Probably no other Scottish island is visited as much and as often as the Isle of Skye. I’ve been there and have a good idea why that is…
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Intro and travel report
King Arthur has already been here on the Isle of Skye – at least in the film Legend of the Sword, which was partly filmed on Skye. The mighty mountains of the Old Man of Storr were the backdrop for his adventurous journey.
The Old Man Storr also seems to be omnipresent on YouTube and Instagram. And indeed, many people – and influencers – make a ‘pilgrimage’ to this picturesque rocky spire every year to enjoy the breathtaking view of this beautiful island.
If you are afraid of the long and steep climb, then you only need to take a look at Scottish tourism websites, you will inevitably come across it here.
The Old Man of Storr is one of the scenic highlights of the Isle of Skye and Scotland. But to reduce the island to a rocky spire on a mountain would not do it justice. In fact, there are many scenic highlights here.
My photos are already a few years old and are from my longer round trip through Scotland on my motorbike. I stayed one night on Skye and spent a whole day travelling around and across the island.
As was usually the case on this trip in September, the weather was rather wet and so I didn’t hike – which isn’t ideal with motorbike clothing anyway. And I realised afterwards that I mainly photographed mountains. But in my, still very vivid, memory of Skye, the coasts were at least as exciting.
This year we will be travelling Scotland again, intensively and for longer. This time with my wife in a motorhome. The Isle of Skye is very high on my wish list. However, I will write this article with my existing photos and then add new photos and perhaps additional text later in the year.
What makes the island special: Firstly, it is very easy to reach via a small land bridge. There’s no need to book a ferry – unlike every other Scottish island.
On the other hand, there are nice places to stay here. Not an unlimited number, but at least a few more than on the neighbouring Isle of Mull.
Because the island is so easily accessible, you don’t have to stress about your arrival time, your departure or whether the accommodation is fully booked. Drive up, drive around and drive back down – and stay somewhere else. Simple!
But whenever it gets easy, lots of people do the same. In September there was already a surprising amount of life on the island and I can only imagine how busy it could get here in the height of summer on Skye!
This also means that the best times to visit the Isle of Skye are in spring and autumn. Unless you’re not sensitive, but personally I prefer it a little quieter.
If you are visiting Skye, you can also use the ferry further south, from Mallaig to Armadale, for the journey there and the bridge further north, at Kyle of Lochalsh, for the return journey. This way you can really drive all the way round the island and enjoy it to the full. You will definitely need a full day for this.
The shorter option would be to travel over the bridge, drive directly to Portree, circle the northern tip of the island and return to the bridge via Portree. This can be done in a good half day.
However, if you want to see many of the beautiful spots on the island and also do some of the beautiful hikes there, you should plan at least two or three days.
The northern tip is called the Trotternish Peninsula. It is home to the Old Man of Storr and some of the most spectacular mountains on Skye, as well as some of the most beautiful bays and coastal roads.
Duntulm Castle is also on the route, in the very north of the island and peninsula. It is now just a ruin, but a beautiful viewpoint.
Incidentally, Portree is the main town on the island and the only small town. Otherwise there are mainly villages here. The town is very pretty and it is worth stopping here for at least a lunch or coffee break, or even to stay overnight.
As the Isle of Skye is primarily characterised by its beautiful landscapes, its sights are more for outdoor enthusiasts.
Points of Interest on the Isle of Skye
When you cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye at Kyle of Lochalsh, you will see the village of Kyleakin on your left. Behind it you will find the ruins of Castle Moil on a hill. From there you have beautiful views of Loch Alsh.
Loch Alsh is also home to one of Scotland’s most beautiful castles, Eilean Donan Castle, which you should definitely visit on your way to the Isle of Skye! See: https://www.eileandonancastle.com.
In the southern part of the island there are several beautiful hiking trails up the mountains, for example to the lakes of Coire Lagan, or to the Fairy Pools waterfalls. Both are beautiful places in nature with great views of the mountains and/or coast along the way.
In the west of the island you will find Talisker Bay with a beautiful beach, massive cliffs and even a waterfall that cascades from the cliffs into the sea.
Just off the eastbound A87, near the village of Sconser, you’ll see a beautiful old stone arch bridge by the roadside, Sligachan Old Bridge. If you follow the trail up the hill, you’ll come to Sligachan Waterfalls, near Allt Dearg Cottage.
Portree is the main town on the island and a nice place for a short visit. Worth mentioning is the headland with park and viewpoint above the harbour. See: https://www.isleofskye.com/portree.
In the north-east of the island, the picturesque rock needle Old Man of Storr, which stands on the massive cliffs of the Quiraing, is probably the most visited highlight. A hiking trail leads up the mountain. Nearby is Bearreaig Bay, a long pebble beach on a beautiful coastline.
In the north of Skye you will find Duntulm Castle, one of the more important castles on the island. Today only a ruin, it still offers beautiful views over the coast. See also: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/duntulmcastle/index.html.
Nearby is the Skye Museum of Island Life with small reed-roofed cottages where you can see what country life was like in the past. See: http://www.skyemuseum.co.uk/.
In the north-west, between Uig and Balnaknock, lies the much-photographed Fairy Glen with its wondrous rock formations on the hill. Right next to it, the remains of Castle Ewen tower into the landscape.
On the north-west side of the island you will find the only castle on Skye that is not a ruin: Dunvegan Castle still watches over the bay right on the shore. You can visit the castle and its gardens. See: https://www.dunvegancastle.com.
A little further on, at the westernmost point of the island, a very beautiful headland juts out into the sea and the Neist Point Lighthouse sits enthroned on it. The place is somewhat remote, but very scenic. See: https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/neist-point/.
Brief background on the Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, the largest island of the Inner Hebrides in Scotland, has been inhabited since the Mesolithic period. Prehistoric monuments such as stone circles, brochs and burial mounds bear witness to early settlements. In the Iron Age, the island was part of the Pictish culture.
From the 9th century onwards, it came under the influence of the Vikings, whose traces are still visible today. The name ‘Skye’ is often derived from the Old Norse word for ‘cloudy island’.
In the Middle Ages, the MacLeod and MacDonald clans dominated the island. Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the MacLeods, is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. The rivalry between the clans characterised the political landscape of the island, just as it did in the rest of Scotland.
The early modern period was characterised by the Highland Clearances and the effects of the Jacobite uprisings, which led to expulsions and emigration. This led to a decline in population and changed the social structure of the island.
Today, the Isle of Skye is a popular destination for tourists who particularly appreciate its exceptionally beautiful landscapes and coastline.
Conclusion
At the risk of repeating myself: The Isle of Skye is a must-see destination on your trip to Scotland!
The island is easily accessible via its bridge and can easily be incorporated into your itinerary on any tour of the Highlands.
It is therefore well visited, which means booking accommodation in advance and travelling early or late in the season rather than in the height of summer.
Whether you go hiking on the mountains or ‘just’ want to take a shorter or longer drive around the Isle of Skye, you will definitely experience some of the most beautiful landscapes and coastal stretches of the Highlands – I promise!
I wish you lots of fun on Skye!
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Cover picture: House by the sea on the Isle of Skye (Photo: Ulrich Knüppel-Gertberg)
