LOOK TO THE SKYE

The Highlands of Scotland are a magical part of Britain, perhaps because large parts of it feel like nowhere else in the country – or anywhere else at all, in fact. You could spend a lifetime exploring this area, but if you don’t have that long to spare and simply need to pick one place to visit, the Isle of Skye is a fantastic choice. The largest of the Inner Hebrides islands and Scotland’s second largest island overall, Skye ticks all the boxes you’ll need for a classic Highlands holiday.

This unrelentingly beautiful island showcases the raw and unrestrained landscapes that define the Highlands. The coastline holds castles, sublime sunset viewing points (Neist Point Lighthouse on the island’s far western tip is a favourite), hidden beaches and all manner of wildlife. Head just a little way inland and you’ll find countless hiking routes, more wildlife, cosy villages (the small village of Ardvasar, below the Armadale ferry terminal, makes a great accommodation base), distilleries and top restaurants.

It’s no wonder that the island is a favourite location for filmmakers, having appeared in epics such as Stardust, Highlander and The Land That Time Forgot. Over the pages are some of our favourite places to visit in Skye and activities for when you’re there.

4 MUST-DOS

Wildlife watching

Seeking out some of Skye’s wildlife is refreshingly easy. Boat trips can be organised to spot marine life including dolphins, minke whales, and common and grey seals. Back on land, Skye and neighbouring islands are home to the UK’s largest red deer population (winter is the best time). And let’s not forget the wonderful Highland cows. Otters also make appearances around Skye’s waters. Then there’s birdlife: golden eagles, sea eagles, gannets and cuckoos are a few you might spot.

Old Man of Storr

Soaring pointedly above its surroundings at 55m high, this tower of basalt rock is the highest point in the Trotternish Ridge, and hiking up to it has become a Skye essential. The shortest walk to Storr and back is a little under two-and-a-half miles in total and is made all the more dramatic by the panoramic views that slowly take shape as you ascend. Even if you don’t feel like trekking to get up close to Storr, its defiant rise up into the air (around 719m above sea level) means you can admire it from afar.

Fairy Pools

Set serenely among the Black Cuillin mountain range, this series of rock pools is fed by tumbling waterfalls and framed with a genuinely stunning mountain backdrop. It’s an impossibly romantic sight, although the setting wasn’t always this peaceful, since the location saw a brutal and bloody clan battle in 1601. Nowadays, the site is a hotspot for wild swimmers brave enough to brace the cold waters, but also just for the many who come to appreciate the natural beauty. It’s around a 30-minute walk each way from the car park to the main pools, with scope for extending the walk if you’re feeling active.

Dunvegan Castle

A chance to see Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited castle isn’t to be missed. The castle has been occupied by the same family for more than 800 years and contains a wealth of architectural styles, but all you really need to know is that Dunvegan’s grand construction and its surroundings – wild woodlands and deep blue waters – give it the fairytale qualities that everyone wants from a castle visit. Also make time for the five acres of gorgeous gardens, which date back to the 18th century.