Visiting Skye: Everything You Need To Know
If you’ve ever picked up a calendar featuring Scottish scenery, chances are, more than a couple of the images you’ll see will likely have been taken on the Isle of Skye; this is for the simple fact that the island is by far one of the most beautiful locations in an already beautiful country.
Featuring some of the country’s most distinct and celebrated natural and man-made landmarks, join us as we explore things to see and do, from the island’s most popular tourist attractions to its best food and drink locations.
Brief History of the Isle of Skye
Referred to as The Cloud Isle, or Isle of Mist in Old Norse (although it has had many names over millennia), the Isle of Skye is found on Scotland’s dramatically fragmented North West coast. With several peninsulas extending from a centralised mountainous centre, Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebrides and the second-largest Hebridean overall after Lewis & Harris.
Historically, the island has seen many people come and go. From Mesolithic hunter-gatherer tribes over 9000 years ago to Iron Age Picts, the land changed hands many times before.
In slightly more recent history, being inhabited by Scandinavian settlers and, of course, Scotland’s famous clans, with two of the most famous, MacLeod and Macdonald, calling Skye home.
Today, Skye is home to just 10,000 people. With strong connections to its roots, Skye is considered one of Scotland’s Gaelic Heartlands, with 46% of the population able to speak the language as of 2011.
Scenery and landmarks
When making a visitor guide to Skye, where is the best place to start than the scenery? Within its 50-mile diameter, the island offers almost everything you could want from a visit to Scotland’s wilder spaces – let us begin with one of the most famous locations on the island.
With a mild maritime climate, Skye’s weather is mostly cool, rainy, and a little bit windy—ideal for exploration, provided you’re equipped with basic hiking clothing!
Old Man of Storr
With a truly staggering number of world-famous sites of interest to be found all over Scotland’s length and breadth, it’s easy to throw around the word ‘iconic’. However, if we were to make a shortlist of the very best, it would be hard to conceive of a list that didn’t have The Old Man of Storr comfortably within its top five must-sees.
The most famous landmark on Skye by far, the ‘Old Man’, is a particularly striking rock formation that juts out of the land in front of the Storr mountain. Standing 55 metres tall, this striking basalt column is part of a walk that lasts roughly an hour and fifteen minutes and is accessible by car and occasional Stagecoach buses.
With an almost otherworldly feel to the formation, it’s no surprise that the Old Man of Storr was used in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic Prometheus in 2012.
Munro bagging
Munro bagging is the practice of scaling the summit of any Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914 meters) and is a popular activity for adventurous Scots and tourists alike.
With twelve Munros in total to climb on Skye alone, it’s a great location for those wanting to cross a few off their list. These include:
- Sgurr Alasdair (992 metres)
- Sgurr Dearg (986 metres)
- Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh (973 metres)
- Sgurr na Banachdaich (965 metres)
- Sgurr nan Gillean (964 metres)
- Bruach na Frithe (958 metres)
- Sgurr Mhicchoinnich (948 metres)
- Sgurr Dubh Mor (944 metres)
- Am Bastier (934 metres)
- Blabheinn (928 metres)
- Sgurr nan Eag (924 metres)
- Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh (918 metres)
While some of the above Munros make for a worthy challenge, even for experienced climbers, the second-highest Sgurr Dearg, also known as the ‘The Inaccessible Pinnacle’, is a truly tricky effort that requires rock climbing to reach its peak.
Made of slippery-when-wet basalt, this is recommended only for experienced climbers or with the support and supervision of a guide.
Fairy Pools
If the above has you out of breath just reading it, don’t worry; the Fairy Pools are a more-than-worthy consolation. Nestled within the Cuillin ridge (where many of the fiercest Munros are located), the Fairy Pools are aptly named for their surreally crystalline waters.
Although perfectly enjoyable from a distance, jumping in for a chilly dip is also popular among more intrepid adventurers – the perfect way to cool off on a Summer’s day!
