Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
Skye (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach), Hebrides, Scotland
The Isle of Skye (or simply Skye) is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides ahead of its neighbor Mull to the south.
Skye is also the third most popular tourist destination in the whole of Scotland after the capital Edinburgh and Loch Ness.
The main attraction is the breath-taking island scenery, a stunning natural landscape which entices walkers, climbers and sea-kayakers.
Skye also draws visitors to its whisky distilleries. There are two on Skye and one on the neighbouring island of Raasay.
Like Mull and all of the Hebrides, Skye can be wet and visitors should come prepared for the weather - waterproofs are a good idea in any season!
Skye is now a centre of Gaelic culture and language and students now come to study both disciplines at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, just north of Armadale.
Skye is easily reached by the Skye Bridge from the Scottish mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh or by car ferry from Mallaig, further to the south.
Attractions
Skye is the second largest Scottish island with a population of just over 10,000 though this swells during the summer months and the arrival of 1000s of holidaymakers.
The population was once much larger, like most of the Scottish islands, but began to decline in the mid-19th century due to land clearances by landowners for sheep grazing.
When the weather is fine the dramatic coastline and mountainous parts of the interior have some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain.
Dunvegan Castle
The seat of the MacLeod clan, Dunvegan Castle dates from the 13th century though it was completely remodelled in the 19th in Scottish baronial style.
The castle stands on the shore of Loch Dunvegan, a sea loch. Inside visitors can see various ancient heirlooms of the MacLeods including the Dunvegan Cup, the Fairy Flag, and Sir Rory Mor's Horn.
The Fairy Fag is a silk cloth of unknown provenance with associations of magic and Celtic myths. Sir Rory Mor's Horn is a drinking horn that would be filled with wine and drained in a single shot as a sign of manhood by the leaders of the clan.
Also on display are a lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair and his waistcoat - gifts from Flora MacDonald's granddaughter.
The ornamental gardens are a further delight with wonderful views of the loch on a clear day.
The castle is oldest continuously inhabited castle by the same family in Scotland with over 800 years of history. The stone bridge to the castle was built in 1814 by the 24th clan chief.
There are fun boat trips from the castle to get up close to the sea colony in the loch as well as other fishing trips and cruises.
There is a daily bus to the castle from Portree.
Other Castles on Skye
Other castles on Skye are the ruins of Caisteal Uisdean (Hugh's Castle) built by Hugh MacDonald in the 16th century and Caisteal Maol, also ruined, near the Skye Bridge harbour of the village of Kyleakin. Caisteal Maol was the seat of the Mackinnon clan and commanded the narrow strait to the mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh.
Hugh MacDonald met a grisly end after a plot to murder his uncle (whom he blamed for the death of his own father). He was fed salted beef in the dungeon at Duntulm Castle (also now ruined on the north coast of Trotternish) but no water until he died of dehydration and madness, so the story goes. His ghost still haunts the stony ruins according to legend.
South of Duntulm Castle is the Skye Museum of Island Life with a collection of traditional Skye thatched, stone cottages and other structures. There is a croft house, a smithy, a barn and a Ceilidh house where songs were sung during the long winter evenings. (skyemuseum.co.uk)
Cuillin Hills
The Cuillin Hills (meaning "keel-shaped" in Norse) are some of the most beautiful mountains in Britain. Though not particularly high, Sgùrr Alasdair is the highest peak on Skye at 3,257 feet (993 meters), they have a wonderful, mystical beauty.
Glenbrittle is the nearest settlement to the hills and there are plenty of walks in the area, though the peaks themselves are reserved for experienced climbers only.
Highlights in this area of Skye are Loch Coruisk which was painted by Turner and also features in Walter Scott's Lord of the Isles and the Fairy Pools, a spectacular, shallow waterfall on the River Brittle.
Visitors can also access the area from Sligachan to the north.
The Sligachan Hotel makes for a good base for further exploration. There is a micro-brewery and a whisky bar after a hard day of hiking plus a small museum, restaurant and children's play area.
Armadale & Sleat
The car ferry from Mallaig arrives in the small settlement of Armadale. There's a Post Office, where you can change money, a store to stock up on essentials if you are self-catering or camping, a petrol station along with a smattering of arts and craft shops and galleries.
Head south to Sleat (pronounced "slate") for more superb scenery. On the way is the ruined Armadale Castle (Caisteal Armadail) and its adjacent Museum of the Isles and pretty gardens. On display at the museum are photographs of the clan Donald, Scotland's largest clan, and a wine glass once used by Bonnie Prince Charlie when a fugitive on Skye from the English after the Battle of Culloden.
You can also stay here in six self-catering lodges with children's play area and a sun terrace. You can book rooms here.
Another recommended place to stay is Kinloch Lodge, a former 17th-century hunting lodge on the shores of Loch Na Dal with a superb restaurant.
Portree
Portree from "King's Harbour" in Gaelic (Port Righ) is the largest town on Skye and offers the widest range of accommodation.
There is a Youth Hostel, many B&Bs and several larger hotels. The brightly-painted harbour front is also close to a number of cafes, bars and restaurants.
