Exciting 3 Day Isle of Skye Itinerary

A Magical Isle of Skye Itinerary 

Truthfully, we went to the Scottish Highlands with the aim to see the stunning island and the desire to bring to life the ultimate Isle of Skye itinerary.  We soon realised that there is so much to see and do and it began to feel overwhelming. 

How long should we spend there? What should we do? Where can we hike?

These are some of the questions we asked each other as we began to plan this epic road trip ‘staycation’. We ended up falling in love with the scenery and continued our stay in the West of Scotland. We couldn’t help ourselves. Scotland is so beautiful and Skye is certainly worth the effort to get there! It is one of the best places to visit in the UK in 2023 (despite being quite touristy). 

Where is Skye?

Skye is on the West Coast of Scotland in the UK. It is the largest and most northerly of the Inner Hebrides islands of Scotland. 

Why should you visit the Isle of Skye?

Firstly, the Isle of Skye has been on our bucket list for a while, so when we checked the weather forecast and saw that there was going to be not one but four days of sun in a row, we knew we had to pack the camping stuff in the car and set off on the long drive from Yorkshire.

Most of the planning for our Isle of Skye itinerary was done from the passenger seat of the car and by stopping and discovering as we drove. 

We were attracted to the island by the remote, rural rolling hills and the dramatic cliffs that it showcases. We are also keen hikers and enjoy the outdoors, so Skye felt like a no brainer. The island is full of different types of walks to enjoy but some are more accessible than others. Therefore, if mobility or fitness is a worry then you may want to skip some of the longer, challenging walks. 

However, what’s great about Skye is that a lot of the attractions you can see from the road or you can see just a short walk from the car park.  The whole island is stunning and one of our favourite experiences was seeing not one, but two golden eagles. We couldn’t believe our luck – so keep your eyes on the skies on your Isle of Skye itinerary adventure!

Can you drive to the Isle of Skye? How to get there:

The Isle of Skye is located on the West Coast of Scotland and is about a 5 hour drive from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. It’s 50 miles long and 25 miles wide and out of all the Scottish islands, Skye is the most accessible.

You have two options; you can catch the ferry from Mallaig or get the free Skye bridge further north at Kyle of Lochalsh.

We opted for the latter, as we travelled during peak season, at last minute (August), so all of the ferries were booked up for the duration of our stay. If you are wanting to get the 45-minute ferry you can book on the Calmac website. 

If you get the ferry, you can stop off at the Glennfinian Viaduct viewpoint to see the Harry Potter train glide over the impressive viaduct. 

We actually did not mind, as we got to stop off at Dornie on the way and see the incredible 13^th century Eilean Donan Castle. It is the most photographed castle in Scotland and it’s easy to see why due to its stunning location. Therefore, this could be the first thing on your Isle of Skye itinerary – although it’s not technically on the island!

What is the best time to visit Isle of Skye?

The peak season is July and August with the recommended month to visit being October, due to lower rainfall and fewer midges. However, one perk of visiting in August was that we did have very long daylight hours; this meant we could see a lot and although tiring – it’s worth it.

Also, many major attractions are not open in the off-season, but if you’re there to hike and be outdoors it won’t matter but it will be very cold in the winter months. 

Keep in mind, you’ll likely find microclimates on Skye. On one side of the island we had the midst, fog and low clouds and then when we drove to the other side it was blue, clear skies. The weather changes a lot! 

It’s a good idea to bear this in mind when you are doing outdoor activities. We set off for one hike and it gradually became miserable as we did not have good visibility. 

How big is Skye?

The Isle of Skye is roughly 50-miles (80km) long and 1,656km. You can actually drive around the island for half a day without stopping (we wouldn’t reccomend that).  The population in 2022 was 13,143!

Best way to get around the Isle of Skye:

Although there is some public transport, it is recommended that you drive to get to all the must see places on this Isle of Skye Itinerary.  Remember the roads are sealed but narrow and sometimes they are single-lane.

Keep this in mind when you are factoring in journey times, as a rule we usually add 10 minutes on the suggested time to be safe. If you use the passing places and are respectful of other drivers, you won’t have any issues!

Don’t stop to take photos in those places, it’s tempting but you aren’t the only ones looking for that perfect shot!

As previously discussed the scenery is mind-blowing, so expect a lot of stops, especially if you love taking pictures. Also, we ran into many sheep and cows on the road, so make sure you’re not driving too fast – they come out of nowhere!

Another important thing to remember is that you have to pay for parking at most major sites, usually this was £3 per car for a set number of hours (usually 3) or for example at the Fairy Pools charged £5 per car. You can use card in most machines though!  You can also pay via Ring Go on your phone, but just be wary about phone signal – it might be a good idea to download the app before you go.

The exception was Coral Beach and Fairy Glen where parking is free but it can get very busy. We actually had to wait for a parking space at Coral Beach and we saw others turn around and leave because they could not get one. The car park at Coral Beach is so limited that we suggest going very early to secure a spot. 

