United Kingdom / Scottish Highlands & Skye / Isle of SkyeIsle of Skye
The Storr, the Quiraing and the Fairy Pools
The largest of the Inner Hebrides, joined to the mainland by the Skye Bridge (no ferry needed): the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing's landslip cliffs, the Fairy Pools below the Cuillin, Neist Point lighthouse, Dunvegan Castle and Portree's painted harbour. Roads beyond the main one are single track with passing places. A car is the way to see it; Citylink coaches reach Portree from Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow, and day tours run from Inverness. Rooms are few and sell out months ahead for May to September; don't come without one.
Highlights
- Old Man of Storr hike
- Quiraing loop
- Fairy Pools
- Sunset at Neist Point
- Portree harbour
- Eilean Donan Castle on the drive in
- Dunvegan Castle
Things to do
- Old Man of Storr hikeMorning · 2h 30m
- Trotternish loop: Kilt Rock and the QuiraingAfternoon · 4h
- Fairy Pools walkMorning · 2h 30m
- Neist Point and Dunvegan CastleAfternoon · 4h
Tours & tickets
Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.
When to go
Best time: May – September
Heads up
Highland Midges
From early summer to September, clouds of tiny biting midges come out on still, damp days, especially at dawn and dusk near water and in the glens. Wind and sun keep them away. Carry a repellent sold locally (Smidge and others) and a head net for evening walks, and keep car windows shut at lochside stops.
Worth knowing
Skye in Summer: Rooms and Car Parks Full
Skye's few hotels, B&Bs and campsites are booked out months ahead from May to September, and the car parks at the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools and the Quiraing charge and fill by mid-morning. Don't come without a room, start early, and drive the single-track roads slowly, using the passing places.
Worth knowing
Highland Winter: Short Days, Many Places Shut
From November to March many Highland B&Bs, cafés, boat trips and tours close for the season, and the Jacobite steam train doesn't run. Days are short (about six and a half hours of daylight in Inverness at midwinter), and snow and ice can close the high roads through Glencoe and to Skye for hours. Book what is open, carry warm, waterproof clothes, and check Traffic Scotland before driving.
- Highland games — Summer gatherings across the Highlands with caber-tossing, hammer-throwing, pipe bands and Highland dancing; the Braemar Gathering on the first Saturday of September is attended by the royal family. Small local games are cheap and friendly; check each town's date.