GB · Scotland · 57.30°N 6.35°W

isle of skye

Jagged ridges, waterfalls and a harbour town below the hills of western Scotland.

Best time
May–September has the longest days, light until well past 10pm in June. July–August is the busiest, and midges swarm on still, damp evenings. November–February is stormy and dark by mid-afternoon, with snow on the high ridges.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Inverness, usually via London or Amsterdam, about 17–19 hours all in. Portree is about 2.5 hours' drive from there, over the Skye Bridge. The UK is 7 hours behind KL in summer and 8 in winter.
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GB · Scotlandisle of skye57.30°N 6.35°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Jagged ridges, waterfalls and a harbour town below the hills of western Scotland.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingIsle of SkyeGB, Scotland
KLisle of skye
≈ 10,780 km from KL, as the crow flies
Cattle near Neist Point Lighthouse, Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Photo: JoachimKohler-HB · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Skye is rocky ridges, sea lochs and single-track roads, joined to the mainland by a bridge. Portree is the main town, but the sights are spread around the island, so a car makes all the difference.

Makan

  1. Local seafoodLangoustines, scallops and mussels from the surrounding sea lochs.Map ↗
  2. Cullen skinkA thick Scottish soup of smoked haddock, potato and onion.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Old Man of StorrA steep hour's climb to a giant rock pinnacle above the sea, the island's best-known view.Map ↗
  2. QuiraingCliffs, pinnacles and green hollows left by an ancient landslip on the Trotternish ridge.Map ↗
  3. Fairy PoolsClear blue-green pools and little waterfalls below the jagged Cuillin mountains.Map ↗
  4. Neist PointA lighthouse on the island's far western tip, the place to watch the sunset.Map ↗
  5. Portree harbourA row of brightly painted houses around the harbour of the island's main town.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book a hire car and somewhere to stay early for summer: rooms on the island run out, and buses don't reach most trailheads.
  • Single-track roads have passing places. Pull in to let others by, and never park in them.
  • Halal food is almost non-existent on Skye, so self-catering helps; stock up at the big supermarkets in Inverness.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.