Everybody who visits the Isle of Skye has seen the magnificent Loch Ainort. Yet it is not on any of the list of things to do in Skye. Today I am correcting this mistake and showing you why you should stop by its shore around the town of Luib.
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Loch Ainort - Video
Let's start with a short video of driving around Loch Ainort:
INFO & PLANNING TIPS - Loch Ainort
You cannot miss Loch Ainort. The main road (and only road) going from the Skye Bridge to Portree goes around it. It is a magnificent place surrounded by the Red Cuillin Mountains. Yet not many people stop to admire the place and even less talk about it.
Personally this was the very first location on the Isle of Skye that made me say WOW (before the Old man of Storr, Quiraing Skye, Fairy Glen Skye, Loch Coruisk etc etc... Skye is beautiful!).
TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS
Getting to Loch Ainort
- On A87 , on the way to Portree
- 30 min drive from Portree, 25 min drive from the Skye Bridge
On the map below you can see where Loch Ainort is located on the road between Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree
The GPS coordinates and location on a practical map are available on both Travel Guide eBooks: The Road Trip Guide Scotland and The Road Trip Guide: Edinburgh to Skye
Visiting Loch Ainort
- Just stop and enjoy the view, don't be in a hurry to reach Portree!
- The town is Luib where there are a few accommodations if you want to enjoy the quiet of Loch Ainort at sunset and sunrise
- A few walks start in the area, especially the Garbh Bheinn (808m) and Belig or Marsco from Loch Ainort
- From Loch Ainort and on the way to Sligachan you can also admire Clamaig that culminates at 775m
If you want to have a look on Google map:
Loch Ainort before Luib
When driving up to Portree you first stay along the coast with views of the Isle of Scalpay. But a turn inland will display the Red Cuillin towering around Loch Ainort.
This is a seawater loch more in length that in width which makes it more appealing.
Luib
Luib is the town on the South shore of Loch Ainort. It is very small, but a great place to stay if you want to get away from the biggest towns but remain in a practical location.
Booking has one accommodation in Luib and Airbnb has 5.
Loch Ainort head
After Luib, the rest of the drive is even more impressive, as you get to discover the details in the mountains and drive right next to the water.
I could not take my eyes off those hills with the changes in colors ad all the lines flowing down. I find them mesmerizing. And the intense blue of Loch Ainort adds to the intensity of the place.
End of Loch Ainort
At the end of Loch Ainort there is a small waterfall. From there you get inland between to hills towards Loch Sligochan.
Clamaig - On the way to Sligachan
As the roads gets away from Loch Ainort, the hills of the red Cuillins surround Clamaig remain mesmerizing all the way to Loch Sligachan. (Sligachan is where you start the walk through the Cuillin mountains to Elgol and Loch Coruisk)
I love conic mountains such as Buachaille Etive Mor and Clamming is one of those.
Want to see more of SCOTLAND?
Discover more things to do & places to see in my Travel Scotland Destination Guide.
What do you think? Worth a stop?
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