Want to plan the best Isle of Skye itinerary for two or three days? Well, I’ve got you covered! Located in the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye is separated from the ‘mainland’ via a rather large bridge (which was only opened in 1995) and is an absolutely stunning and unique area of the country. Part of the Hebrides Islands, Skye is a popular destination for tourists who want to experience something a bit different.
After living here as a temporary local for a year, working in the tourism industry, I was lucky enough to become quite the expert on all things Skye. I’ve written a few posts about my time in Scotland but today I wanted to share a round-up of all my favourite places to help you have the best weekend (or even longer) on the island.
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The First Timers Isle of Skye Itinerary!
Day One – Trotternish Loop
Breakfast in Portree
Start your day in the quaint harbourside village of Portree – the largest village on the island. Here you will be able to enjoy a hot breakfast and cup of tea or coffee to begin your day. There are a number of great local spots to choose from before you begin exploring, Portree is very small place so take a quick wander around to see what takes your fancy (if you’re struggling to decide, Cafe Arriba is a good choice). You could also stop by the local Co-op to pick up any supplies or snacks you may need during the day. There are two Co-ops in Portree – a smaller one in the village centre and a large one just on the outskirts of town.
You may like to have a quick wander around the village, but don’t worry if you feel rushed for time as you will end up back in Portree later today.
Head for the fairies… or is that ferries?
From Portree we will head towards Uig, where we’ll find both fairies and ferries! The first proper stop of the day will be the enchanting Fairy Glen. You won’t find any real fairies hanging out here, but it’s a magical place to visit and definitely has a unique landscape that is worth exploring.
After some time spent wandering around the hidden Fairy Glen return to the main road and head down to the hub of Uig – Uig Pier. While there’s not a huge amount to do here it’s worth a quick stop. Watch the Caledonian ferries heading off to the outer isles, check out Uig Pottery for some local crafts or grab a coffee and cake from Ella’s cafe or something delicious to takeaway from The Hungry Gull (you will find the Hungry Gull in Uig during the summer season or over in Staffin during the winter season – check their Facebook page for details and open hours).
Bonus tip: there is also a public toilet hidden behind the main terminal building if you need the loo.
Exploring the Trotternish Peninsula
Once you’ve had your fill of Uig it’s time to jump back on the road to explore the Trotternish Loop! This is one of my favourite scenic roads on Skye, the views along the way are absolutely stunning.
There are a number of things you will be wanting to keep an eye out for along the Trotternish Loop – firstly is Duntulm Castle. Don’t get too excited that you’re about to come across some grand castle… you won’t find much more than structural remains here but it’s worth a stop all the same.
Nearby Duntulm there is a fantastic day walk called Rubha Hunish, you can get more information about this over on the Walk Highlands website.
Coffee Break at Single Track
Continuing on, you will find my favourite coffee shop on the island – Single Track Art Gallery and Espresso Bar. It’s absolutely worth taking a break here for the great coffee, delicious cakes, friendly staff/owners and also a lovely selection of local art. Make sure you try one of their hot chocolates!
Note – they are generally closed during the winter season. Visit their Facebook page for more info and hours.
Read more: Best Places to Eat on the Isle of Skye!
Quiraing
Certainly one of the Isle of Skye’s most well-known and impressive landscapes, the Quiraing is a mythical looking mountain range formed by an ancient landslide. You will find these peculiar shapes and formations up a narrow single track road, just as you pass through the tiny village of Staffin.
You can choose to either take a short walk from the carpark and enjoy the views from here, or if you have more time you can hike the full loop which will take you around 3-4 hours.
Kilt Rock
Kilt Rock is a unique sight, and the perfect iconic Isle of Skye photo location! These steep cliffs located mid-way around the Trotternish Loop look strangely similar to a Scottish pleated kilt.
This quick stop won’t take long, as the carpark is located directly next to the viewpoint. Here you can also spot Mealt Falls tumbling over the edge of the rocks into the ocean below. No matter the weather this stop is always worth it.
A short drive up the road you will also find Lealt Falls, you will be treated to more stunning scenery at this slightly lesser known tourist location.
