Explore The Isle of Skye in 2-3 Days

The otherworldly Isle of Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. An explorer’s playground, the island is known for its rugged landscape, wildlife watching, pretty fishing villages and dramatic mountain ranges.

Only 50 miles long, the isle is home to the Cuillen mountain range which bears the most striking scenery as you wind west through Sconser to your first stop: the Fairy Pools.

Day 1

Bridge of Skye

Our Skye adventure begins at the Bridge of Skye which links mainland Scotland to the south east corner of the island. The bridge is situated near the confluence of three sea lochs, just over 9 miles from Eilean Donan. I recommend spending the previous night around Eilean Donan - there are plenty of lay-by spots to park your van. Eilean Donan castle looks mystical at night and best of all, the view across Loch Duich in the morning is just dreamy. You can grab a deliciously sweet breakfast and some kick-ass coffee at All The Goodness whilst enjoying the view. We especially loved the matcha and turmeric lattes.

Fairy Pools

Head east for around 35 miles starting along the A87. You will be greeted by the looming Cuillen Mountain range as you get closer to the Fairy Pools.

The Fairy Pools are truly spectacular and have easily earned the title of Kitt’s favourite wild swimming spot. Accessed via a pebbly path, these tiered waterfalls stretch for a mile or two nestled between the car park and the Cuillen mountains. The pools are clear and bright turquoise in colour (even on a cloudy day). There are so many to choose from, that even on a busy summer day you can choose to walk further ahead like we did, where you will be rewarded with your own private pool to explore. Parking is a fiver and take a wetsuit if you fear the chilly waters like Kitt!

Situated less than a mile from the Fairy Pools is a small car park surrounded by pine trees which is where we stopped for a sunset BBQ. Eager to catch sunrise at Old Man of Storr the following morning, we drove the short 45 minute journey and camped in a layby right outside the famous Old Man.

Day 2

Old Man of Storr

This famous pinnacle stands on the Northeastern side of the island with views out to sea and across the Isle of Raasay. Sunrise here is epic. The 4am ascent was moderate and took around an hour. Make sure you take some coffee and pain au chocolates and enjoy the bright red glow, as the morning sun peeps over the sea line and sets the jagged rocks on fire.

Lealt Falls

Head North along the coast for 10 minutes and you will reach Lealt waterfall. This beautiful, hidden waterfall lies in a gorge on the seafront and is easily accessible from the road.

Brothers Point

Just 2 miles north of Lealt Falls you will discover a dramatic headland called Brother’s Point. Parking for this short walk can be located 40m north of the Glenview Hotel along the A855 at Culnacoc. The trail will take you down a grassy path and across pebbly shorelines before reaching the spacious, undulating, grassy plateau. The view across the ocean and towards Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls is spectacular.

Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls

A mere 2 miles north of Brother’s Point lies Kilt Rock. Extremely easy to access from the road, this unusual cliff face has formed a ripple effect, which resembles the pleated folds of a Scottish kilt.

Immediately adjacent to Kilt Rock lies Mealt Falls, a 55m waterfall that plunges out from the cliff face that houses Kilt Rock. The view from this lookout across the Sound of Raasay is incredible and these Skye wonders are well-worth a stop.

Fairy Glen

To finish your epic second day, we recommend that you take the short 13 mile drive south-west to the enchanting Fairy Glen in time for sunset. The drive will take you through a vast, otherworldly land called the Quiraing. This huge area of landslip boasts some of the most dramatic landscapes on Skye and is where you will spend your third and final day on the isle. As you meander through the Quiraing and approach Fairy Glen, you will be greeted with small but perfectly-rounded hills where the grass appears to be draped over the mounds like a carpet. The walk from the car park to the centre of Fairy Glen is less than 10 minutes and the area was formed from landslides. Miniature in size, this magical, fairy-like space features stones that form a circle. Many believe these stones are placed there by fairies, others would argue otherwise. The way the sunset catches Fairy Glen through the grassy mounds is beautiful and is definitely not one to miss.

You can finish your second day by driving back to the Quiraing to find a park-up for the night.

Day 3

Quiraing

Waking up at the Quiraing was truly magical. We felt as if we had woken up on a different planet. The way the sunrise set the jagged outcrops of rock on fire was the perfect way to wake up with a cup of tea. The weather was on our side and we started the day by taking a hike to the ‘Needle’. This uneven but relatively flat hike took us around three hours. Be aware that the ascent to the Needle itself is short but very steep so dry weather is a must! As we arrived back at our van we were greeted with a seasonal burger van that we were delighted to see.

After our morning hike we headed back to the Bridge of Skye and headed north towards the famous mountain pass, Bealach Na Ba.

Happy travels!