ISLE OF SKYE
Scotland at it’s absolute finest. Like with most roads in the UK, the roads of Skye take a bit of time to drive because they’re winding and narrow so be sure to leave yourself time to get to where you need to be. We stayed on the west side of the isle and it proved to be a bit of a journey to places, especially in September when we had waining light in the evenings. I’d recommend a few nights on the east and a few on the west, to make seeing everything on both sides of the isle easier. A car is a must.
To Drink
Caffeinated
Café Lephin
Sadly closed the day I went (on a Sunday so check the times!) but looks lovely from my book of Hidden Scotland treasures; in Glendale.
Aran Bakery
We drove to Skye via Dunkeld so I could visit this bakery—opened by my favourite Great British Bake-Off contestant, Flora Sheddon. It’s got a gorgeous interior, delicious baking, and great coffee. We also had a great roast at The Coach House in town. Dunkeld is a beautiful town to wander through, with a Historic Scotland church, and a lovely high street.
To Eat
Cafe Arriba
Good homemade food; in Portree.
The Galley
A fish and chip restaurant highly recommended by a friend; in Uig.
Cuchullin
Another recommendation from my friend—slightly fancier and she recommended making a reservation; in Portree.
Cafe Sia & Siaway
Delicious pizzeria; in Broadford.
To See & Do
The Fairy Pools
A lovely walk along the pools and waterfalls! Gets a bit slick if it’s raining. Parking is hidden off the road and you have to cross the street from the car park to get to the pools.
Quiraing
A loop walk looking at different geological formations—great way to see the Scottish countryside.
Old Man of Storr
Iconic Skye! A pinnacle of rocks that you can wander through and see the countryside around it.
Fairy Glen
Another lovely walk through the hills—named for it’s unusual landscape.
Dunvegan Castle
A lovely castle along the loch. We went for a walk along the water after going in which was lovely. If you’re all castled-out, I would recommend Eilean Donan over this one.
Coral Beach
A beautiful, white-sandy beach. It’s a bit of a walk (~2 kilometres, I’d say) from the parking lot to the beach itself.
Neist Point Lighthouse
A stunning out-of-service lighthouse you can walk down to; it’s quite steep, with a lot of stairs, but a beautiful hike down and a great view when you’re there. The woman who now owns the lighthouse (what a dream!) has a small booth at the top with a some ice creams and cold drinks.
Eilean Donan Castle
A beautiful castle (pictured at the top) on a small island at the meeting of Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh; it’s on the way to Skye, not on Skye itself. We stopped here on our way up. There’s audioguides available.
Isle of Harris
A friend recommended going here for a day—it’s a ferry-ride away from Skye and is less touristy with beautiful beaches. I didn’t make it but it looks gorgeous!
To Shop
Skye Candles
Lovely local candle shop in Broadford.