Top Things to Do in Isle of Skye, Scotland

When visiting Scotland, you hear about three zones for experiences: the lowlands (think popular cities), the highlands and the islands. Isle of Skye is an easy way to experience a Scottish Isle because you can get to it by car, so it’s an easy addition to a Scotland road trip itinerary. This was a highlight of our trip and I wanted to share some of the top things to do in Isle of Skye to help you get the most out of your time on this beautiful island.

HIKE THE OLD MAN OF STORR

The Old Man of Storr hike is something that’s going to be on most people’s top things to do is Isle of Skye style of post. This is for many reasons. One, it’s a relatively short hike at just under 3 miles. (Although, it’s basically straight up and down.) Secondly, it’s very close to Portree, which is the capital of Skye and the largest town. It dominates the landscape when driving north from there.

VISIT THE FAIRIES IN THE FAIRY GLENN

Although this stunning site doesn’t have any local myths behind it about fairies, it’s easy to see why it conjures up images of these mythical beings. This is actually my favorite thing that we did on the Isle of Skye even though it wasn’t the most recommended thing. This site is made up of a series of conical hills that sit in a valley. These hills are covered in bright ferns and foxglove plants that shoot off these gorgeous fuchsia-colored, bell-shaped blooms. It’s easy to hike through and a place that will leave its mark on your mind, for sure.

EAT + SHOP IN PORTREE

Photo from Pixabay
Portree is the capital of the Isle of Skye and it’s also the largest town on the island. This means that this is the ultimate place to stock up for your Isle of Skye adventure! In addition to that, this is where you’ll be able to eat + shop as well! We found a couple of good little pubs and there are so many little independent shops you can pop into and pick up a souvenir. Also, this little strip of brightly-colored houses make for a scenic view on the edge of town.

TAKE THE WINDY TREK TO THE LIGHTHOUSE ON NEIST POINT

Neist Point is a beautiful peninsula that juts out into the ocean over this oddly-shaped rolling land. The land making up this peninsula and the surrounding coastline is made up of basalt columns (like the ones you can find in Iceland). To get to Neist Point, you have to take a 1.75-mile round trip walk. This doesn’t sound like much, but it still takes 1-2 hours. You have to go up and down hills and the wind in this area is so unreal! The highlight of this walk isn’t the actual lighthouse, it’s the stunning views you get along the way!

VISIT THE *hopefully* COLORFUL FAIRY POOLS

The Fairy Pools are often mentioned as one of the top things to do in Isle of Skye. It was one of the things that had me most excited for our trip to the Isle of Skye. We saved it for the end of the road trip because it was most out of the way and we could loop it into our exit of the island. When you google Fairy Pools – Isle of Skye, what pops up will be gorgeous sets of waterfalls that cascade into bright turquoise pools. The night before our visit, there was a major downpour all over the Isle of Skye so the water was flowing really hard, but it also made the waterfalls and the pools below brown and muddy. Plus, the rain in the area meant that a thick fog had rolled in and settled covering the majority of the mountains in the background.

Getting to this series of waterfall, is about a 1.5 mile walk. It’s relatively easy, but be sure you have footwear that can get wet, like Teva sandals that offer support + will transition easily from land to water. Many people who love wild swimming will take a dip here. Be very careful of this, though, because the water is quite cold! This is a destination that I feel like we essentially missed because the water wasn’t pretty and we didn’t go all the way down to the end of the falls because the rivers were so high and we were in improper footwear for that. So, next time I’m going and I think I just might brave the chilly waters!

these two photos from Canva show a bit more of the color.

DON’T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A PIC OF A HIGHLAND COW

This may sound silly to be on a top things to do in the Isle of Skye post, but Highland cows are one of my very favorite animals. It had been on my Scotland Bucketlist to see a Highland cow, and the Isle of Skye made that happen for me. We were soaking up as many views as we could while driving when we spotted this little cutie and one of his friends! Something to remember, though, is to be respectful of these cuties. Don’t harass them and maintain a safe distance for you and them.