From central Somerled Square there are buses to Armadale, Broadford and Dunvegan Castle. A circular bus also leaves from here around the Trotternish Peninsula with stops at Flodigarry, Kilmuir and Uig.
Trotternish
The Trotternish Peninsula, north of Portree, has yet more magical scenery including The Old Man of Storr, a 50-meter-tall pinnacle first climbed in 1953.
Up in the north of the peninsula near Staffin Bay is the Quiriang escarpment. There are many guesthouses, B&Bs and cottages nearby on the bay if you wish to stay in this peaceful place.
The Staffin Dinosaur Museum has a collection of dinosaur fossils found on Skye and offers tours to see the Staffin dinosaur footprints.
Raasay
Raasay ("Isle of the Roe Deer"), a small island with a population of less than 200, off the western coast of Skye, was the birthplace of Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean (1911-1996). An advocate of Gaelic language education MacLean became famous as the "saviour of Scottish Gaelic poetry" especially after his poem Hallaig became known to a wider audience in translation.
There's a distillery here the Isle of Raasay Distillery - located close to the island's hundred-year-old pier - which offers stunning views back towards the Cuillin mountains of Skye. The distillery also offers accommodation for adults only.
While the Isle of Raasay Distillery only opened in September 2017, it began producing whisky elsewhere beforehand. Visitors can sample the lightly peated While You Wait single malt on tours of the property. The water used in production comes from an Celtic Iron Age well.
Frequent ferries from Skye leave for Raasay from Sconser.
Skye itself has two whisky distilleries, Talisker and Torabhaig.
Distilleries on Skye
For whisky enthusiasts, no visit to the Isle of Skye would be complete without a pilgrimage to the Talisker distillery. Dating back to 1830, its copper stills boast a stunning location on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost, on the beautiful Minginish Peninsula.
The Torabhaig distillery is based in a 200 year-old farmstead with fantastic panoramas over dilapidated Knock Castle - the individual stones of which were transported by horse and cart.
The Isle of Skye Distillery in Portree produces a fine range of gin.
Accommodation on Skye
Skye has a selection of hotels as well as other types of accommodation. Portree with its views of Raasay and the Cuillin Mountain range has the largest concentration of accommodation on Skye.
Some recommended places to stay on Skye include the Cuillin Hills Hotel in Portree with the Antlers Bar and Grill restaurant and central location, the Portree Hotel on Somerled Square with restaurant and the Dalriada B&B. The property offers a flat-screen TV, and a garden to relax.
Also in Portree is Dalzie an apartment with garden and the Heatherfield House B&B close to the sea with a terrace with superb views.
On Raasay the recommended Raasay House offers stunning views from accommodation in a Georgian mansion with lovely landscaped lawns.
See a listing of accommodation options on Skye.
Mallaig on the mainland has several hotels as well as numerous guesthouses, Bed & Breakfast places, and a lot of self-catering accommodations.
Some recommended places to stay include The Marine with shared lounge, free WiFi and a bar, the Steam Inn with bar, garden and restaurant and the more upmarket, three-star West Highland Hotel.
See a listing of accommodation options in and around Mallaig.
Access - Getting There
Skye Bridge
The Skye Bridge was opened to traffic in 1995 and connects the Isle of Skye with the mainland of Scotland at Kyle of Lochalsh where the channel between the two places is only a few hundred meters wide.
The bridge carries the A87 with intercity buses connecting Portree on Skye with Inverness and Fort William. These buses also stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle nearby.
Kyle of Lochalsh is the terminal of the Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Line which connects to Inverness Station in Inverness.
The bridge is the main access point for travelers to Skye, though many still prefer to cross on the Mallaig Ferry from Mallaig as this is a shorter distance from points south such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Ferries To Skye
Car ferries operate out of Mallaig connecting to the smaller islands of South Uist, Canna, Rum, Eigg, and Muck as well as a small ferry to the very remote village of Inverie on the Knoydart Peninsula on the mainland.
Ferries
calmac.co.uk - Ferries from Mallaig to Armadale, Canna, Eigg, Muck and Rum.
knoydartferry.com - Ferries from Mallaig to Inverie in Knoydart.
arisaig.co.uk - Ferries from Arisaig to Eigg, Muck and Rum in the summer.
The most frequent car ferry however is across to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. There are four crossings each way on most days and the journey takes between 30 to 40 minutes depending on tide and weather conditions.
Car
Mallaig is 42 miles west of Fort William and 135 miles north of Glasgow. It is about an hour's drive on the A380 via Glenfinnan, along the northern shore of Loch Eilt and then through Lochailort, Arisaig and Morar.
Train & Bus
Trains from Fort William take around 1 hour and 20 minutes leaving from Platform 2 in Fort William.
There are also coaches from Glasgow to Fort William with onward connections to Mallaig.
Getting Around
Renting a car is a good idea for getting around this part of Scotland. There is also cycle hire available at various places on the island.
Scotland Related
Hermaness National Nature Reserve
Map of Skye
Hotels in Scotland
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