Old Man of Storr
You can’t come to the Isle of Skye and skip the Old Man of Storr! Yet somehow it stook me three visits and one year of living there before I ventured further than the carpark.
The Old Man of Storr is another iconic landmark on the Isle of Skye, and you can spot the famous giant pinnacle standing proudly as you drive around the Trotternish Peninsula and even from Portree on a good day.
The hike to the base of the pinnacle takes around 1.5 – 2 hours and, while it’s a steep climb, it will give you spectacular views of the coast. Make sure you pack your hiking boots for this one as the ground can be very rocky and muddy along the way.
If you’re not quite up for the full walk, you can always view the ‘old man’ from the carpark or just enjoy a shorter walk, as I did for many visits.
Bonus tip: The carpark (which is mostly just the edge of the road) can get very busy during summer, ensure you arrive early to get a spot.
Return to Portree
The end of the Trotternish Loop will see you returning to Portree. Spend some time exploring this quaint little village; check out the local shops and pick up a souvenir, grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants or stop by the Co-op to stock up on groceries.
A few of favourites are:
- ÓR Shop
- Cafe Arriba
- Isle of Skye Baking Company
- Skyeskyns (cafe and shop)
- Inside Out
- VisitScotland Centre – for info and free wifi
Looking for more?
If you’re not completely exhausted after a busy day exploring the Trotternish Loop why not head over to Dunvegan Castle (also the perfect indoor activity for rainy days) and nearby Claigan Coral Beach for tropical vibes that will make you question if you’re in Scotland or not! You could also enjoy a beautiful sunset at Neist Point Lighthouse.
If you’re feeling particularly fancy you could also try and get a table at The Three Chimneys for dinner. Make sure you book in advance to avoid the disappointment of missing out on a table (like I did…).
Day Two – Wild West Coast
For day two of your Isle of Skye Itinerary it’s time to explore the wild west coast of the island!
Fairy Pools
Start your day exploring the stunning landscape of the Fairy Pools. Made up of crystal clear rock pools and waterfalls from the Cuillin hills, which you will see towering above you in the distance.
One of the most well-known tourist spots on the Isle of Skye, it can get incredibly busy here during high season – which is why I recommend visiting early to avoid the crowds. There is a short walk (just over 2km) from the carpark to the start of the pools, it’s a relatively easy flat walk which should be accessible by most.
If you’re feeling brave, bring your swimsuit for a dip in the freezing but beautiful waters!
Cuillin Coffee Co.
When you’ve finished exploring everything the Fairy Pools have to offer why not pop down the road (just a 10 minute drive) and grab a coffee from Cuillin Coffee Co. located at Glenbrittle Campsite & Cafe. If you’re feeling peckish you will also find delicious fresh bread, pastries and cakes.
Talisker Distillery
Whisky lovers won’t want to miss a visit to Talisker Distillery – the oldest working whisky distillers on the Isle of Skye. Here you will be able to enjoy a tour, taste some whisky and if you find something you like – grab bottle or two to take home!
Sitting on the edge of Loch Harport, and with beautiful views over the Cuillins, it’s a beautiful spot! So even non-whisky drinkers will enjoy a stop here.
Talisker Distillery is open year round.
The Oyster Shed
Now, let me start this by saying I don’t usually eat seafood… but The Oyster Shed changed this! This is the perfect stopping point for lunch after a busy morning exploring. Along with a wide selection of seafood options you can also get hot chips if you’re truly adverse to seafood (but I highly recommend giving it a try).
You can choose to takeaway or sit in, if you choose the latter you will be able enjoy the magnificent views from the small covered outdoor dining area.
Inside they also have a small market style store with plenty of goodies to take home such as fresh fish, terrines and pates, smoked fish, dried pasta and locally made jams and honeys.
The Oyster Shed is a must for anyone visiting the Isle of Skye!
Talisker Bay
Located very close to Talisker Distillery and the Oyster Shed, you will find Talisker Bay – a lovely short walk will take you down to a secluded beach. This bay isn’t very well known by most tourists, so it can be a peaceful escape from the crowds during high season.
The total walk will take you around 1 hour there and back.
