Land Of Waterfalls, Sheep & Sore Knees: An Amazing Isle Of Skye 4 Day Itinerary

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The Isle of Skye is magical. Not magical as if in an old fairytale (like biking through the wine routes of Alsace, France), but more, what shall I say… landscapes that are otherworldly.  Almost as if it doesn’t quite seem real, but yet, is just that. After our recent visit, I can tell you that as the home of endless waterfalls, adorable sheep, picturesque hikes, highland cows, dreamy castles, delightful B&B’s and the wildest weather I have ever experienced, exploring the Isle of Skye feels like walking straight into the Lord Of The Rings. The longer I stayed, the more I was convinced that God had such fun designing this little corner of Scotland. And maybe that’s why I am particularly excited to share this Isle of Skye 4 day itinerary with you, so that you too can “go on an adventure!” (as Bilbo Baggins would put it) to the unique places of this little island. 

Why visit The Isle Of Skye?

With distant Scottish heritage, visiting Scotland has long been on my bucket list. Unfortunately, the pandemic canceled a family trip of ours a few years back, so when Charlie and I were planning this trip (to capitalize on using some soon to expire airline miles), we wanted to be sure to include spots that hadn’t previously been on our main itinerary, just in the event that we reschedule that trip to take all together at some point in the future. Enter, the Isle of Skye! 

But, even if you don’t have Scottish heritage or haven’t had Scotland on your bucket list, the Isle of Skye is a must see place for anyone who loves nature, hiking, and experiencing natural wonders. Depending on the season you visit during, you can see everything from lush landscapes, waterfalls and purple heather to castles, whales, puffins and seals to highland cows, sheep, pheasants and the northern lights. Truly, the Isle of Skye is a wonder. 

Which season is best to visit?

While many people might envision wild rolling green hills when thinking of Scotland, the landscapes actually look totally different depending on the season in which you visit! When visiting in spring as we have, prepare to see a mix of beautiful brown, burgundy and gold landscapes with bright green grasses and daffodils galore. During the summer, you can expect bright green hills with a mix of purple heather. Fall colors move towards the purple, burgundy, green and gold tones again before settling into a mix of browns, burgundy and rich caramel tones in winter. Regardless of the season though, the landscapes will be gorgeous, but if you are expecting the bright green hills, I definitely recommend going anytime from March until the fall. For pricing purposes, capitalizing on our airline miles and to prevent going during midge season, we decided to visit during March and it was lovely! As with anywhere in Scotland, the weather is unpredictable so just be prepared for sun, rain and wind spring through fall and snow during the winter.

Traveling To The Island

Seeing that the Isle of Skye is nestled along the Atlantic coast on the northwest corner of Scotland, getting to the island can involve a bit more travel. Knowing this, we opted to spend 4 days in the Isle Of Skye, bookended by two travel days. For traveling, we flew into London and then Edinburgh before renting a car to drive to the Isle of Skye. Driving to the Isle of Skye takes about 5 hours from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, so I recommend choosing whichever airport you can get a cheaper flight to or that you would like to explore and incorporate into your trip.

That being said, you certainly could add a shorter stop at the Isle Of Skye during a longer Scotland trip itinerary around the country to help break up the travel just back and forth (although keep reading, I have a few ideas for that as well!) while still getting to see the island, however from our experience (and depending on your interests), staying for 3 or 4 days on the island allows your trip to be full without being rushed. 

Likewise, cell service around the island can sometimes be spotty, so I highly recommend downloading or screenshotting your map directions or better yet, break out physical maps (like we did!) to fully embrace a slower pace of traveling. There are not that many main roads on the island, so it doesn’t take too long to figure out your general way around, however many of the key hikes and sites are a little bit off the beaten path. Just be sure to have a few directions, follow the signs and drive on the left side of the road!

Isle Of Skye Itinerary: Overview

Isle Of Skye Itinerary: Details

Day 1 – 

While day one is a long day of travel, the drive across the highlands to the Isle of Skye is beautiful. Keep a lookout for castles, elk and highland cows and your drive is sure to be an interesting one! Likewise, many of the bed and breakfast hotels on the island offer restaurants onsite, so once we settled into our lodging, we ate onsite so that we didn’t have to plan to drive anymore that day! 

Day 2 – 

As this is the first full day of your adventures, I recommend checking out some of the most famous stops on the island; they certainly are famous for a reason! We sought to group each of our hiking days with other places close to them and/or that were achievable together (based on the time and length required for each stop). 

