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The Ultimate 3 Day Isle of Skye Itinerary
Extending off the Atlantic coast of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is rich in wildlife and breath-taking scenery. At 50 miles long it’s the second largest island in Scotland, after Lewis and Harris. Having been occupied since the Mesolithic period the island is also steeped in fascinating history.
Highlights include dinosaur footprints, whale watching and the world renowned Cuillin Ridge. Popular with hikers and climbers, the dramatic scenery of the Red and Black Cuillin Mountains include 12 Munros.
Abundant in wild and spectacular scenery it’s no wonder the island is a popular location with TV and Film Productions as well as novels, poetry and art.
Fun Fact: The island was inhabited by the Norse People until 1266 when control of the Hebrides was given to Alexander III of Scotland. It’s name therefore, originates from the Norse language.
Sky = Clouds, Ye = Island. Literally translating to Island of Clouds.
This wet and windy island is accessible by ferry and road bridge, meaning you can definitely include this in a Scottish Road Trip.
Our Isle of Skye Itinerary is spread over three days, including hiking, top photo spots and favourite attractions. We also detail accommodation recommedations and more to help you plan your Scottish adventure!
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Why is the Isle of Skye famous?
The Isle of Skye is famous for its unusual and magical scenery. The rugged landscape is otherworldly and unique, with dominating mountains and vivid colours year round. The picturesque scenery provides a colourful utopia in which photographers, hikers and climbers thrive. With routes and highlights also accessible by car, it’s often a popular stop on a Scottish road trip.
How many days do you need on Skye?
Two to four days on the Isle of Skye is enough time to explore the rugged island whilst also visiting some of the lesser known spots.
We recommend a three day Isle of Skye Itinerary, which is enough time to incorporate it into a longer road trip or perfect for a long weekend away.
Where should I stay on Skye?
When planning where to stay on the Isle of Skye, there’s a range of options to suit all budgets. From camping or campervanning to luxury hotels.
We suggest planning what you want to see and do first as this will most likely determine where you stay.
The capital of the island is Portree, which has a picturesque fishing harbour and good road connections to the rest of the island.
All of the hotels listed below can be booked through Hotels.com. We always book through Hotels.com because of their points program and have actually been rewarded with free room upgrades and several free nights now!
Camping
Campsites are dotted all over Skye, many located in the most magical and picture perfect spots. These are some of the top campsites on Skye.
With prices ranging from ~£8 per person per night, this is a great budget friendly option in the warmer months. It does gets busy in summer so be sure to book in advance.
If you plan on visiting in the off season be sure to plan ahead as many campsites close during the winter months.
Van Life
When we visited in Winter 2021, campsites were all closed and our van gave us the flexibility to change our plans depending on weather.
We recommend researching a few spots in advance to ensure you park responsibly, the signal on Isle of Skye can be intermittent.
There’s a lovely car park (no facilities) just up from Fairy Pools which had plenty of level ground to park on.
Park4Night is a great tool for planning where to pull up for the night.
Hotel
4 Star – Skeabost House Hotel ~ £200 per night (off peak season)
We stayed here over Christmas in 2021 and it was perfect. The traditional Scottish décor, inclusive of tartan carpets, log fire and wood panelling makes for a cosy and relaxing experience.
Isle of Skye | The Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary
Three days on Skye is just enough to see the sights and squeeze in a few good hikes. We visited in Winter 2021 when daylight hours are much shorter, so we’ve included bonus stops if you have more time.
Our Isle of Skye Itinerary below includes top sights along with our favourite hikes and top tips.
Day 1
AM
Bla Bheinn – Views of the Famous Cuillin Ridge
PM
Star Gazing
Bla Bheinn
Time: 5-6 Hours
Distance: 9km
Ascent: 929 metres
Start: Car park off B8083 road near Loch Slapin. (Compostable Toilets)
The Isle of Skye is world famous for it’s mountainous landscape. What better way to spend your first day on the island than tackling it’s harsh landscape and an iconic peak.
As the only Munro on the Isle of Skye outside of the Black Cuillins, this route is on many a keen hikers to do list.
The scree heavy, challenging ascent sees you clambering, scrambling and hiking, along with a few river crossings. However, your efforts are rewarded with panoramic, breath-taking views of the Black Cuillin Ridge.
Fun Fact: A Munro is a mountain in Scotland over 3000ft and there are 282 of them!
Star Gazing
The best time for star gazing on Isle of Skye is from September to April as this is when the sky is at its darkest.
Glendale on the Isle of Skye is one of the few places in the UK with a total absence of light pollution. Not only is it perfect for star gazing and watching meteor showers but in the winter months you may even see the Northern Lights.
Spend the evening taking in the stars and experimenting with some night sky photography! The perfect way to relax after a long hike.
Day 2
AM
Fairy Glen
PM
Old Man of Storr
Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock
Fairy Glen
At 9am on 25th December we had the magical glen all to ourselves. As a tourist hot spot the whimsical landscape and dramatic rock formations are hard to experience alone. Often flooded with visitors the enchanted landscape is high on everyone’s list.
The ancient landscape is rich in colour and in folklore, formed by a landslide the locals prefer the story that mythical creatures created the mysterious land formations and that these creatures still dwell in the Glen.
Scottish Folklore is abundant on the Isle of Skye and prominent in many of those stories are Fairies.
Top Tip: Visit Fairy Glen very early for Sunrise or late for Sunset to avoid the crowds. Christmas day is also very quiet!
Old Man of Storr
Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Distance: 4 km
Ascent: 535 meters
Start: The Old Man of Storr Car Park is located just off the A855. (Toilets available)
Possibly one of the most famous walks on the Isle of Skye, along with the Quiraing (Day 3), the Old Man of Storr is only a short drive from Fairy Glen.
