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These articles will help you make plans to visit other incredible places in Scotland: Explore the enchanted Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye, Uig, Port of Call: Top things to do in Portree, Isle of Skye, Top things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Best 10 Photos – Forth Bridge, the greatest man-made wonder in Scotland
Top 10 things to do in Isle of Skye
Visit the colourful town of Portree
Portree, the island’s largest town is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to use as a base to start your exploration.
The Scottish town of Portree is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to start your discovery of the rugged countryside of Isle of Skye. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Skye Museum of Island Life
Skye Museum of Island Life – The 19th-century crofting village shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. Its ideal location has sweeping views of the ocean below. Learn more about exploring the cottages.
Visit the Skye Museum of Life. The 19th century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Old Man of Storr
Old Man of Storr is one of the most popular destinations on the Isle of Skye because of its incredible landscape on the Trotternish Ridge. It is one of the largest landslide areas in Europe.
The “Storr” is the result of this ancient landslide. To hike round trip to reach the base of the Old Man will take about 1 1/2 hours.
The trail is marked as difficult. It is steep, rocky and very rough and strenuous.
It is located 6 miles or almost 10 km from Portree.
Old Man of Storr is one of the most popular destinations on the Isle of Skye because of its incredible landscape on the Trotternish Ridge. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall
Kilt Rock is part of the Trotternish coastline and offers ocean views across to mainland Scotland. The nearby Mealt Waterfall, free-falls 60 metres off the cliff’s side into Ramsay Sound.
From the waterfall, view Kilt Rock’s pillar-like rock formations made of basalt. Many imagine the rock formation to look like the folds of a Scottish kilt.
Please stay within the designated viewing areas as people have fallen from this attraction.
This area has also been used in Sci-Fi movies.
Kilt Rock is part of the Trotternish coastline of the rugged countryside. The nearby Mealt Waterfall free-falls 60 metres off the cliff’s side into Ramsay Sound. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Trotternish Coastline
Trotternish coastline is a famous spot for geologists worldwide. It is a living outdoor museum, featuring interpretive panels in several spots discussing the Middle Jurassic period when dinosaurs roamed this unique land.
Walk along the beaches full of fossils and discover, if you look closely, a dinosaur bone or tooth embedded within a rock. Arrowheads can also be spotted dating from the Neolithic era.
The nearby Staffin Dinosaur Museum features a noteworthy collection.
The Quiraing
The Quiraing is located in the north of Isle of Skye on the Trotternish Ridge. The scenery is spectacular and the rock formations are out of this world making the area perfect for use in Sci-Fi movies.
The ridge was shaped through a series of huge landslides creating dramatic peaked hoodoos, cliffs and concealed mesas.
The Quiraing features spectacular rock formations are out of this world making the area perfect for use in Sci-Fi movies.
Staffin Dinosaur Museum
Staffin Dinosaur Museum offers an excellent collection of Middle Jurassic history and dinosaur fossils and showcases discoveries found on the Isle of Skye.
Dugald Ross created the museum in 1976 as a teenager and is well known for recording Scotland’s first dinosaur bones.
If you are planning a visit to the area and you would like to find footprints of dinosaurs on the beach or look for fossils you can book a tour.
The museum is located near Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall and is 25 minutes drive from Portree.
The Staffin Dinosaur Museum offers an excellent collection of Middle Jurassic history and dinosaur fossils. It showcases discoveries found on the Isle of Skye. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Fairy Glen
Fairy Glen is a hidden treasure of dome-shaped hills and includes a pond and a rock formation known as Castle Ewen.
Discover the enchanted geological landscape of Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The area looks as if it could be the home to magical faeries. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Discover the enchanted geological landscape of Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The area looks as if it could be the home to magical faeries. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Fairy Pools
The Fairy Pools are worth a visit if you have time and the weather is good. To reach the first pool and a waterfall from the road, it will take about a 20 minute hike along a path, crossing rivers by using stepping-stones. It can be very muddy and slippery.
Isle of Skye Sheep
There are many varieties of sheep on the island. Some sources say there are more than 100,000 sheep, but we could not find a scientific resource to confirm this finding. Sheep wool can be very versatile, in fact, it was used to repair a popular coastal pathway on the Isle of Skye.
What kind of sheep are in the Isle of Skye?
Scottish Blackface Sheep
Cheviots
The Scottish countryside is home to many varieties of sheep. These blackface sheep are grazing near the Fairy Glen. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Isle of Skye Brewery
The Isle of Skye Brewery has won 70 awards since they brewed their first craft beer in 1995. Historically, the people of Skye have been brewing ale for thousands of years. At that time, they used what was available; heather, porridge oats and meadowsweet.
The award winning brewery is now distilling Skye Gin The Storr. Produced in a handmade copper still, it is a dry gin made from a combination of botanicals; juniper, rose hip, coriander, sweet peel, black peppercorn, orris root, liquorice root, heather, locally sourced wild angelica and meadowsweet.
The brewery is located near The Pier at Uig.
Discover craft beer at the Isle of Skye Brewing Company.
Uig Pottery
Uig Pottery is a unique shop offering sculptures, pottery, tableware and homeware representing the history and landscape of the Isle of Skye. You can find Celtic knotwork, Hebridean jewellery and traditional Scottish cups called quaichs.
Resident artisans can be seen in the workshop creating their wares.
The shop is also located near The Pier at Uig.
Uig Pottery’s traditional Scottish cups called quaichs.
Discover Uig on the Isle of Skye. Isle of Skye Brewing Company and Uig Pottery are located neat The Pier. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Historic Kilmuir Graveyard
Historic Kilmuir Graveyard is where you will find Flora MacDonald‘s grave site. MacDonald is famous for the 1745 escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the grandson of James II of England.
Flora MacDonald is buried in the historic Kilmuir Cemetery in the magical countryside of Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
For more information about the Isle of Sky and where to stay visit Expedia or visit the official tourism site for Scotland.
Getting to the Isle of Skye:
The Isle of Skye is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is about a 5 hour drive from Glasgow. Tours are offered from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.
The island can also be reached by cruise ship. The usual port of call is Portree. Find out more about Portree.
Important:
• Bring cash if you plan to eat lunch or buy anything from small stores or shops, as some places do not accept credit cards.
• Wear good sturdy walking or hiking shoes to navigate uneven terrain, cobblestones, dirt and wooden floors.
• Make sure you have all-weather waterproof clothing and wear layers. Weather conditions can change and you should be prepared for rain and wind.
When we visited the Isle of Skye, we took a 5 1/2 hour shore excursion tour at a cost of £139.98 for 2 from the Tour Skye company. We chose this tour company because of the good reviews and we were glad we did. We booked the sightseeing tour using Viator. Viator also offers several options for 2-Day or 3-Day tours with hotels included.
For more information one the Inner Hebrides, visit https://www.visitbritain.com/ca/en/scotland/inner-hebrides
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Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, a travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National PD Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW & NATJA.
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