HIKE THE HILLS OF QUIRAING

The Quiraing loop is a gorgeous 4.25 mile loop trail that showcases one of the most incredible landscapes and things to do in Isle of Skye. You’ll get to see a lake, rock formations, mountains and gorgeous rolling hills surrounding it. This photo from Pixabay shows off some of the beauty and you can see the trail cutting across on the left.

VISIT A CASTLE (OR TWO, OR THREE)

There are many castles on the Isle of Skye, and near it as well. Dunvegan Castle, pictured above, is definitely the most in-tact castle on the island. We saw it just driving by, but didn’t tour it. There are a few others that are in ruins. Castles always evoke a feeling of magic for me. Especially these more traditional-looking stone castles. I picture knights, merlin and more! On our way to the Isle of Skye, we did stop at Eilean Donan Castle and it’s such a stunner! (See our photo below).

CHECK OUT KILT ROCK…

Near Loch Mealt, you’ll find a pullout with an overlook at the edge of the cliff. Here, you’ll find the rock formation called Kilt Rock. This small section of the cliffside is made up partially of basalt columns that give the look of a pleated kilt. Then, you add the different colors of the rocks and the mosses that are growing and it sort-of looks like plaid as well. It’s a quick pop-over spot to check out on an Isle of Skye road trip!

… WHILE YOU’RE THERE, DON’T MISS MEALT FALLS

At that same viewpoint, be sure not to overlook Mealt Falls – which can be easy to do. The photo on the left is ours. We were there during a drought and  there was only a trickle. The photo on the right is wht you can potentially see when there has been more rainfall! Very beautiful, isn’t it? Yes, that’s kilt rock in the background too!

ENJOY ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC ROAD TRIPS YOU CAN IMAGINE

I don’t think I can rave enough about the splendor of this place. Truly one of the best things to do in Isle of Skye is to just drive around the island. There are so many gorgeous overlooks, pullouts and quaint towns to stop in. We found ourselves pulling over over and over to snap a photo, breathe the fresh air or feel the wind. There are fields of wild flowers, mountain views and coastlines for days.

DRINK SCOTCH FROM THE SOURCE

When you’re in Scotland you have to try Scotch at least once. There are distilleries sprinkled all over the country, and that includes Isle of Skye. Torabhaig is the top rated on google, but there are more to choose from: Talisker, Isle of Skye Distillers,  Lost Corry Distillery, etc. You can try Scotches in many shops and restaurants, but a distillery is a great way to get to know the different flavors in one sitting.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND

⋙ RENT A CAR – There are some destinations that you can just totally rock public transportation. Isle of Skye isn’t one of those destinations if you want to be able to make the most of your time and if you’re wanting to do some hikes. Don’t forget that they drive on the left. I know that seems like a duh-type statement, but it can be easy to forget. Also, there are multiple one-lane roads across this island. There are pull-outs that you can yield to oncoming traffic and be sure to pull over for local traffic who are used to those twists & turns. Just know, passing may also mean backing up into one of those pull-outs.

⋙ BE PREPARED FOR ANY KIND OF WEATHER – This is true of Scotland in general, but it is just amplified when you get on an island. The wind on the Isle of Skye whips like none-other, especially when you start hiking up in the hills/mountains. Also, don’t forget your rain gear – especially a rain jacket.
⋙ STOCK UP ON SNACKS AND SUPPLIES IN TOWN – Whether you’re needing gas or snacks or whatever, don’t forget to stock up while you’re in one of the towns. These supplies are not only going to be much more plentiful here, but they’re going to be less expensive as well.
⋙ BOOK EARLY IF TRAVELING DURING PEAK SEASON – Because the Isle of Skye is only so big, be sure to book your accommodation early if you’re traveling in the summer.
⋙ LOOK INTO TRAVELER’S INSURANCE – If you’re like us, you’re going to be hiking, walking or any number of other activities that might lead to an accident. We use World Nomads. Check out their travel insurance policies to see if they’re a good fit for you!

There are so many amazing things to do in Isle of Skye. Hopefully this post has helped you plan your trip there or inspired you to book a trip there! It’s a very convenient island to get to and you won’t be disappointed!

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