20 Things to do on Skye Island (Scotland) – Map + tips + photos

The Isle of Skye in Scotland is one of the most beautiful areas in the UK with dramatic landscapes surrounded by water.
So much to do... what should you not miss? 
Let me help you plan your itinerary and make the most of your time with:

• the best things to on Skye Island,
• photos, and video,
• Isle of Skye Map.

Best things to do on the Isle of Skye - Map + Video

The beauty of the Isle of Skye - Virtual Tour

The Skye Island is huge. There are so many things to do on Skye...
Below is a short video of some of the amazing landscapes you could admire while visiting the Isle of Skye: the black Cuillin mountains, the lochs, the ridges...  - get a virtual tour!

Do you understand why it made it to my list of Best Scotland Destinations?

Planning a trip to Scotland? The full map of the Isle of Skye with identification of all places to see and maps of other regions with GPS coordinates of all those locations are available on the ZigZag On Earth Travel Guide eBooks:

About the accommodations in Skye

Where to stay on the Isle of Skye

Suggestions of Accommodations on Skye -  Hotels & more:

• WHERE I STAYED - I stayed in Portree but as I booked only 2 weeks in advance, all was full, and I had to go over budget. The Quayside apartment was beautiful and right in those famous colorful houses. See my full review on the Scotland Accommodations.
• PORTREE WITH STYLE 
  Heatherfield House B&B is one of the best rated accommodation on the Isle of Skye. Great location, stylish decor and wonderful views, it has a lot for everyone
   Check out photos and availability 
• OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
  Hazel Bank Skye in Colbost (North East of Skye) offers a wonderful atmosphere for those looking for comfort and connecting with nature.
  Check out photos and availability
• CLOSE TO MOST FAMOUS LOCATIONS
  Staffin is very central to the most famous places on the Island. The Hallaig Guest House is slightly remote from the town so it offers beautiful views of the mountains.
  Check out photos and availability
• TRADITIONAL LUXURY + VIEWS 
  The Cuillin Hills Hotel offers views across the Portree Harbour especially enjoyable during breakfast. Slightly out of town, but worth it to get the views
  Check out photos and availability
• BUDGET 
  The Portree SYHA Hostelling is a good option for those looking for a cheaper option. It has a great location in Portree. Very practical!
  Check out photos and availability 
• ISLE OF SKYE CAMPING
  If you prefer to bring your tent and camp, there are few campsites on the island - I am not an expert, so I let you have a look at this page that presents you 3 campsites.
• Or check out the best rated accommodations in Portree

Getting around - Driving on the Island of Skye

To be able to visit all those amazing places, you will have to take your car.
The isle is a lot bigger than one imagines and there are a lot of things to do on Skye Island.
Just the drive from the bridge to Portree takes 1 hour! And that's on a main road. Many other roads are small single lanes.

Below are driving times on the Isle of Skye (without stopping to admire the scenery):

When there is a lot of traffic on the single lane roads, time can double as you have to stop all the time.

Best things to do on Skye Island - Attractions

Now let me show you some of the amazing attractions on the Isle of Skye with some pictures. There are many points of interest and incredible views everywhere, but I have narrowed it down to my 20 favorites.

Sadly, the weather is often clouded. It is still great but not really practical for photography.

Icon of the Isle of Skye, the pinnacle can be seen from far away on a clear day. Part of the Trotternish ridge, it is one of the most famous walks. However, I was not feeling well enough, so I admired it only from the distance.

Discover it from many angles and get information about the walk to the Old Man of Storr Skye article. 

Old Man of Storr walk: the climb takes 1h30 to 2 hours return to the pinnacle or you can go on a longer hike (3 to 5 hours)

Another one of the top things to do on Skye : Getting up to the views of Quiraing. The 10min drive on a single track will take you to a large carpark (don't park on the way up). From there you can walk around and admire the views which can be all the way to the sea on a clear day.

Discover more about Quiraing Skye with photos, video and information.

