Travel: A Weekend in Isle of Skye Scotland

If you follow me on social media, you’d know D and I just got back from an incredible trip in the United Kingdom. We spent time in both Scotland and England. There will be a lot of content surrounding my trip in the upcoming weeks, but today we are kicking off with possibly my favorite place we visited. The Isle of Skye in Scotland.

Isle of Skye

Where do I even begin? The Isle of Skye was one of the places I was so excited to see. I studied abroad in Scotland but never made it to any of the Scottish isles, and Skye was going to be my first. I’d done a bit of research and the images I saw looked like make-believe. A lush yet rugged isle with waterfalls, cliffs, meadows, valleys, coral beaches and more. There is, indeed, a lot of sky in Skye, and I’m going to give you my ideal weekend plan for your visit. I can’t wait to tell you all about this wonderful, dreamy, and mystical island. There truly is no other place like the Isle of Skye.

Getting There

Our mode of transportation during our stay in Skye was our own car. I know it’s troubling to think about renting a car to drive on the opposite side of the road BUT it’s truly the best way to see Skye, in my opinion. If you can’t rent a car, there are buses and private tours you can book to see the island as well. We had our own car and it made a WORLD of difference. We could see everything at our own pace and change our plans on the fly if necessary.

Where to Stay

While traditionally, I’m all about hotel stays, for Skye we really wanted to immerse ourselves into the local culture. The best way to do this is to stay at true bed and breakfasts. You will be staying in the home of local families, being inserted into their daily lives. We absolutely loved this. We stayed in two different bed and breakfasts while we were there. Both were SO lovely, peaceful, and still private. Most bed and breakfasts also serve breakfast! Both of ours were especially delicious. I highly recommend going this route if you are staying in Skye.

The Sabhal – This incredible bed and breakfast is on a working farm. They even had Highland Cows. The room was gorgeous with an updated spa-like bathroom. It was the perfect place to cozy up after a long day of exploring the fog, mist, and rain of Skye.

The Glenview BnB – The BnB is also attached to a restaurant on the opposite side of the island from our first stay. The food was some of the best food we had on our WHOLE trip. It makes the stay even better. The room was also lovely and quintessentially Scottish. I absolutely loved our stay here.

What To Do

This list is going to be quite long and the hardest part of our trip was realizing we weren’t going to be able to cover even half of the island in a weekend. We didn’t end up seeing everything, but when you are planning your trip, take a look at everything on this list THEN decide what you feel looks the best to you. It’s a lot of driving between sights, even tho it is a small island. You can’t go wrong with ANYTHING on this list. The drives around the island are also stunning so I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Sights:

Neist Point Lighthouse– This was mine and D’s favorite thing on Skye. The walk up to the lighthouse is magical. The landscape is SO stunning. This is the best spot to watch a sunset as well. It shouldn’t be missed.

Visit the Fairy Pools– These magical water pools form from a stream/waterfall. It’s pretty popular but also worth the stop. Bring a tripod for some incredible photos.

Walk around Portree– This is the largest town on the island. It has a couple main streets with pubs, restaurants and shopping. Grab lunch and wander around the shops.

Coral Beach– This 2-mile walk is perfect if you are strapped for time and don’t have time for a longer hike. The coral beaches look straight out of a tropical paradise.

Dunvegan Castle– This castle is located on the island and is right on the water as well. It’s historic grounds are perfect for strolling around and learning the history of the island and castle.

Climb the Old Man of Stor– This is an iconic hike on the Isle of Skye. Not for the faint of heart, but the stunning scenery from the stop. Get a classic Skye photo once you reach the stor at the top. (note, bring sturdy shoes!)

View the Cuillin Range– Stop at the famous bridge in Sligachan. View this magnificent mountain range and walk along many of the trails that start at the bridge.

Sample Whiskey at Talisker– This is the first distillery on Skye, and has daily tours as well as tastings at the distillery. After a rainy hike, grab a wee dram and warm right up.

The Isle of Skye is beyond my wildest dreams. It’s raw, untouched, and humbling. If you get the chance in life, I highly suggest you make a trip. It is a must-see location on the globe in my opinion. I truly hope I get the chance to get back to this magical place someday.

Love, Rachel