Grab a coffee at Caora Dhubh
For a remote island, the Isle of Skye has plenty of great cafes. If you’re feeling like an afternoon break make sure you pop by Caora Dhubh to pick up a takeaway coffee before leaving Carbost. While there isn’t much seating space inside, you will find great coffee here and if the weather’s fine you can sit outside and enjoy more of those spectacular views over Loch Harport and the Cuillins.
Also, if you’re wondering Caora Dhubh (Coo-ra Doo) means Black Sheep in Scottish Gaelic! You will have to ask a local how to pronounce it properly though…
Dun Beag Broch
About a 15 minute drive from Carbost you will find another relatively little known spot. Dun Beag Broch is an amazing historic site that rarely sees many tourists – I’ve been here three or four times and never seen large crowds (or small crowds for that matter).
Brochs are Iron Age (aka old!) circular stone structures. Many people disagree on what they were used for, but they were generally places where people would have lived, kept livestock and used as a fort or safe-house. Whatever it was used for it’s pretty amazing to stand on the remains of something that would have been built around 2,000–2,500 years ago!
It’s a slightly steep climb up a short hill to reach the Broch, but with some good shoes it’s a fairly easy walk. You will also be treated to some amazing views at the top.
Bonus Day
Loch Corsuik
If you find yourself with more than two days in your Isle of Skye Itinerary, my next recommendation would be a visit to Loch Corsuik! This is absolutely one of my favourite places on Skye and well worth the trip to get there.
The tiny village of Elgol will give you stunning views of the Cuillins, but from here you can also jump on a boat which will ferry you across to very heart of the Cuillin hills where Loch Corsuik sits.
The boat journey will allow you to see incredible scenery and you should also spot local marine life along the way (like the famous seal colony) You will then have time to walk around the beautiful loch until your boat returns to collect you.
There are a few different boat trips operating from Elgol – personally I went with Misty Isle Boat Trips and highly recommend them (this was not sponsored or gifted in anyway and I paid for the trip in full – and would do again!).
Where to stay
If you are wanting to stay centrally located in Portree, the Portree Youth Hostel is fantastic budget friendly option. Well priced, clean and in an awesome location – you can’t go wrong!
For something a little more upmarket but still located in Portree I would recommend The Royal Hotel.
For somewhere a little more quiet and off-the-beaten-track but still close to all the sites, I highly recommend The Cowshed Bunkhouse in Uig. I may be slightly biased as this was where I worked, but I truly believe it’s one of the best accommodations on Skye – read my full review here.
Airbnb is another fantastic option for accomodation on the Isle of Skye! There are tons of beautiful locally run B&B’s and self-catered cottages available for booking all over the island. This is a fantastic option to help make your Skye experience all the more authentic.
If you’re not already using Airbnb you can sign up here and receive $69NZD off your first booking!
Important things to note
- This post is aimed at travellers who will have their own car/transport to get around. If you are travelling without a car, make sure you check out my post on how to travel the Isle of Skye without a car. Visiting all the places mentioned in this post would still be do-able without personal transport, but you would need to allocate more time for your trip. The other option would be to take an organised tour, which would visit many of these spots – I talk about all of this in more depth in the post linked above.
- Whatever the weather, make sure you pack your rain gear. You never know when the skies will open and rain should be expected when visiting Skye.
- The vast majority of roads on the Isle of Skye are single track – so you need to be mindful of the route and other drivers (plus the odd sheep roaming about). Learn more about driving on single track roads here.
- There’s a bit of a strange tradition at The Fairy Glen and various other tourist locations where people leave coins, ribbons, train tickets – all sorts of random offerings for the ‘fairies’. Please don’t do this, this land is used by local crofters for sheep and you wouldn’t want them eating any of that junk. One time we went out to collect this rubbish and collected almost £20.00 just in small change. Anything you bring here, please take with you when you leave and dispose of any rubbish in the appropriate way. The locals will thank you for it.
Have you ever visited the Isle of Skye, or perhaps it’s on your bucket list when travel opens up again?
Let me know in the comments.
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dennis hill says
Hi Emma, a huge thanks for all your advice !!
What is the midge situation on Skye in early October?
They love me ( oh dear)