town. Our Airbnb (linked to the left), was a great place that had views into the harbor and a quick walk to town.
After checking into your accommodation, take a stroll down to the harborfront to see the famous colored buildings and stop in one of the hotels for dinner. If you have energy, there are some great pubs around the square in town to have a few pints before bed.
DAY 2: Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and Fairy Glen
Before heading out for the day, make sure to stop by one of the local coffee shops for a coffee and pastry. We liked Birch Coffee the best. Jump in your car and start heading north out of town. The Old Man of Storr, probably the most famous attraction on the island, looms up in the distance against the sky. There’s a good car park at the base of the hike, and usually will be pretty crowded due to its popularity.
The hike takes about an hour, and once up in the rock formations, you can make your own trail and explore at your own pace. Be mindful of weather, as it can be windy and conditions can change quickly in the highlands.
Continuing north, you’ll have the chance to stop at many famous sites. Definitely make a point to stop at the Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls Viewpoint. As you drive further north, your best bet for a quick lunch would be at the Hungry Gull in Staffin. It’s a simple restaurant but has some good sandwiches to keep you going.
As you start to reach the northern point of this peninsula on the island, the road becomes a one lane road (as it is for most of the island). There will be lots of opportunities to pull over for oncoming cars, but the going is slower and you have to stay aware. This is a remote part of the island with lots of good view points to stop. When we come back, there’s also good hikes in this area like Trotternish Ridge.
When you make the loop along the coastline, you meet back up with the main road in the town of Uig. Just a short drive up into the hills from Uig, you’ll arrive at the Fairy Glen. This area has some really unique and otherworldly feel to it, which legend has it is where fairies live. We didn’t see any fairies, but its fun to explore the rolling hills and see the landscape.
We made reservations at Scorrybreac for dinner that night, which was probably the best meal we’ve ever had. The restaurant only has about 10 tables, and is Michelin quality food. If you’re a foodie, don’t miss this restaurant. Spend the rest of the night exploring the various pubs in Portree.
DAY 3: Neist Point Lighthouse, Talisker Distillery, and The Fairy Pools
Now that you have your bearings, head out to the far western side of the island today. Grab coffee and pastries again in Portree before heading out. The drive to the far western point where the famous Neist Point Lighthouse is located, takes about an hour and fifteen minutes, despite being only 30 miles. There will be more of the one lane roads, so the driving is slow.
This part of the island feels more remote and the last few miles to the parking lot for the lighthouse are through rolling hills and farmland. After parking, you can choose to walk down the big hill to go out on the point to the actual lighthouse, or walk to the right for a great view of the area.
Walking out to the lighthouse takes about 20 minutes, and has some repeated up and down elevation gain. The view back to the left of the coastline as you walk on the path is really dramatic and there are waterfalls coming down off the cliffs.
From there, head back inland and stop at Dunvegan Castle, which is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Continue to the south and head to the famous Talisker Distillery. The distillery is located in a scenic spot off one of the lochs on the western coast and offers a tasting room and tours. If you’re hungry by now, head up the hill to the Oyster Shed which has some incredible seafood. There’s also a really good popup coffee shop that serves toasties across the street.
As you head even further south, the next stop is the Fairy Pools. Tucked back in the mountains, the steep hillsides collect water from the frequent rainfall and get concentrated into a stream that runs down to the valley floor. The fast moving water creates naturally forming pools with a series of waterfalls. The hiking trail takes you up along the stream and by all these waterfalls. It’s a great hike and not too strenuous. You can choose to go as far up as you want before deciding to turn and around and head back to your car.
By now, you’ve had a full day so head back to Portree for your last night and another amazing meal, this time at The View restaurant in the Cuillin Hills hotel. Be sure to stop at the Sligachan Bridge as you get back on the main road into Portree for a good photo spot.
DAY 4: Departure
A must stop place on your way back to the mainland is the Lean To Coffee shop off the main road. It’s an old house with no roof that has been converted to a coffee shop and they work out of a shipping container. It’s really nicely redone and the coffee and toasties are the best you’ll have.
