Isle of Skye is full of immense beauty, so it is no surprise that it is on most people’s Scotland must-see list! This itinerary breaks down the top things to do in Isle of Skye for either one or two days.
The biggest takeaway I had from my trip was that there is not enough parking at these sites to accommodate the number of people visiting during the summer months. We visited in the first week of May, and I couldn’t help but think ‘how much worse does it get in June/July?’.
All of this to say, plan the order of your stops accordingly. The very popular stops like Old Man of Storr and Quiraing will have full parking lots, so you will need to either plan on getting there at sunrise or later in the day. You can try to find parking during peak hours (9 am – 3 pm), but it may be difficult.
Be prepared to spend about £3 to park at each location. They have very easy pay stations that accept coins or cards and provide about 3 hours of time for your visit.
Day one:
Day one consists of the popular Trotternish Loop. If you only have one day, this is the day you should include during your trip.
Our lodging was close to The Fairy Glen, so that is where our day started. Feel free to play around with the order of stops based on your preferences and lodging.
Now, on to the top spots in the Trotternish Loop!
A. the fairy glen
The Fairy Glen is located in Uig and is a beautiful spot with a unique landscape. The stop itself will only take about 30 minutes to an hour. It is a short walk from the car park to take in the magical views.
We arrived at 9 am, and the car park was fairly empty, and we had the place to ourselves and a few others.
B. Quiraing
Quiraing ended up being my favorite stop on the Isle of Skye. From the car park, you can walk as far as you want for viewpoints of the Trotternish Ridge. Once you have had your fill (or timing says you need to move to the next stop), you can turn around and head back to the car park.
When we were there, they were adding a new trail, so in the future there may be an option to do a hike that loops around.
We arrived at 10 am, and the car park was completely full with a line of people waiting. We modified our itinerary and came back at 5 pm and were able to find a parking spot.
C. Kilt Rock
Kilt Rock is a quick but worthwhile stop. It is a 90-meter-high wall of hexagonal columns of rock.
D. Brother's Point
Brother’s Point is a moderate 2-mile hike that leads you down to the water and along the coast. We made it down to the water but didn’t hike too far along the coast due to boggy conditions.
To get to the hike, put in ‘Brother’s Point Parking’ into your GPS. Parking is on the side of the road rather than a designated car park.
From there, cross the street and follow the sign pointing to Rubha Nam Braithrean.
Shortly after, you will end up at this gate. Continue through this, along with the next one. Once through the gate, you will see this sign that points to the right. From there, it is a straight shot!
E. Old Man of Storr
I would argue that the Old Man of Storr is the most popular stop on the Isle of Skye. This is roughly a 3-mile loop that leads to the Old Man of Storr, which is a 160-foot rock formation. I would dedicate 2 hours for this stop.
The hike is a challenging route that has an elevation gain of around 1,000 feet. It is well worth it for these views!
When making the trek, don’t forget to turn around because those views are equally as beautiful.
We arrived here around noon, and there was no parking available. We circled the parking lot for a while but decided we would come back later. When we came back at 3 pm, we were able to grab a parking spot.
F. Portree
Portree is a small, quaint town that is worth stopping at for a bite to eat or shopping.
It is also well-known for the Colour House Viewpoint.
Day two:
Day two is for exploring the western side of the Isle of Skye. We continued on to our accommodations in Glencoe at the end of day two.
A. Dunvegan Castle and Gardens
Dunvegan Castle was the home of the Clan MacLeod and was first built in the 13th century. It has since been renovated in the 19th century.
Unpopular opinion: I wouldn’t pay to go into the castle and instead just pay to visit the gardens. I am not a fan of renovated castles as I feel like I am intruding in someone’s home. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the gardens. They were my favorite gardens throughout our trip.
B. NEIST POINT
Neist Point is one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland. When you arrive, you can either walk to the lighthouse (roughly a 2-mile hike), or you can choose to have a short walk from the car park to take in the views.
During our trip, it was extremely windy and rainy, and we opted for the quicker option.
Note: The single-lane road to Neist Point was fine until we were about a half-mile out. We found that the pull-off areas only fit one car, and there were so many people visiting this spot that multiple cars would line up in these single-car pull-offs. It made it very difficult for people to pass and added a good amount of delay to our trip. Be prepared.
C. TALISKER DISTILLERY
Talisker Distillery is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. This is worth a stop if you are interested in a Whisky Tour. Be sure to book your tour online in advance! Otherwise, they may not have any availability.
D. THE OLD INN FOR LUNCH
Stop for a quick bite at The Old Inn. Their restaurant is cozy with a true Scottish feel.
E. FAIRY POOLS
The Fairy Pools sit at the foot of the Black Cuillins mountains. From the car park, it is around a 1.5-mile walk along the water.
It was heavily raining during our trip to the Fairy Pools. Even then, it was still magical and worth the walk. I couldn’t help but imagine how beautiful it would have been on a clearer day with the mountains fully visible.
F. Sligachan Bridge
On your way out of the Isle of Skye, make a quick stop at the Sligachan Bridge, which was built from 1810 to 1818.