The Old Man of Storr 

The Old Man of Storr is a stunner. Even during the long drive up to it, you can see the immense jagged rock formations jutting out of the earth, which upon arriving, you can hike through. The mix of land, sea, sky, rock and grasses (which in March blend from burgundy to brown to golden to evergreen to bright chartreuse tones) come together in a beautiful way. I will note that there are lots of stairs / rocky climbs along the 3.5 mile hike so be sure to wear good shoes and dress with the possibility of intense wind (and therefore very fast changing weather) in mind! It is not uncommon for the wind to be 20 to 40 miles per hour (it was close to 40 the day we visited), so while you may be blessed with no wind at all, do be prepared for it just in case! Regardless though, the hike is incredible and definitely is worth the visit. 

Coral Beach 

Known as the “Caribbean of Scotland”, Coral Beach is gorgeous with its mix of black rocks, white sand, green pastures and clear blue water. Like the Caribbean, the color of the water largely depends on the sun, however even on a cloudy day the water is beautiful and clear. This 2 mile hike is much easier than the Old Man of Storr, however the weather can be just as unpredictable and windy. While there, it changed from raining to sunshine to rainbows to clouds in a matter of minutes, so we were able to see the beach in almost every light possible.  

Neist Point Lighthouse  

As the westernmost point of the Isle of Skye, watching the sunset at Neist Point Lighthouse is the perfect way to end your first full day on the Isle of Skye. Whether watching from the car lot at the top of the hill or hiking the 1.5 mile hike around Neist point, the view is beautiful. Unfortunately, we did not see the sunset here as it began to storm (with the continued wind!), but even still, it was amazing to see the cliffs die into the Atlantic. 

Day 3 – 

While the first full day at Isle of Skye was split between several popular points, this second full day has a few options: one long hiking day connecting Sligachan Bridge and the Fairy Pools or driving between Sligachan Bridge, the Fairy Pools and Talisker Distillery throughout the southern portion of the island. We opted to do the one long hike and while it was challenging, it definitely gave us an awesome perspective of the wild, untouched landscape of the Isle of Skye. 

Hike from Sligachan Bridge to the Fairy Pools 

Connecting Sligachan Bridge and the Fairy Pools, this 11.2 mile round trip hike is certainly not for the faint of heart but is definitely a memorable adventure should you be up to it. Beginning in Sligachan, the hiking trail follows the river around the mountains down to the Fairy Pools before circling back. Never before this hike had I realized just how filled with water the Isle of Skye is, as the rivers continuously had waterfalls, streams and creeks flowing down into them from the mountains which was so beautiful. Once reaching the Fairy Pools (you can tell you are getting close to them when you start seeing cairns (large piles of rocks) along the trail), you will be amazed by the clear blue water flooding from one pool into the next. Even though you will see dozens of waterfalls and clear pools along the hike, the Fairy Pools are still worth the visit and live up to their magical name. 

Should you decide to hike between the Bridge and Fairy Pools, I would recommend waterproof shoes (much of the hike is on marshy ground or in a creek bed – be prepared for sore knees!), snacks and either a physical map and compass or the Alltrails app with offline downloads as much of the trail is without service and not always well marked. 

Day 4 – 

For the third full day on the Isle of Skye, plan to visit Brother’s Point, Kilt Rock, the town of Uig, the Quiraing and Fairy Glen! Much like the first day, this mix of hikes gives different perspectives to the unique landscapes of Isle of Skye. 

Rubha nam Brathairean (Brother’s Point) & Kilt Rock

About 2 miles, the hike of Brother’s Point scenically winds beside green pastures dotted with stone walls and fluffy sheep until dropping off into the ocean. It is simply amazing to see the mix of rocky coast, blue water and green cliffs all come together at Brother’s Point, so it’s no wonder why this hike became one of my favorites. From this point, keep a lookout for Kilt Rock as you can see the waterfall falling over the edge, giving you a totally different perspective than from the car park. Should you like to see Kilt Rock more closely, just travel down the road a few minutes and you can experience it even better. 

The Town Of Uig

While many of the towns on the Isle of Skye are quite small, Uig is one of the larger ones and is home to several cafes, shops and even a ferry for the islands of Lochmaddy and Tarbert. While here, be sure to stop by Uig Pottery for a variety of ceramic products and local goods. 

The Quiraing 

Like the Fairy Pools, you can experience the Quiraing in a variety of ways. Upon arriving at the Quiraing, feel free to stop at the main public lookout point, or take a 4.5 mile hike that continues around the “prison” and the “needle”. Like the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing is a popular hike so anticipate meeting others along the trail. Even with its high cliffs and narrow paths, this hike is a must see for its stunning scenery and sheep dotting the way. If you are blessed enough to have a mix of sun and clouds (with only spurts of rain) as we were, the picturesque views of Isle of Skye don’t get much better! 

