Off the northeastern coast of Scotland, within the chain of islands known as the Inner Hebrides, lies the legendary Isle of Skye. While popular for UK travelers, Skye is not always on the tourist route for non-British visitors, although it should be.
The cliffs and mountains of Skye have been the stuff of legend for millennia. After a brief visit there though, I learned that there is a lot more to this traditional highland getaway than warring clans and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Isle of Skye
I had encamped at a backpacker’s hostel in Inverness, the unofficial capital of the Scottish Highlands. I planned on spending just a few days there, but once I arrived the gorgeous countryside and the warm people made me stay for nearly two weeks. During my stay, a local tour guide took pity on my limited bank account and gave me great discounts on day tours, including a memorable one to the Isle of Skye.
Driving through the highlands is worth the trip alone. The rolling hills, highland coos (cows) and the picturesque lochs could be a day all on their own. Along the way to Skye, we did stop at Eilean Donan castle. Used in many TV shows and movies, the castle is best known for the key role it played in the ‘80s cult flick Highlander. After a brief stop for pictures and recitation of Highlander quotes, we continued on to the main attraction, Skye.
I have had this experience in a few places around the world, but was not expecting the otherworldly feeling of detachment I got when hiking around the rolling hills of Skye. You feel at once both alone but intimately connected with nature, only the braying of sheep interrupting your thoughts.
Kilt Rock
Most of the attractions on Skye are outdoors, including the rock pinnacle known as the Old Man of Storr and the impressive Kilt Rock and waterfall. For the hiker, there are some impressive trails in the Cuillin, Skye’s most famous group of mountains. There are also some more history oriented attractions, including a number of castles (some are ruins though), the Clan Donald Centre and the Museum of the Isles.
Rather than depend on the local dining options, the best bet is to pack a picnic lunch and snacks to enjoy while hiking along the coast or rolling hills. One watering hole not to miss though is the Talisker Distillery. Talisker is world renowned for its distinctive peaty whisky which visitors can taste for themselves on the distillery tour.
Old Man of Storr
The Isle of Skye is a remarkable place to visit for the day or even longer. The jaw-droopingly beautiful sights found on Sky are part of the rich natural history of Scotland and makes it a mandatory stop for any visitor to the Scottish Highlands.
Matthew Long, Editor-in-Chief and creator of LandLopers.com, has a true passion for travel. As someone who has a bad case of the travel bug, Matt travels the world in order to share tips on where to go, what to see and how to do it all on a budget. Matt is a Lonely Planet Featured Blogger, as well as a contributor to many other travel sites. Matt’s new eBook “Money Saving Travel Tips“ is an essential guide to traveling well and affordably. Contact Matt at Matt@LandLopers.com.
