5 Reasons to Visit the Isle of Skye
With dinosaur footprints the size of dustbin lids recently discovered, as well as movies Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Macbeth both using the island as a backdrop, there’s never been a better time to experience the magic of Skye for yourself.
I was lucky enough to spend some time exploring the island during a gloriously warm October weekend, and below are my top five reasons why you should experience Skye for yourself.
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Spectacular Scenery
I could use all of the adjectives I know to attempt to describe the landscape of Skye, but words fail to do it justice. From the jagged mountains of The Cuillins to the bizarre, alien-like shapes of the Quiraing – all set alongside dramatic sea cliffs clinging on for dear life against the immense power of the Atlantic Ocean.
The scenery on the island is, quite literally, breathtaking, and a drive anywhere on the island can take you longer than you anticipate as you’ll feel compelled to stop every few minutes to take photos.
Horrible Histories
Skye came to be dominated by two great clans – the MacDonalds and the MacLeods – and the rivalry between the two led to bloodshed and violence across the island for several centuries.
Dunvegan Castle (pictured below) has been home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years and is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. It’s well worth a visit to learn more of Skye’s bloody history.
Elsewhere, visit the grave of the legendary Flora MacDonald – a woman whose life was so extraordinary that it almost seems a work of fiction! She disguised Bonnie Prince Charlie as her maid to help him evade capture after the disastrous Battle of Culloden in 1746 before she was locked up in the Tower of London. She later emigrated to North Carolina where she fought in the American War of Independence. The turbulent life of Flora seems to epitomise the wild and extraordinary island she called home.
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Fabulous Food & Drink
The eateries on Skye certainly make the most of the wonderful natural produce on their doorstep. You’ll find two of the world’s leading restaurants here in the form of the Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge and The Three Chimneys – both famed for their fresh seafood and succulent local game.
If you need something to wash down all that delicious food, enjoy a tour and a dram at the famous Talisker Whisky Distillery, or sample the excellent local beers from Isle of Skye Brewing Co – brewed in Uig in the north of the island.
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Myths & Monsters
This wouldn’t be a Scottish island if it wasn’t full of myths and legends, but on Skye they provide the spectacular landscape with an air of magic. Is the Old Man of Storr (below) the thumb of a giant buried in the earth? Is the Fairy Glen a portal to a secret world populated by mischievous fairies?
Skye is the only place in Scotland that you’ll find dinosaur footprints – a remnant of a lost world from 170 million years ago, but perhaps there was once more than dinosaurs roaming this island …
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Memories
The other-worldly landscapes and compelling history combine to make a visit to Skye an unforgettable experience. Whether you spend two days here or two weeks – Skye will stay with you long after you’ve left the island.
Discover the Isle of Skye
If you want to experience the magic of Skye for yourself, we’d be delighted to incorporate the island into any of our tailor-made itineraries.
Thrill-seekers may prefer to hike across the island from north to south on our brand new walking holiday – The Skye Trail.
Scott Smyth
