The Isle of Skye is the most magical place with surreal landscapes, exciting hikes and postcard perfect towns. Therefore we want to share our recommendations for 15 things to do on the Isle of Skye.
1. meet some highland cows
We don’t know for sure if these highland cows are always in this field but if you really want to see them it’s worth noting these co-ordinates to see these beautiful creatures – 57.2925690, -6.0895405. If you don’t spot them here keep trying down this road, there are several pull in places! The lovable, furry cows are native to the Scottish Highlands and are very photogenic.
2. Stay somewhere quirky
The Isle of Skye has so many cool homestays you can choose from. We highly recommend the Harlosh Pods which are extremely cosy and the luxury Ardcana cabins. Ardcana (photographed below) has 2 magical cabins with stunning views and cosy rustic interior. Read our full review here. We would recommend booking as far in advance as possible as Skye accommodation sells out really quickly. Alternative accommodations we would recommend are the Toravaig House Hotel and the Sligachan Hotel.
3. Visit the magical fairy pools
The Fairy Pools of Skye are a series of natural rock pools of crystal clear water fed by a number of waterfalls from the Cuillin Mountains. Many of the pools appear green in colour and during the warmer months you can go swimming in them. The first waterfall is around a 20 minute walk from the car park which costs £5. The full walk will take around 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hrs depending on how many times you stop for photos.
4. Hike The Storr
The Storr really is the most otherworldly place and is a must do for the Isle of Skye. It is also a relatively easy hike for people who have no experience. The hike takes around 2 hours in total, taking around 45 minutes each way.
5. Eat in a glass house in portree
The Antler Bar and Grill at the Portree Hotel is offering a quirky solution to social distancing measures with its glass house dining. Each glass house is kitted out with a heater, fan, lamp and speaker, how cool is that! We highly recommend the fish and chips, it’s delicious!
6. check out the Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint
If you plan to drive the A855 coastal route you should make a quick stop at the Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint. The “Kilt Rock” is the rock formation in the distance below and is said to resemble a Kilt. Kilts are traditional Scottish menswear attire. The ridges on the rocks are the pleats of the Kilt and the moss/grass are the Tartan pattern. Wether or not it actually resembles that at all is debatable, but the view is stunning nonetheless with the Mealt Falls waterfall in the foreground. We would highly recommend stopping here to take in the views. It’s often not too busy and will only take 10 minutes of your time.
7. explore The Fairy Glen
The Fairy Glen is the most surreal and enchanting place which will make you feel like you are in a fairytale. The area has small cone-shaped grassy hills spotted with ponds, rocks and sheep. When you arrive here it feels as though you’re looking at everything through a tilt-shift camera lens, it’s bizarre how everything appears miniature. The particular spot below is the Fairy Castle of the Glen, you can definitely imagine fairies living there. We would recommend you arrive here as early as possible as parking is really limited and it gets really crowded. You may also want to pack some wellies as the paths get really muddy in rainy weather.
8. Eat dinner at the old school
No trip to Skye would be complete without sampling the many amazing local eateries. The Old School restaurant is located literally in an old school, hence the name, and they still have the original wooden gym hall flooring in the dining area. The interior is warm, inviting and very traditionally Scottish. We highly recommend trying the Scottish Sirloin steak served with tomato, mushroom, onion garni with Black pepper and brandy sauce. The Sticky Toffee pudding is also one of the best we’ve ever had! If you are a fan of ginger beer try the John Crabbie’s Raspberry ginger beer which we are still dreaming about. We’d recommend booking any restaurants you plan to eat in Skye beforehand as they do get fully booked.
9. Visit the isle of skye candle company
Visit this beautiful little shop and choose yourself a little souvenir to take home. Or perhaps a gift for a loved one. We choose the Raspberry and White Ginger travel container and it smells incredible. The store is located in Broadford next to it’s workshop. The candles are hand poured here and sent to their other 5 stores in Scotland.
10. Drive to the Quiraing Pass
If you don’t have time to hike the Quiraing or hiking just isn’t your thing, you can get amazing views of the incredible landscape by driving to the Quirang Pass. Set your sat nav to the Quiraing car park to drive this scenic road off the A855. Please note, this is a single track road which is very windy and steep at parts!
11. Taste a whisky flight at Sligachan hotel
One of the first things people think of when they think of Scotland is of course whisky. If you aren’t too fussed by it but would like some sort of experience then this is perfect. Seumas’ bar located at the Sligachan Hotel is a quirky barn style whisky bar with a modern yet cosy vibe. They serve 4 different whisky flights and we choose the ‘islands’ one as it included a sample of Talisker whisky which is made on the Isle of Skye. It’s safe to say whisky is not for everyone, us included, but its a very fun experience which we would highly recommend.
Tip: order some water to drink in between drinks!
12. Explore Portree
Portree is the largest town and the capital of the Isle of Skye. The town is full of fantastic eateries, cafes and quirky stores. Don’t miss the colourful, picturesque harbour and whilst you are there get a fish supper from The Harbour Fish & Chip Shop. It’s a must try for anyone visiting Scotland for the first time and don’t forget a can of Irn Bru!
13. ENJOY A COFFEE BREAK
Caora Dhubh in Carbost and Birch in Portree are two modern coffee shops on the island with delicious coffee. They are perfect for a quick stop between adventures.
14. Check out eilean donan castle
Before you cross the bridge or take the ferry to Skye you have to visit the stunning Eilean Donan Castle. If you don’t have time to explore the actual castle and are looking for a photo spot, check out these coordinates 57.2778125, -5.5197726
15. visit Manuela's wee bakery
Again before you head over to Skye check out the adorable Manuela’s Wee Bakery in Ardelve. It is like something from a fairytale! We would recommend their delicious rocky road and also don’t miss their quirky whisky and gin distillery.
Tips:
- For tips on driving in Scotland check out our driving tips post
- You will struggle to get phone signal in Skye outwith the bigger towns, so make sure you have maps/routes organised before visiting
- Make sure to stick to the speed limit as police are regularly on force with radar guns
- The Co-op Petrol station in Skye (Broadford) is the cheapest place to get fuel
- The weather can be so unpredictable and extremely windy and wet so come prepared.
- Depending on when you visit the highland midges can be out on force and we highly recommend you bring a repellent. We use smidge!
We hope you enjoyed reading our recommendations on things to do in Skye. If you are visiting Scotland, check out more inspiration here..
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