Elgol is an isolated town on the West coast of Skye. For me, this is one the best  attractions with incredible views of the Cuillin mountains (on a clear day of course...)

Cruises depart to Loch Coruisk and to see wildlife (seals, whales, puffins...) on the nearby Scottish islands of Eigg, Rum and Canna.

Elgol cruise carpark: access to Elgol is via B8083 a single-track road (30 min drive from the main road).

Discover photos, video and information in my Elgol Boat Trip to Loch Coruisk and Cuillin Mountains article. 

In the South of Skye, the Clan Donald Skye estate covers 20000 acres around Armadale Castle. There you can learn about the Highland history.

The detour from the main road on A851 takes under 30min each way.

Open from end of March to October. Check out opening hours and prices.

Portree is the main town on the Isle of Skye. It is famous for its enclosed bay and its colorful houses. It is quite central, so a good place to base yourself while you are there.

Wildlife Cruises leave from Portree as well as organized tours on the island.

8 - Lealt Falls

10 - Staffin Beach / Slipway

The road right after Staffin will take you to its beaches and beautiful cliffs.

A stop I was not expecting but really loved. As we drove towards the northern tip of Skye Island, I spotted a carpark. A short walk took me to the beautiful Loch Langaig and the mountains behind.

Photos and information on the article about Loch Langaig and the North of the isle of Skye 

12 - Skye Museum of Island Life

As it was late, I only drove by the Museum of island life. Located in the North of the island, it allows you to step back in time and discover how the Skye islanders were living 100 years ago: cottages, tools...

Photos and information on the article about the Duntulm castle and the North of Skye.

Off the beaten track, the miniature features of Fairy Glen Skye (mini mountains, mini lochs), create a magical and peaceful area. And quite unexpected.

Discover this attraction in more details: video, photos and planning info on my article Fairy Glen Skye.

Skye Island has several beaches that deserve a stop, especially in the North. I had selected Claigan as one of the most beautiful beaches on the Isle of Skye.

The Nest Point cliffs are one of the most famous locations on the Isle of Skye. However, it is quite isolated and requires a 30min to 1hour drive on a single lane road (depending on traffic). And you might have to cross with buses.

But the views of the cliffs are worth it!

17 - Dun Beag Broch

The iron-age broch is located 1 kilometer northwest of Struan. Its main feature is the tower located on a rocky knoll. It was excavated in the early 20th century. See a photo here

The ruins of the castle are located on a promontory near the village of Kyleakin. Discover more on Wikipedia. You can admire it from the village or complete the walk around it (3.5km, 1.5h). As you can see, there is not much left, so I skipped it.

Easy walk with nice views over the Kyle straight to the mainland. Stop by the water and be patient to spot otters. You can also see seals, birds and other wildlife. Take your binoculars!  Picnic tables and toilets near the start.

2.5km (1.5 miles) - 1 hour walk

The Talisker distillery is located near the town of Carbost. Tasting tours are available on some days. Make sure you call and book. As it is the only distillery on the island it gets quite busy.

I just went to the shop and did not complete the tour. The shop section was very touristy and commercial. Compared to another distillery I visited later on my trip, with this one we could not get any help from the people on selecting whisky... way too crowded for my taste.

Fake Isle of Skye point of interest

Altered photos can be found on the Internet about a location on the Isle of Skye with purple trees. Those have been modified and the original picture is not even from Scotland (but from New Zealand).

Isle of Skye Walks

For those who love hiking, there are a lot of things to do in Skye island, from easy flat walks to challenging ridges.

If you want the complete list check the WalkHighlands website section for the Isle of Skye.  And for each walk, click on the user reports line to get reviews from people and often pictures of their own walks.

3 days or more on Skye Island

I recommend making your own itinerary by grouping what you want to see by areas.
These locations, along with many other beautiful places, are included in my eBooks. They are practical tools to plan your trip with maps, photos, planning tips, GPS coordinates...

Can you fly to the Isle of Skye?

