Having a friend in the place you’re visiting transforms the experience. You skip the endless research and decisions and go straight to the best spots, lesser-known areas, and places with real character. That’s what we’re aiming to do with our Experience Skye App.
Though we can’t meet everyone in person – we’ve packed the best of Skye into the palm of your hand, sharing the same advice and recommendations we give to friends. The app includes audio guides full of history and stories, as well as places most visitors overlook. We think it will transform your experience of Skye. Check out the Experience Skye App here.
This is a practical Isle of Skye guide to ensure your vacation to our stunning island is as relaxing and fun as possible.
Having worked as a tour guide on the island, and now running an Airbnb, visitors frequently ask me about Skye. I’ve tried to cover the most vital points for your island enjoyment.
One of the most crucial things to keep in mind is that you are visiting a rural area that is more than 100 miles from the nearest city. Much to the disappointment of my friend visiting from New York, we don’t have Uber here! Most things take a little more thought and planning than you may imagine.
For example;
– Our island is larger than many people realise, and travelling from point A to point B is not quick.
– You’ll likely need to book everything well in advance to avoid disappointment. Accommodation months in advance, the same for the best restaurants.
– Choosing the right gear is paramount to staying comfortable and warm, whatever the weather.
Below, I go over everything you need to know before visiting Skye. From here on out, your journey over the sea to Skye will be plain sailing.
Getting to Skye is easy. Most people drive, but there are both train and bus options that will take you to the island.
The Isle of Skye is 3 hours drive from Inverness and 5 hours drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh. There are multiple route options from each city, with plenty to see and do on route. You’ll see some of Scotland’s most stunning and famous scenery, passing by castles, lochs, distilleries and wildlife.
The nearest airport is in Inverness, with flights arriving from London, Manchester, and Dublin most days.
There are buses to Skye from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen multiple times per day. Buses from these cities cost around £70 return with one item of luggage per passenger. Tickets should be purchased ahead of time as buses often sell our and last minute tickets are more expensive. You can purchase your tickets from Citylink here.
Trains arrive at Kyle of Lochalsh next to the Skye Bridge several times per day from Inverness. Trains also arrive at Mallaig, on the west coast of Scotland, where you can take a ferry over to Armadale on Skye (Mallaig > Skye ferry info). The train to Mallaig will take you across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the ‘Harry Potter Train’.
Trains booked ahead of time are often significantly cheaper than buses. You can purchase your train tickets from Trainline here. If travelling to Skye by train, you will need to arrange a transfer by taxi to your accommodation.
Trains will not take you onto Skye itself. Without a car, you will need to arrange transport to your final destination. The bus however will take you all the way onto Skye, passing through Broadford, Portree and on to Uig in the North.
Travelling and exploring Skye by car is recommended. Driving gives you the flexibility to experience the best of Skye’s quieter places. You can watch the sunset in remote locations, listen to evening music in rural pubs and access the lesser known sites off the tourist trails. This is what Skye is all about.
There are a few points to note before your Skye arrival.
Skye is a large island, despite its appearance on the map. The Isle of Skye is about 50 miles long, and there are almost no straight lines. Roads are narrow and zigzag through the moorlands. Single-track driving is required practically everywhere on Skye (see picture above). These routes and roads are what give Skye its remoteness and wild charm.
Although, cars give you access to the best of Skye, rushing from one place to another isn’t an option. Taking your time is indirectly enforced by other visiting drivers, sheep on the road and weather. It’s important not to over estimate what can be achieved in a single day, given travel times between areas.
Allow plenty of time between activities and reservations when driving on Skye. To avoid missing any departures or check-ins, add at least 20 to 30% to travel times. Try grouping nearby activities to avoid time wasted covering the same ground back and forth across the island.
If you’re driving and are not used to driving in rural highland areas, keep this in mind when making your hotel and accommodation reservations on Skye. You might be best staying in one of the bigger towns, such as Portree, Broadford, or Uig. These larger towns are all well connected by wider main roads, and you may feel more comfortable travelling at night between larger towns.
For many drivers, smaller cars are best. It can be tempting to think larger cars will be the best option for tackling highland routes. However, the narrowness of the roads and proximity to other cars means smaller cars often have the upper hand in many rural locations.
When planning for places to eat and stay on Skye, you must book in advance.
Arriving at the height of summer without accommodation will result in a night spent in the car. If you arrive at a restaurant without a booking, you will be turned away.
If you want to stay in one of Skye’s highly rated Airbnb’s (like ours) or hotels, you are best off booking 6–12 months in advance to secure your preferred dates. The closer you get to your arrival date, the more difficult it will be to book the best accommodations on Skye.