Where to stay on the Isle of Skye Itinerary:

There are a number of accommodation options on the Isle of Skye. Although, it’s important to know that most people stay in or near Portree because it’s a large town and it is located perfectly to do the ‘loops’. There are B&Bs, campsites, glamping, hotels and some self-catering options, including Airbnb.

Our best advice if you are heading in the peak months, is to book in advance. However, as our trip was last minute, we did not have this option. Therefore we decided to embrace the outdoors and try ‘wild-camping’. Scotland is the only country in the UK that allows wild camping, due to the Land Reform Act of 2003.

Being an outdoorsy pair, we decided that this option was for us and we drove around in the evenings to find the spots we liked – usually close to where we wanted to be in the morning. This was an experience in itself. We followed the rules and had no problems, in fact the secluded nature romanticised our experience on our Isle of Skye itinerary. 

How long should you spend on the Isle of Skye?

This question gets asked a lot and in all honesty it really depends on how much time you have, the weather and your personal interests. Personally, we spent 3 days and 2 nights on the island and we enjoyed ourselves and felt like we saw everything we wanted to.

However, we know that some people spend much longer, whilst others do a day trip. If you only have one day on Skye, although your trip might feel rushed, you will still be able to experience some of the main attractions. We appreciate not everyone has the luxury of time and for Skye, time and a bit of luck with the weather is what you need. 

The Isle of Skye Itinerary

We cannot emphasise enough, just how many incredible things you can do, which is why this Isle of Skye itinerary aims to showcase the best of the best, with a range of activities to suit everyone.

Pick and choose, depending on the weather and how active you fancy being. We felt exhausted with a hint of achievement after all of this! So, what are you waiting for? Grab your camera, raincoat, hiking shoes and don’t forget to download your maps for when the signal disappears. 

Isle of Skye Itinerary Day One – The North Loop

The first day on our Isle of Skye itinerary includes the most popular sights on the island and is jam-packed, purposely for those people who do not have a lot of time. Therefore, if you can spend longer, we’d recommend splitting this day into two days. 

Don’t worry you only have one day though, you’ll just sleep really well after all of this! It’s worth noting that a lot of these activities are roadside and can be done very quickly, unless you want to be more relaxed of course! You will drive the Trotternish Ridge and it is just beautiful.

1. Portree

Start your Isle of Skye itinerary in the capital of Skye, by grabbing a ‘wee‘ a coffee from ‘An Talla Mor Eighteen Twenty’, which used to be an old parish church. Then take your time to explore the pretty streets and the iconic harbour. Don’t forget to take the famous picture of the colourful buildings. There are two places you can do this, from the right side of the beach or from above looking down. We did both. 

We also went to the local Coop in town to get all the essential snacks for our road trip!

 

2. Bride’s Veil Waterfall

This cascade is worth the stop on Trotternish road on the way from Portree to Storr. The path to reach it is short and you can park in the layby close by. Worth a quick photo stop!

3. Old Man of Storr

Allow at least 2 hours for this iconic hike up the hill to the Old Man of Storr. However, if you don’t fancy hiking, you can spot this rock formation from the road. We heard a tip that said if you can’t see the rocks from the road, then you probably won’t be able to see anything when you’re up there.

The Old Man of Storr is said to have been a giant who loved on the Trotternish Ridge and the rocks you can see are his thumb, when he was laid to rest. Can you see it?

We’re not sure how true this is, but we didn’t take any chances, so when we first cast our eyes on the impressive rock formation, we headed straight up and spent a while taking photos from different angles. This is also a popular sunrise/sunset spot and some people wild camp here!

There is a toilet here, but there is a charge of 50p! Parking is £3 for 3 hours, which is all the time you will need.

Tip: wear your midge repellent, as on the journey down we were surrounded!

 

4. Lealt Falls

These falls look good in rain and shine. You don’t need long here, but with an excellent viewing platform and a free car park, it’s definitely worth getting your camera ready.

This makes it a very accessible spot as it’s on the main road, yet shows just how breath-taking Skye really is. If you’re lucky to visit after rainfall, you’re in for an impressive sight. You can walk down to the lower falls which will take you around 30-minutes!

 

5. Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls Viewpoint

A unique stop because it’s not very often you can see a large waterfall cascade down into the ocean. You only have to look at the pictures to feel the true scale of these Kilt Rock falls.  What’s interesting about this spot is that the 90m cliffs are argued to represent a kilt due to the colours of the rock representing tartan. Can you see it?

 

6. Staffin Bay

Of course, we love beaches and Staffin is a great place to experience the true rugged coastline of Scotland. If you visit at low tide, you can see visible fossilised dinosaur footprints. What a history. Also this was another spot used by campervans and wild campers to sleep. Amazing!

7. Quiraing

Known as one of the most beautiful places in the UK, another popular hike is the Quiraing. It’s an enchanting setting that was used in many movies (the BFG, Macbeth and Stardust) and it’s easy to see why and the mountain range commands the north of the Trotterish Peninsula.

There is a pay and display car park and the loop hike (4.3 miles) takes around 3 hours to complete.

