10 things to do on the Isle of Skye

How many days do you need on the Isle of Skye?

We recommend spending three days on the Isle of Skye if you really want to experience the island. We explored Skye in two days, which is possible if you're happy with fairly full days, but it does mean making choices. With three days, you can take more time at the viewpoints, enjoy the hikes without rushing and add some of the places we didn't manage to visit ourselves, such as Brother's Point, Rubha Hunish and the Skye Museum of Island Life.

Things to do in Northern Isle of Skye

1. Stop at Eilean Donan Castle on Your Way to Skye

Before you even reach the Isle of Skye, there's one stop worth adding to your route: Eilean Donan Castle. It's located along the route towards the Skye Bridge, so it's easy to visit on your way to the island. Alternatively, you can save it for the journey back after leaving Skye. Even if you don't have time to go inside, it's worth stopping to see the castle and its surroundings.

2. Explore Portree

Portree is the largest town on the Isle of Skye and makes a convenient first stop before heading further north. The town is best known for the colourful houses lining its harbour, but it's also a good place to grab something to eat, get a coffee and stock up before exploring the more remote parts of the island. We stopped at MacKenzie's Bakery in Portree before continuing our journey. We also visited the Portree Knitwear Company, which is a nice place to browse Scottish knitwear and souvenirs.

3. Hike the Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Isle of Skye and an absolute must when visiting the island. But be prepared: getting to the viewpoint requires a fairly steep climb. The trail starts climbing almost immediately and continues uphill towards the famous rock formations. It took us around 45 minutes to reach the main viewpoint.Take your time on the way up and wear good walking shoes, especially when the weather has been wet.

4. See Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock

After the hiking, Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock make for a wonderfully easy stop. There's no long walk required here. From the viewpoint, you can see Mealt Falls tumbling over the cliffs towards the sea. We really enjoyed this spot simply as a place to sit for a while and take in the scenery.

5. Hike the Quiraing

Of all the hikes we did on the Isle of Skye, the Quiraing was by far our favourite. The landscape here is incredible. Huge cliffs and unusual rock formations rise from bright green hills, with views stretching all the way towards the coast. Parts of the trail take you right through this dramatic landscape, and you'll probably share sections of the path with a few sheep along the way.

The full loop is approximately 6.8 kilometres and takes around two to three hours. Unfortunately, the route isn't always completely obvious. At some points, it can be a little difficult to work out exactly where the trail continues, so having an offline hiking map downloaded beforehand is useful.

If you don't have enough time or don't feel like completing the entire loop, you can also walk part of the trail and return the same way. You don't have to do the full hike to experience the scenery. If you only choose one longer hike on the Isle of Skye, this would be our pick.

Things to do in Western Isle of Skye

6. Wander Through the Fairy Glen

Fairy Glen is completely different from the huge cliffs and mountains you'll find elsewhere on Skye. The landscape is made up of small green hills, winding paths and unusual rock formations. It genuinely gave us a little bit of The Hobbit vibes. Unfortunately, we explored Fairy Glen in absolutely pouring rain. But somehow the place was still magical. Scottish weather at its best!

7. Visit Dunvegan Castle

Dunvegan Castle is one of the places to visit if you want to see more than just Skye's natural landscapes. The castle has been the ancestral home of Clan MacLeod for centuries. Both the location and the castle itself are beautiful, and it's a nice change of pace between hikes and scenic drives.

Important: check whether Dunvegan Castle is open before adding it to your itinerary. Opening days and hours vary throughout the year and the castle may be closed during the quieter months.

8. Drive to Neist Point Lighthouse

The drive to Neist Point takes you along narrow roads through Glendale before reaching one of the most dramatic coastal viewpoints on Skye. From the parking area, you can walk towards the lighthouse or stay higher up for the classic view over the cliffs towards Neist Point. It's a beautiful place, but be prepared for the weather. When we visited, it was cold and very windy, which isn't exactly unusual on this exposed part of the island.

9. Visit Talisker Distillery

No Scotland road trip is complete without encountering a little whisky, and Skye is home to Talisker Distillery. Located in Carbost beside Loch Harport, Talisker is an easy stop to combine with the western side of the island. If you're interested in how Scotch whisky is made, you can book a distillery tour or tasting. We'd recommend checking availability and booking ahead if a tour is an important part of your plans.

10. Walk to the Fairy Pools

The Fairy Pools were one of our absolute favourite places on the Isle of Skye. And it wasn't just because of the pools themselves but the setting is what made this place so special. The clear pools and waterfalls sit beneath the dramatic peaks of the Black Cuillin, creating one of the most beautiful landscapes we saw during our time on Skye.

From the car park, it's roughly a 20-minute walk to the first pools, but we'd recommend continuing further along the trail rather than turning around immediately. Take your time here and enjoy the surrounding landscape.

Extra things to do with a third day on Skye

We explored the Isle of Skye in two days, but if we were to do it again, we would definitely add a third day. It gives you more time to enjoy the island without rushing and leaves room for a few extra hikes and stops that we didn't manage to visit ourselves.

Brother's Point

Brother's Point, also known as Rubha nam Brathairean, is a quieter spot on the Trotternish Peninsula. A roughly 3.5-kilometre walk takes you towards the headland, with dramatic cliffs and views across the sea.

Rubha Hunish

If you're looking for a longer hike, consider Rubha Hunish, the northernmost point of the Isle of Skye. The approximately 8.5-kilometre trail takes you through a remote part of northern Skye towards the coast.

Skye Museum of Island Life

For something other than hiking, you could also visit the Skye Museum of Island Life. Set inside traditional thatched cottages, the museum gives an insight into what everyday island life was like in the past. We didn't visit the museum ourselves, but it's easy to combine with other sights in northern Skye. Make sure to check the seasonal opening times before visiting.