If there is nothing left on Skye, Airbnb and other platforms will suggest the nearest accommodations, and these can be miles away from the island. Be careful that you know exactly where you are booking if you are attempting to find something at the last minute. I know first hand of visitors not realising they are booking stays on other islands rather than Skye, because it was the nearest available stay. Nightmare.
For restaurants, if you have a specific date, or time in mind, make your reservation as soon as possible. If you are not visiting for a few months, think about putting a reminder on your phone to make bookings nearer the time.
The Isle of Skye’s most popular high end Michelin Guide restaurants are booked out weeks, if not months, in advance. Last minute reservations are few and far between in Skye’s best restaurants. More traditional pubs and restaurants may accommodate bookings a few days in advance. Some pubs only take walk-ins on a first come first serve basis.
If you have accommodation and restaurants booked in advance you’ll having nothing to worry about.
Skye is bursting with atmosphere, music, and activity throughout the summer. Summer days are long, 18 hours at their longest, and nights are short.
Some visitors to the island find it difficult to sleep with so much light streaming through the windows at 4 a.m. Most accommodation will not have blackout blinds, so you may wish to bring an eye mask with you if you think this early sunlight will prevent you from sleeping.
The long days, of course, present a fantastic opportunity to pack your days with activity. They also allow you to avoid the crowds at the most popular sites, like The Old Man of Storr and the Fairy Pools. You may be best heading to these locations earlier in the morning or later in the evening when daylight will still be clear until 10 or 10.30pm. If you’re looking for photographs, these earlier and later times are perfect for catching the light at its best, with few people around.
The Old Man of Storr or the Quiraing are perfect places to watch the sunrise when most are still asleep. Sunsets at Talisker Beach, Trumpan or Duntulm Castle are well worth staying up for.
Make use of the long summer days. Fill the midday and afternoons with pre-booked activities like boat trips, kayaking, sailing, and hiking, or explore the lesser-known (but equally beautiful) areas of Skye. Save the main sites for mornings and evenings when you’ll be able to enjoy peace and quiet.
If you are a sensitive sleeper, bring with you a black-out eye mask. The sun rises very early and may disturb your sleep.
In Skye, you’ll be glad to know we do not have mosquitos. Sadly though, we do have midges. Midges are smaller than mosquitos and are not dangerous. However, they can be irritating in some locations and do need to be remembered.
You’ll experience midges in Scotland and on Skye between May and September. Midges tend to be most active in the early to late evening when the weather conditions are calm.
Midgy ‘bites’ can leave an itch, and they do have the potential to spoil barbecues on calm evenings. If you are on a walk and keep moving, you shouldn’t be too bothered by them. It’s only when you stop that you may start to feel them gathering around you. If there’s a light breeze, midges are no longer a problem.
It is worth purchasing ‘midgy spray’, which you will find available in all pharmacies and most grocery stores in the highlands. It’ll cost around £6 and is worth using if you plan to head out in the evening. If you plan on fishing, doing some evening photography, or any activity that involves standing still, a midgy head net, long sleeves, and trousers will be essential to staying comfortable and unbothered by the local midge population.
The changing weather and ruggedness of Skye’s paths and landscapes make waterproof jackets and strong shoes essential.
You’ll be climbing rocky steps, crossing streams, stepping off boats onto beaches, and walking muddy paths almost every day.
Bring these things along with you;
– A warm waterproof jacket (and, if possible, waterproof trousers)
– Walking boots or strong, grippy trainers
– A rucksack for gear, picnics, and water
– Metal flasks for water
– Hats and sunscreen are especially important on boats where sun exposure is multiplied by sea reflections. Coastal breezes keep you cool, so you won’t realise you are burning until it’s too late.
– Midgy Spray
– Black-out eye masks to avoid being disturbed by early sunrise at 4am
– Midgy nets if you plan on activities that involve stillness, i.e. photography, camping, fishing.
Reminders!
– Book your accommodation and dining on Skye well ahead of time.
– Book your activities in the afternoon and visit popular sites at the beginning or end of the day, when areas are quiet and light is at its best.
– Keep your indoor activities in hand for any wetter days. Make the most of good weather.
Oh, and double-check activities are going ahead before travelling far!
Alright, that’ll keep you from any major upsets. Take care on the roads. We’ll see you soon!
We hope this guide can provide some useful information to help you plan the perfect trip and avoid a few common issues you might not be aware of.
An overview of the most popular and best restaurants in Portree. Here you’ll find everything from stunning seafoods, to perfectly cooked steak and fantastic wood fired pizza.
Experience the unique small plate dining and welcoming atmosphere of The Ferry Inn, perfectly situated near the Fairy Glen and Quiraing.
Uncover the facts behind Isle of Skye’s landscapes, from the dramatic Cuillin mountains to the serene Sleat peninsula, and delve into its deep-rooted history and unique geological makeup.
