Winding your way through the Highlands of Scotland, cresting the hill at Kyle of Lochalsh and seeing the beautiful and wild Isle of Skye in front of you – it is something you must experience at least once in your life. This Isle of Skye itinerary will take you on a whistle stop 2-3 day tour of the island; including things to see on the way there, road trip routes around the island, and more.
I have been to Skye 4 times now, and each time I discover more quiet corners, more beautiful lookouts and more cute villages. Ideally you should consider 5-7 days on the Isle of Skye, but if you’re pressed for time, hopefully this weekend guide will help you make the most of your short stay.
Getting to the Isle of Skye
While the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands can be navigated by train and bus, it’s not ideal, as you can’t stop at the fun places along the way. The 916 bus leaves from Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow and takes around 7 hours to get to Skye.
The better way to get to Skye is to drive – this allows you flexibility, time to stop in some gorgeous places, and to explore parts of the island that aren’t serviced by public transport.
Things to see on the way to Skye
Spean Bridge
On your way to Skye there are a number of picturesque spots in which to stop. If you are travelling from Edinburgh, you will drive past Pitlochry and Newtonmore; and from Glasgow, you will drive past Loch Lomond and through Glencoe. Both routes then pass the Laggan Dam at Spean Bridge (pictured).
Loch Laggan & Ardverikie House
At Loch Laggan you’ll get to a glimpse of Ardverikie House (the setting for the UK TV series, Monarch of the Glen) – which you can just make out from the road across the Loch. You can stay at Ardverikie House, in one of the many cottages around the property, or even the gatehouse!
Eilean Donan Castle
You must stop at the iconic Eilean Donan castle. The first fortification on the Island of Donan was back in the 13th century, during the period when the vikings were controlling much of the North of Scotland and the Western Isles. The castle that (partially) remains today, was destroyed during the Jacobite rebellion in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Where to stay on the Isle of Skye
Portree is a good base for your time on Skye – it has all the amenities you could need, good accommodation options and restaurants.
We enjoyed the Skeabost House Hotel near Portree. This magnificent estate on the shores of Loch Snizort is where you should stay if you want a bit of country luxury – perhaps for a special occasion. For a central Portree option, try the Portree Hotel or the Royal Hotel. For those on a budget, there are also hostels in Portree.
If you want a more wild and remote experience on Skye, then head to the other side of the island. Trien Lodge over in Carbost has the bonus of being near the Talisker Whisky distillery!
Things to do on the Isle of Skye in 2 days
Day 1: Trotternish Peninsula Road Trip
It’s all about natural beauty on your first full day in Skye. Exploring the full ring road around Skye’s north-eastern Trotternish Peninsula, from Portree to Loch Leathan, Staffin, Kilmuir, Uig and Snizort, before returning to Portree – a loop that will take most of the day.
The loop is actually only about 50 miles in distance, but there is so much to see along the way. The roads are all small, and while much of it is two-lane (one lane each direction), there is a portion at the very north section where it diminishes.
The Old Man of Storr
This loop takes you past some exceptional geography – such as the famous Old Man of Storr rock formation. You can climb up to the Old Man of Storr if you’re that way inclined. It is quite steep in parts, and would probably best done in half a day, with proper hiking gear. This area was also the setting for some of the movie, Prometheus!
There are fantastic views from road, near Loch Leathan; and further past the hiking point near Rigg.
Kilt Rock
Further north you’ll reach the lookout for Kilt Rock and the Mealt Waterfall. This dramatic coastline faces out towards the Isle of Rona and the mainland, and is a dramatic photo opportunity – if you don’t mind heights too much!
Staffin
Stop for lunch in the cute town of Staffin. The Hungry Gull or Telford Tea Room both offer snacks and meals to keep you going for the rest of the day.
Sheep are farmed all the way down to the cliffs, and the little whitewashed stone houses look lovely on the hillside. The sea mists create fabulous rainbows too – it’s very wild and picturesque.
Uig
The road between Staffin and Uig, which is the northern most arch of the road, is very narrow and winding and at points had my poor husband smarting due to the heights and cliffs you drive next to! Once you descend back down to Uig the road is a little less scary; and Uig harbour is very cute.
During the summer Uig is busy with picnickers, day-trippers, and people taking the ferries to the Isle of Harris and North Uist. While in Uig, take a walk in the Fairy Glen. This lovely area was created by an ancient landslide, and is now a popular walking area with great views. There was a faux stone circle, built by modern visitors, but locals have removed it and have asked that you don’t mess with the area by either building things or removing stones.
Day 2: Dunvegan & Talisker
Talisker Distillery
If you are a whisky lover, you can’t miss a tour of the Talisker Distillery in Carbost. They offer tours of the distillery where you can learn about the particular Talisker blend. They also have a shop where you can purchase the whisky at a reduced rate – this is a good option if you don’t fancy queuing for the tours.
Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Started in 1200s, it was finished in the 1850s, so it spans many centuries of architectural styles. It is the seat of the Clan MacLeod still, and luckily it is open to visit – as an historic house, venue and accommodation.
Take a tour of the castle, or just admire it from the Dunvegan Castle Viewpoint across the loch. This free viewpoint is good for spotting the seals over on Gairbh Eilein too.
Stein Inn
The Stein Inn is one of the most idyllic waterside inn’s on the island of Skye. On the shore of Loch Bay, the Stein Inn serves great pub meals in a cozy setting. I recommend stopping here for either a lunch or dinner, and relaxing in this gorgeous setting.
Portree Town & Harbour
Portree is the capital of Skye, and the largest town on the island. Wrapping around a protected harbour perfect for fishing boats, and with a pier to promenade along, it is a great base for your time in Skye. Or at the very least, an evening out at one of the many bars and restaurants.
3 Days on Skye
If you are lucky enough to spend 3 days in Skye, add the following things to the above 2 day itinerary:
- Go sea kayaking
- Walk out to Neist Point Lighthouse
- Observe some of the wildlife
- Swim in the Fairy Pools (if you can handle the cold!)
Isle of Skye Itinerary : 2-3 days
One thing I would say is that, while you are able to get a good flavour for the Isle in a long weekend, it isn’t nearly long enough to enjoy both the sights and relax in the gorgeous landscapes. I would recommend 4-5 days minimum, as the island is pretty large and there are beautiful views around every corner. 2 days on Skye will give you a taster, 3 days on Skye will allow you to do a hike or two, and 4-5 days will give you a good mix of activity and relaxation.
Have you been to Skye? Drop your suggestions in the comments below.
Want some more Scotland inspiration? How about a weekend in Oban?
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
This is great timing as I’m heading to Skye next month. I loved that you included things to see along the way there too, that’s very useful 🙂
Have the most amazing time! What a great time to visit too – I wish for warm beautiful weather for you!
I love this so much! I dream of visiting Scotland and this gave me all the vibes! I love Eilean Donan Castle because it looks so majestic. Can’t wait to see all of this in person.
We need to plan to do a long trip through the Highlands of Scotland. And it sounds like we need to plan some time on the Isle of Skye too! A great recommendation if you have been so many times and find something new on each visit. A distillery visit is certainly something we would plan to do.
The itinerary looks pretty amazing. I can’t wait to visit the Isle of Skye on my next visit to Scotland. THanks for sharing
Great article for Skye Hannah. Only made a short day trip, many moons ago. And as i am always exploring far flung places, HOME always has so many gems..