The Fairy Glen
Despite a similar name, the Fairy Glen may not be connected to the Fairy Pools located to the South, but that doesn’t make them any less worthy of a visit.
Like many of the other locations on this, the Fairy Glen has an almost mystical quality to it. With castle ruins, gnarled trees, winding paths, and strange man-made rock placements, the Fairy Glen’s unique vistas have an undeniable mythical quality, perfect for losing oneself in.
Castles in the Skye
Of course, what is a Scottish tourist guide without a good castle or two? Visitors to Skye will be pleased to know that the island has seven in total. These include: |
- Caisteal Chamuis (Knock Castle)
While the must-visit castles on this list depend on your individual taste castles (some prefer modest and mysterious ruins, while others may prefer a more illustrious palace and garden), most agree that Dunvegan is one of the best.
Partially inhabited to this day by the Chief of Clan MacLeod, Dunvegan’s medieval turrets and picturesque location on the edge of the water make it a popular viewpoint, while its botanical gardens, filled with an array of colourful plants, are a must-see.
So famous, the castle often attracted modern royalty, including HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Emperor Naruhito of Japan.
Wildlife
Visitors exploring Skye’s numerous landmarks and scenic areas will be pleased to know that there is plenty of wildlife to spot on the Isle of Skye across land, sea and air.
Indeed, Skye is one of the most popular ways to see Scotland’s ‘Big Five’, namely, Golden Eagle, Red Deer, Common Seal, Otter and Red Squirrel. Considered to be Scotland’s most culturally recognisable animals, these majestic beasts can all be found on the isle.
However, there are far more species to spot for those who are ‘eagle-eyed’. From the formidable sea eagle to gannets and puffins, Skye’s coastal waters can best be enjoyed with a tour guide to help you glimpse these creatures.
Food & Drink
Like many of Scotland’s coastal towns and villages, seafood plays an enormous role in shaping local cuisine.
Thought to have one of Scotland’s best natural larders, it’s no surprise that many of the restaurants in Skye come highly rated, and the very highest, The View at the Cuillin Hills Hotel in Portree is a must-visit.
Rated among TripAdvisor’s Top 10% Restaurants Worldwide, The View is the perfect location to sample much of what makes local Scottish cuisine truly magnificent.
With North Atlantic halibut, Highland venison, and local Dunvegan crab all present (vegan and vegetarian options are also available), the menu celebrates locally supplied ingredients and delicacies.
Transport
Whether you are looking to visit the Skye as part of a more extensive trip around Scotland’s West Coast or get to know the island over a few days, there are plenty of great options for transport and accommodation.
One of the things that makes Skye so accessible to visitors is that unlike many of Scotland’s islands, it can be visited by car, bike, and public transport, thanks to the Skye Bridge.
In terms of sheer flexibility, travelling by car is certainly the most convenient in terms of reaching the various nooks and crannies found on the island, but cycling can be a great option in better weather. Whether you’re looking for e-bike or push bike hire, cycling allows you to experience the sounds and smells of Skye, and allow you to digest more of the incredible sights as you cut through the fresh air.
Public transportation is possible, but limited. Citylink and Stagecoach are available, with the former offering a 3-day explorer ticket for a reasonable price.
Summary
As you can see, the famous Isle of Skye has plenty to offer its visitors. From jaw-dropping landscapes. To world-renowned cuisine, travelling to Skye should be on anyone’s bucket list.
Many people use Oban as a base of operations for wider-ranging trips. The town can be a great option for a few days before travelling north to Skye, or as a base when touring the West Coast and the Hebrides.
From Oban, travelling by car can take roughly three and a half hours. Despite a reasonably lengthy journey, travelling along some incredibly scenic routes is guaranteed to keep you entertained.
If Oban is part of your Scottish itinerary, our hotel is a great option for those looking for a more comfortable stay, whether it’s just for overnight stays or longer trips.