The Isle of Skye does not have a commercial airport. Only a single landing strip for private airplanes.

By ferry

Ferries available: 

• from Mallaig on Mainland (at the end of Road to the Isles), arriving in Armadale - 30 min route
• or from the Outer Hebrides islands (Harris and North Uist) arriving in Uig - 2 hours
• or the manual turntable ferry (which transports only a few cars) between Glenelg and Skye - learn more here

You can take the ferry with your car or on foot (a train runs from Glasgow to Mallaig).
Check out timetables and prices on DirectFerries.com (type Isle of Skye or Mallaig or Armadale)

Self-drive - How to get to the Isle of Skye by car

The easiest access to Skye island, is the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh. From Glasgow take A82 then A 87.

• The drive is 4h15min (without stopping) from Glasgow via the beautiful Glen Coe area
• Edinburgh to Skye island = 4h30 drive (without stopping)
• Inverness to Isle of Skye = 2h (without stopping)

These are the times to the bridge, there is still a lot of driving to reach Portree (see next section)

The Road trip via A87 along Glen Shiel and Loch Cluanie is one of the best drives in Scotland.

Need to rent a car in Scotland?
My tips:

• Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com - one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Choose the car and company you prefer (prefer a compact car for the single-lane roads)
• Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See my 36 tips about renting a car in Scotland

Organized Tours

If you don't want to drive, and want to enjoy some explanations along the way, you can book an organized tour from Edinburgh.
It does not exist as a one-day trip, because there is too much driving involved, but you can see a lot of the country's best landscapes with a 3-day tour:

CHECK OUT PROGRAM AND PRICE

Other options are available, check out my guide about choosing your Isle of Skye Tour from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.

How to get to Skye Island by bus

Mostly you have to take the bus to Portree and then use the island bus system to get around. The island is large and the buses not so frequent, so I strongly recommend hiring a car.

• Direct line Glasgow to Portree - 6h30 - Line 915 or 916 
• Direct line - Inverness to Portree - 3h20 - line 917
• From Edinburgh, take the 900 to Glasgow and then buses as listed above.

Bus Timetables on Citylink

And once there, since it is that not easy to travel around by bus you can consider booking a day trip around the island to see the main sights - Check out Summer Option or Check out Winter Option

Weather in Skye

Let's start with some information about the weather that will help you take a decision:

• The isle of Skye gets a lot of rain (which is why it is so green)
• The wettest months are September to January and the driest are April and May.
• During the warmest period (May to September), you can expect temperature 9 to 13°C (48 to 55°F) during the day, which is not that warm...

Packing list

Other Suggestions

Because of the rain, I recommend a rain sleeve if you have a nice camera - check them out on Amazon

And I recommend traveling with binoculars to watch the birds and admire the details in the rocks and mountains. Check out my guide to find the best travel binoculars for your needs.

• Its name is probably a combination of 2 Norse words: Ski meaning cloud, and Ey meaning island. Probably because there are almost always big clouds stuck over the island. lol.
• The island has been identified on old maps as Scitis, and it has many different names and nicknames: Misty Isle, Winged Isle...
• The Three Chimney is a world famous restaurant on the Isle of Skye
• Vikings have ruled Skye from 700AD to 1263. Then after the battle of Lards, it was ruled by the Kings of Scots
• Many folklore stories and legends were inspired by the Isle of Skye - you can read some here
• The Skye terrier is a breed that originated on the Isle of Skye. Queen Victoria loved them. They are now rare.
• A half marathon is organized every year. If you are not a runner, avoid that date since traffic will be perturbed (see website)

After your trip around the Island of Skye, you can also take a ferry from Uig to get to the Outer Hebrides of Lewis and Harris.
Those Scottish islands offer beautiful white sand beaches and a famous stone circle. You can recharge your batteries there, away from the world and close to nature.

Check out ferries from Uig to Tarbert (shortest boat trip) on directferries.com

Want to see more of SCOTLAND?