Skye is Scotland’s most famous island, and it’s not hard to see why. Its landscapes range from spectacular to other worldly, leaving visitors constantly amazed. It certainly makes the list of my favourite places I’ve ever visited. Moreover, its proximity to the mainland and convenient bridge make it relatively easy to get to. If you are thinking of travelling to this stunning island, check out this post for the best places to visit on the Isle of Skye.
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Old Man of Storr
Easily Skye’s most recognisable landmark, the Old Man of Storr is a truly stunning location. It’s a collection of dark rock formations in the shape of pointed pinnacles that stick out of a scenic hill. It was formed by a landslip on the side of the Storr mountain. A legend, however, says that the Old Man of Storr is the hand of a giant that lived there in ancient times. When he died, his fingers were left above the ground and later became rocks, forming the natural spectacle admired by visitors today.
It’s worth visiting in any weather: on a clear day the rock pinnacles can be seen more clearly, as well as the spectacular view down to the sea and loch. On a cloudy day it usually gets misty, reducing the visibility but giving the area a truly mystical feel. While it can get crowded due to its popularity, the Old Man of Storr remains one of the best places to visit on Skye.
How to get there
The Old Man of Storr is easy to reach thanks to nearby infrastructure. There is a large car park at the bottom of the hill, with toilets and seasonal cafes in the summer. The car park can also be reached by public transport from Portree, using the 57A bus. Check out this website for the bus timetable and to plan your journey. Any organised tour of Skye will also stop at the Storr, so you will definitely pass by this location regardless of your mode of transport. However, organised tours usually make a quick stop here, so you wouldn’t have time to hike up to the viewpoints or the rocks.
From the car park, the walk to the rock formations is uphill but not too strenuous. It’s just over one mile long and usually takes about 40 minutes. However, for the best view of the pinnacles you need to reach the lookout point higher than the rocks themselves. To get there, continue past the pinnacles on the same path. It’s another 500m, or 0.3 miles, of walking uphill and it will take about 15 minutes.
The Fairy Glen
The Fairy Glen is one of the best and most enchanting places to visit on Skye. It’s a truly unique hillside formed, like other natural attractions on the isle, by a landslip. Its green mounds, rock formations and unusual trees give it a mystical feel, as do the numerous folk legends about this location.
While the Fairy Glen’s unique character is appreciated by visitors of all ages, it’s particularly suitable for families. It’s very accessible and easy to reach, and children love the enchanting landscape and the stories of fairies living there.
How to get there
There is a car park a short walk from the Glen. The drive from Portree takes about 25 minutes and is 15.5 miles long (25 km).
If you prefer public transport, you can take the buses 57C, 915 and 916 from Portree. Check this link to view the bus timetables. It’s important to plan your journey by bus carefully, as the services are not too frequent. Also, the buses will not reach the main car park, so you’ll have a 20-minute walk to the Fairy Glen from the bus stop.
Organised tours from outside the isle don’t usually stop here unfortunately. You would need to travel to Skye independently and join this day tour from Portree, which makes a 30-minute stop at the Fairy Glen.
Neist Point
Neist Point is Skye’s most westerly point, located at the end of a small cape, and offers incredible views of the coastline. The walk down from the car park is truly spectacular and you can admire both the sea to the west and Skye’s dramatic cliffs on the other side. On a clear day, you can even see the Outer Hebrides islands in the distance.
At the bottom of the cape is a lighthouse, which sits on top of a rocky causeway. There are also some rock climbing routes near the lighthouse. For more information on rock climbing at Neist Point, visit this website. You can also explore the rest of the cape, with its dark basalt pavements and dramatic views.
We visited Neist Point at sunset and I would highly recommend you do the same. Not only will it be less crowded, but you will see a spectacular sunset on the sea, and with the colours reflecting on the water and the surrounding cliffs. Bear in mind, though, that the sun sets at around 10pm on Skye in the summer months.
How to get there
Neist Point is quite remote and it’s a 32-mile drive from Portree (51 km). The drive should take just over one hour. Unfortunately there is no public transport, so the only alternatives to driving are taking a taxi or an organised tour. Unfortunately tours from outside the isle don’t usually stop here due to its remote location. However, if you’re already on Skye and you want to visit Neist Point, you can join this day tour from Portree.
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From the car park, there is a well-maintained trail that leads to the bottom of the cape. The walk to the lighthouse is about 0.7 miles (1.1 km). It’s not strenuous but it can get steep at times, so bear in mind that walking back uphill will take significantly longer. The steepest stretches also have stairs, which make walking up and downhill easier and safer.
It’s definitely the most remote location on this list, but it’s still very accessible and the views are truly spectacular. That’s why it remains on the list of the best places to visit on Skye.
Sligachan
From one of the island’s most remote attractions, we move to one of its most central locations: Sligachan. It’s located on Skye’s main road, the A87, and is on route to nearly everywhere on the island. Not only that, but Sligachan is also Skye’s main junction. You can keep on the A87 towards Portree and other locations like the Storr, or turn on the A863 towards the north-west of the island. In summary, you are almost guaranteed to drive by this location when visiting Skye.