The pinnacle of rock stands proud from the rocky cliffs behind, formed by an ancient landslide. The surrounding distinctive landscape is reminiscent of a fantasy movie and can be seen from miles away.
Much of the path is well trodden and stones have been laid to create steps, so this is a fairly easy afternoon climb.
Top Tip: Most visitors follow the main trail to the pinnacle, however if you walk a little further to a flat rocky outcrop to the right, you will be rewarded with (in our opinion) the best views of the Old Man.
Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock
Located on the famous Trotternish Peninsula are the phenomenal Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock, spectacular year round.
A rare sight, Mealt Falls tumbles from the cliffs directly into the sea. The 55 meter waterfall is fed by Loch Mealt, which can be found over the road. A viewing platform allows visitors to see the magnificent water feature plunge into the Atlantic Ocean.
Just beyond the falls is the dramatic Kilt Rock, named after it’s Kilt-Like formation. The 90 meter high basalt columns resemble pleats.
Bonus Stop: Staffin Beach, where you can see dinosaur footprints and Dunvegan Castle, an award winning castle steeped in legend.
Day 3
AM
The Quiraing
PM
Highland Cow Spotting
The Quiraing
Time: 2-4 hours (depending on photo stops and weather)
Distance: 7 km Loop
Ascent: 347 meters
Start: The Quiraing Car Park
The iconic circuit, known to be one of the most spectacular trails on Skye, offers sensational views across the island and as far as Torridon. A fairly long loop, weaving through rocky outcrops, hidden pinnacles and climbing high cliffs. The distinct landscape is unlike anywhere else in the British Isles.
Like many of Skye’s interesting features, it was formed by a huge landslip, and is still moving today.
Highlights of the route include The Prison, a rocky peak reminiscent of a medieval keep, The Needle a sharp 37 metre high landmark and The Table, a hidden grassy plateau, supposedly used by locals to hide sheep and cattle from Viking invaders.
Fun Fact: The name Quiraing comes from Old Norse Kví Rand, which means ‘Round Fold’.
Highland Cow Spotting
Originating in the Scottish Highlands, Highland Cattle are a sought after photo opportunity for visitors to the Island.
Their longs horns and shaggy amber coats make them quite a distinctive and hardy animal.
A Scottish Adventure wouldn’t be complete without having spotted some Highland Cattle. There’s a handy guide here on where you can find them. However, we found some not far from the Quiraing!
Driving down the road towards Staffin we came across a few nibbling at grass right at the side of the road. We managed to find a safe place to pull in and hop out to say hello.
Bonus Stop: Fairy Pools, a series of beautifully clear pools or Neist Point Lighthouse, one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland.
FAQ's
Hopefully our Isle of Skye itinerary has inspired you to plan your Scottish adventure. You might still have a few unanswered questions and that’s ok! We’ve got you covered, listed below are some of the most common FAQ’s:
Are the midges bad on Skye?
Fortunately for us we visited in December and the Midges were non-existent. However from May to September Midges can be problematic on the Isle of Skye. They are most prevalent in the early mornings and evenings.
Midges don’t like the wind so if there is a stiff coastal breeze you should be midge free.
To help with planning a trip to avoid Midges, check the Midge Forecast!
We would also seriously recommend using Avon Skin So Soft to keep the Midges away. Not only have we used it in Scotland during Summer, but Eve also used it in the Belizean Jungle to deter Mosquitos!
Is the Isle of Skye expensive?
The Isle of Skye can be very cheap to visit, if you camp or have a camper van it could even be free (excluding fuel).
Visiting at Christmas in our Campervan, we found a free car park to camp in for one night then spent another two nights in a hotel. Bringing a fridge full of food in our campervan, meant we could cook our own meals if we wanted.
It’s also possible to spend a lot of money on Isle of Skye, staying in a fancy hotel, paying to visit a Brewery and eating out.
How big is the Isle of Skye?
The Isle of Skye is 50 miles long and covers 639 square miles. It’s the second largest island in Scotland after Lewis and Harris and is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides.
The island’s jagged coastline is formed of a series of peninsulas and bays, meaning that no part of the Isle of Skye is more than 5 miles from the sea.
Without stopping you could drive around the island in half a day.
Do you need a car on Isle of Skye?
Visiting the Isle of Skye without a car would limit access to the more remote areas of the island, however there is some public transport. You can reach the Isle of Skye by train, ferry or coach.
Stagecoach is the bus operator on the Isle of Skye, they don’t run that frequently but if you plan ahead you can work your day around them.
Citylink also have buses getting you to and around the Isle of Skye, they offer a 3 day explorer pass for £49 which allows unlimited travel during this period.
There’s a great post from Scottish Tours on how to access the island via public transport.
What movies were filmed on the Isle of Skye?
It’s no wonder the Isle of Skye’s epic landscape is a popular location with Film and Television Productions.
Flash Gordon (1980) – Broadford Areodrome
Highlander (1986) – Cuillin Hills
Stardust (2006) – Fairy Glen
Made of Honor (2008) -Pier Hotel in Portree and Dunvegan Castle
Prometheus (2012) – The Old Man of Storr
Snow White and The Huntsman (2012) – The Quiraing
47 Ronin (2013) – Neist Point Lighthouse
Macbeth (2015) – The Quiraing
The BFG (2016) – The Quiraing
There’s even more!
Thanks for reading!
Fancy spending three days on the magical island? We hope our Isle of Skye itinerary has you craving the rugged landscape and magical scenery, let us know in the comments below.
We love to hear feedback and if you’re planning a trip to the Isle of Skye or Scotland, let us know what you’re up to whilst you’re there! Thanks for reading, for the latest updates follow us on Instagram and drop us a message to say hi!
Eve and Nick