Another popular place for sunrise and sunset, to see the iconic ‘Needle’ which is a 37m rock. Unfortunately for us, we went at the wrong time; we set off with good weather and ended up traversing through the cloud.  Be mindful of this and don’t panic and follow the path. Maybe you’ll have more luck?

If you don’t fancy the full hike, you can see some of the incredible beauty of this place just a short walk from the car park. We passed people who had wild camped here too.

 

 

8. Falls of Rha

Just a short muddy path from the roadside, you’ll find this dreamy cascade. There isn’t much parking but if you head left from the A855 you’ll soon see a signpost for Rha Woods on your right. We love that even in peak season we had it all to ourselves. We put this down to how it’s a little out of the way, not because it’s not as beautiful as the other falls. 

Tip:  Stop at Uig Tower, which is nearby and take some pictures overlooking the ocean.

 

9. The Fairy Glen

You feel out of this world at this spot. It consists of small rolling hills, which means that if you are not a hiker, but love the outdoors this spot is for you.  In most of the pictures we saw, you can see little stones in a spiral, however there is now a sign that says you must not do this because it harms the local wildlife.  Be aware of this and don’t upset the fairies – or the locals!

 

Isle of Skye Itinerary Day Two – The West Loop

1. Coral Beach

Start your second day on your Isle of Skye itinerary at Coral Beach. Be mindful that the car park here can get VERY busy and from there you still have to walk a mile to the beach which will take around 25-40 minutes.

However, it is SO worth it. We weren’t expecting to go into the ocean on this trip. That’s right, we went in the water and you guessed it, it was freezing.  But the water is so clear and tranquil, the beach is full of coral flakes and there is a hill to get a bird’s eye view of the beach. Need we say more? 

Remember parking is limited and at the end of a single-lane road, so arrive early to beat the crowds. 

 

2. Dunvegan Castle

This impressive 13^th century Dunvegan castle was home to the same family for over 800 years. Of course there are many castles in Scotland, but if this is your first time visiting one then it’s a beautiful one to admire and learn about its rich history due to its picturesque setting.  

If you love museums and castles, you could also check out Armadale Castle, Gardens and Museum for more! 

3. Neist Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse sits on the edge of a cliff and is probably the best spot for sunset due to its westerly location. This has led it to be one of the most iconic places to visit on an Isle of Skye itinerary. 

You can walk down the steps from the car park, or join the budding photographers to feel on top of the world and get that perfect shot. It will take around 40-minutes to walk to the car park from the lighthouse. You might be able to see some incredible wildflife here too.

4. Talisker Distillery

The oldest distillery on Skye is in the town of Carbost on the shores of Loch Harport.  The Talisker Distillery offer tours and get busy very fast, so plan ahead. The tour lasts about 45-minutes and there are different opening times 

Luckily they have a bar where you can taste the whiskey yourself. After all, you have to try it at least once! It is a must on your Isle of Skye itinerary.

Isle of Skye Itinerary Day Three – Final Fun

1. Fairy Pools

Walk into your own fairy tale as you step towards the Fairy Pools on the final day of your Isle of Skye itinerary. This is by far the most visited place on Skye so prepare yourself for some crowds. However, we visited on a hot day and we were lucky enough to actually swim in the pools and get closer to the magic. You can also have the pools to yourself if you are prepared to walk a little bit further away from the main pools to the smaller ones. 

If you’re not one for the cold water, then the walk itself is glorious. It is worth knowing that there is a part of the walk that crosses the river – but someone has kindly created some stepping-stones to help you get across.

Our favourite part though, was the stunning backdrop of this place. The freedom of climbing over the rocks with the Black Cuillin Mountain Range in the distance is simply magical. Go and chase those waterfalls.

There is car parking and toilet facilities here and you will need midge repellent if you visit during the summer months when they are out in full force.

 

2. Elgol

Elgol is a little out the way, and some people miss it all together. However, we enjoyed walking around and wild camped nearby, as there are free public toilets here. Perfect area for wild camping!  

From here you can opt to take a boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk and the Black Cuillins (if you have more time). The loch is hard to reach if you don’t take the boat, so if it’s on your Isle of Skye Itinerary bucket list, then this is your best option. 

3. Spar Cave

A visit here is not for the faint hearted as it sometimes does require traversing on the rock edge. An important thing to remember is to visit this spectacular cave at low tide. A local actually stopped us to make sure we knew to check the tides, as he didn’t want us to get stuck inside. Check the times here and make sure you visit an hour either side of the low tide time. If you want to go inside, bring a head torch to explore!

Furthermore, the locals ask that people park their cars outside the gate before you enter the village as there is no parking available once inside. To find the cave, we used Maps.me and followed the trail down through the hill and followed the map.

Have we inspired you? Luckily this Isle of Skye Itinerary lived up to our expectations on how enchanting the island was.  Our dream of visiting unexpectedly came true. Next time, we will explore some of the lesser known islands. Watch this space! It’s now over to you to visit the Isle of Skye!

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