Sligachan is perfect for a quick stop. There is a hotel and restaurant to have a meal, and spectacular views. You can walk over the old stone bridge over the river, with the rugged Cuillin mountains in the background.
If you want to spend more time in Sligachan, the area boasts a range of amazing trails for longer walks. You can walk up the river Allt Dearg Mor to reach waterfalls and a remote cottage. If you’re feeling more adventurous and have experience in mountaineering, you can hike the trails that go up the mountains. If you’re looking to summit the Cuillin mountains, Sligachan can be a great base.
How to get there
As previously mentioned, Sligachan lies on Skye’s main road and if you’re driving a car you will almost inevitably drive past it. The drive from Portree is only 9.5 miles (15 km) and takes 15 minutes. From Broadford, Skye’s only other large town located on the south of the island, the drive is 16 miles (26 km) and takes about 20 minutes.
Due to its central location, Sligachan is also linked by public transport. You can take buses from both Portree and Broadford, and both take about 20 minutes. Check this website for all bus timetables to plan your journey.
Organised tours rarely stop at this location, but they will surely drive past it. You would still be able to admire the stunning Cuillin mountains from the vehicle.
The Fairy Pools
Skye’s famous fairy pools are located on the western side of the island, on the Cuillin mountains. As the river flows down from the mountain top, it forms a seemingly endless series of waterfalls and plunge pools. This location is known for its abundance of large pools where people can swim.
Even if you don’t fancy a dip in the icy-cold water, the Fairy Pools are still one of the best places to visit on Skye. The views are simply spectacular and unique, with the incredible backdrop of the rugged mountains.
How to get there
There is a large car park at the beginning or the path. From there, start following the clearly-marked trail and you’ll soon find the River Brittle. The first pools are about half a mile up and the walk should only take between 15 and 20 minutes. If you fancy it, you can continue on the path to see the more remote pools and waterfalls. Most people will stop at the earliest pools, so the further up you go the quieter it will be.
The car park is 20 miles (33 km) from Portree and the drive takes 40 minutes. Broadford is also not far away: the distance is 27 miles (43 km) and the drive takes 45 minutes.
By public transport, the only viable option is the 54 bus from Portree that takes around 40 minutes. It’s not very frequent though, so make sure to check the bus timetable in advance.
If you join an organised tour of Skye, unfortunately your options are limited for the fairy pools. Day trips or multi-day tours from outside the isle don’t usually stop here. However, if you travel to Skye independently, this day tour of the isle will stop at the fairy pools and five you time to explore.
Quiraing
The Quiraing is one of the best places to visit on Skye for outdoors lovers. It’s formed by a landslip on the side of a hill, which is still moving to this day causing the landscape to change constantly.
The landslip has formed incredible rock formations throughout the hillside. Moreover, the Quiraing is located next to the sea, so you are guaranteed spectacular views of the rocks and sea during your hike.
How to get there
There is a large car park at the start of the path. From Portree, it’s a 40-minute drive on a distance of 21 miles (34 km). There is no public transport unfortunately, so you’d need to take a taxi or join an organised tour to reach the Quiraing without a car. This 3-day tour from Edinburgh will stop at the Quiraing, as will this one from Glasgow. If you’re already on the isle, this day tour from Portree will stop at the Quiraing.
From the car park, you can head straight to the path to start your hike. The walk is a loop and it will lead you back to the car park. The walk is not the easiest due to the tricky terrain and 4.3-mile length (7 km). Most people will stop along the way to take pictures, to have a meal or simply to rest. Taking a few stops into account, the walk should take between 2 and a half to 3 hours. Therefore, I would recommend allowing at least half a day to visit the Quiraing and really enjoy your hike in this amazing landscape.
Bonus: Eilean Donan Castle
This castle is not located on Skye, but on the mainland close to the isle. It is however, on the A87, which is the road that most visitors ride to reach the isle. For this reason, most will stop here along the way and consider it one of the best places to visit on a trip to Skye.
Eilean Donan Castle has become one of Scotland’s most famous castles. It originally dates back to the 13th century, but its current form is the result of a more recent restoration. Its main attraction, however, is the stunning natural beauty of its surroundings. The castle is located on an islet on the stunning Loch Duich and is surrounded by calm waters and spectacular mountains.
You can also visit the castle by purchasing a ticket at the visitor centre. There is also a cafe, so you can have a coffee or a meal during your journey. For more information on tickets and opening hours, visit their website.
How to get there
Most people travel to Skye by car and, as previously mentioned, Eilean Donan Castle lies on the main route to the isle. It’s located 71 miles (114 km) from Inverness, which should take 1 hour and 40 minutes. If you’re driving from further south, the drive would be 170 miles (274 km) from Glasgow and 190 miles (305 km) from Edinburgh, both of which take about 4 hours.
By public transport, there are coaches from Inverness that stop at Eilean Donan Castle. The 917 has a direct route that takes about 2 hours to get to the castle. The same service later goes to Skye itself, taking a further 1 hour and 25 minutes to reach Portree. Make sure to plan your journey by bus carefully by consulting the timetable.
In terms of organised tours, most trips that leave from a location outside the isle will stop at Eilean Donan Castle. If you join a tour, you are almost guaranteed to see this beautiful gem.
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