Fairy Glen 

The last must-see hike of the Isle of Skye is the Fairy Glen. A short ½ mile hike, this legendary glen takes you through a valley dotted with ringed mounds of land. The unique land formations shown in bright colors of green, gold and burgundy are quite striking. 

Day 5 – 

On your last day in the Isle of Skye, prepare to leave your B&B and be sure to stop in the town of Portree if you haven’t already. As the largest town on the island, Portree has a variety of shops and restaurants perfect for searching for local gifts. Along with local Scottish products, keep an eye out for unique clan Tartans should you have any Scottish heritage and be interested in wearing their colors. 

Eilean Donan Castle 

Once leaving Portree and the Isle of Skye, make plans to stop by the Eilean Donan Castle. Owned by the Conchra Charitable Trust set up by the MacRae family, the restored Eilean Donan Castle allows you to understand life in Scotland throughout the ages and certainly is one of the most personalized castles I have ever visited. Not only does this stop help to break up your trip back to Edinburgh or Glasgow, but it also provides a look at one of the best preserved castles in Scotland through visiting the castle itself, its gift shop and cafe. 

From the castle, continue on to Edinburgh or Glasgow to spend the night before traveling home (or continuing your Scotland adventures) the next day. 

Day 6 – 

Much like the first day, this official last day of the trip is for traveling. Scroll through your pictures, enjoy your new local treasures and reminisce on your wonderful adventures! 

Where To Stay On The Isle Of Skye 

As the Isle of Skye is only home to roughly 13,000 local residents, most of the lodging available is within small local bed and breakfast hotels formed from historical country houses and estates scattered throughout the island. 

Greshornish House Hotel

We stayed at the Greshornish House Hotel and had a marvelous stay in the Islay suite. Originally designed as a traditional white manor house, this bed and breakfast hotel now offers 10 suites, lounge spaces, a restaurant and lovely sprawling grounds. I particularly loved the large soaking clawfoot tub in our Islay suite after long days of hiking! From the friendly, welcoming staff and beautiful rooms (including a cozy lounge with a wood burning fireplace, perfect for after dinner lounging) to the delicious restaurant and scenic location, I can not recommend the Greshornish House Hotel enough. Likewise, be sure to keep an eye out at breakfast for the stunning Golden Pheasants that meander the premises!

Other Accommodation Options 

While we thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend the Greshornish House Hotel, the Skeabost House Hotel, Uig Hotel, several B&B hotels in Portree and camper vans (such as the Indie vans) are also popular accommodation options on the island. Portree is a frequently a starting point for many visitors and while I personally loved staying out in the countryside, staying in Portree can be great if you are looking to be closer to other restaurants and conveniences. Likewise, while it can eliminate enjoying some elements of the Scottish B&B culture, utilizing a campervan instead of a bed and breakfast hotel allows you to experience the landscapes in a really amazing way and you eliminate the need for a separate rental car. Whichever accommodation you choose to experience the Isle of Skye, it definitely will be worth it! 

Where To Eat On The Isle Of Skye 

As I mentioned previously, most of the restaurant options scattered throughout the island are available either in Portree or are hosted in B&B hotels. Many of these hotels welcome visitors to their restaurants even if you are a guest elsewhere and some offer everything from lunch and dinner to afternoon high tea. We thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant at the Greshornish House Hotel two nights of our stay (and breakfast throughout our stay) and then also were able to experience delicious dinners at both the Skeabost House Hotel and Uig Hotel (where we were able to watch the sunset our last night!). Each of these restaurants served delicious local dishes ranging from lamb and steak to fresh seafood, venison and chicken. 

For lunch, feel free to try a hotel restaurant, find a café around the island (we found a great one offering fish and chips near the ferry in Uig!) or even enjoy a bagged lunch available for Greshornish Hotel guests to take out hiking. We opted in for this option on two of our days of hiking and it was such a blessing to be able to eat on the trail particularly since we were visiting in the “shoulder season” of spring before many of the cafes opened again for their busy summer season. 

Final Thoughts 

Full of hiking, waterfalls, rainbows, sheep and wonders, this trip to Isle of Skye is definitely worth the visit! By taking a trip full of hiking, utilizing airline miles and visiting in the “shoulder” season, this trip was much more investment friendly than some and certainly provided a HUGE bang for its buck. While it was full of wild weather and sore muscles from all the hiking, we left with such an appreciation and fondness for the beautiful landscapes and warmth of the Scottish people that I most certainly hope to go back! So, what about you? Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Isle of Skye? If not, would it make your bucket list now? Let me know in the comment section below and share this article with someone you would love to visit Scotland with! 

Happy traveling!

Chloe

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