Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye has unique mountain scenery providing a spectacular background to one of Scotland’s largest islands, along with beautiful coastal scenery, rivers and lochs as well as crofts and farms. Throughout Skye you will discover a wonderful natural environment where you can see eagles flying overhead, stags and deer in the hills, otters frolicking along the coastline and numerous species of native and migratory birds. While you can see dolphins and whales from various coastal locations the easiest and most reliable way is to take a wildlife boat trip, and while it is not guaranteed to see these amazing creatures you will experience a trip to enjoy and often see other wildlife including puffins, sea eagles and seals while getting a unique view of the island from a boat.

Skye can be found on a map of Scotland, on the west coast, opposite the Applecross peninsula. Skye is the largest island of the island group forming the Inner Hebrides, being 50 miles long and just over 639 square miles in size with several smaller islands nearby including Raasay and Scalpay that can be seen from Wester Ross. While crossing the Skye Bridge you cross over the wildlife reserve on Eilean Bàn, known and loved for the book A Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell about his life on the island, especially with the otters living on the island.

With a toll free road bridge connecting Skye from the mainland at the Kyle of Lochalsh, a train link to, and ferry link from Mallaig on the Scottish mainland to the south of the island, and the romantic Glenelg to Kylerhea Skye Ferry, you have a choice of how you can visit the island. If you want to travel without a car then you can get a train or bus from Glasgow or Inverness and then make other travel arrangements when you get to the island. It is worth remembering that while there is public transport it is not that frequent. You can travel around the island by walking and cycling, just remember the distances involved so that you get to your holiday accommodation.

Skye mountains - Garbh-bheinn, Sgurr nan Each and Belig

Visit Skye

When visiting the island during the main tourism season you do need to book bed and breakfast, hotels, self-catering cottages as well caravan / campervan places in campsites well in advance of your visit.

Skye can get busier than expected with many people visiting the island. A number of roads are single track and you need to plan extra time to travel safely along these roads. Remain patient, drive carefully, and use the passing places to allow vehicles to pass. Be friendly and give drivers a thank you wave as you pass each other. The roads on Skye are not really suitable for high volumes of traffic and popular visitor attractions can get busy and car parks full during the summer months.

The best way to discover and explore Skye is to arrange for several days or longer on the island and to use the well mapped walks to get off the roads and experience the islands hill walks and coastal areas. If you enjoy other people’s company while making new friends then bus tours encompassing the island along with more intimate Highland tour and adventure trips by minibus is an excellent way to see Skye and the Scottish Highlands with the added advantage of having all your accommodation and meals booked in advance for you. You can then just sit back and enjoy the amazing scenery and watch out for the wildlife.

While wild camping is allowed throughout Scotland and is ideal when exploring the interior hills and mountains it is not always the best for the environment along the main road routes and where possible you should use caravan and camping sites where toilets and other facilities are provided. During busy times you do need to book your caravan / campervan and sometimes tents in advance, it is best to check each campsite you plan to stay at for their booking requirements. If you do plan to wild camp then please leave nothing behind and take all rubbish with you to the nearest bin in that way you protect wildlife, the environment and other visitors and your own enjoyment of this beautiful island you have come to visit.

Skye | Visit the Isle of Skye

Visit Skye for the wonderful scenery, mountains, hillwalking and spectacular natural landscapes and wildlife

Isle of Skye

Visit Skye

Skye for Outstanding Natural Scenery