Na rudan as fheàrr ri dhèanamh san Eilean Sgitheanach

Top Things to do on Skye

Skye, the Misty Isle - Eilean a Cheò in Scottish Gaelic – has captured the hearts of countless visitors from across the world. With so many things to do, it’s not hard to see why! Whether you have Clan ancestry or just love beautiful landscapes and our hospitable culture, we’ve pulled together a list of the top things to do on the Isle of Skye. Read on to make the most of your Isle of Skye holiday. If you're visiting in winter then please do read our top thing to do on Skye in the winter post!

Castles on Skye

Skye has a ferocious history of warfare and bloodshed, from the Iron Age to the Jacobite Uprisings and Highland Clearances. So it’s not surprising that the island has many brochs and castles along its lengthy coastline. Our must-see castle recommendations for things to do on Skye are:

- Armadale Castle: a romantic ruin set in a 40 acre herbaceous garden and Victorian arboretum. Once the seat of the Macdonalds of Sleat, this glorious former mansion fell into disrepair in the 20th century and is now best viewed from the sweeping coastal lawns overlooking Knoydart and the Sound of Sleat. Plans are underway to create internal access to the Castle, which is listed due to its architectural significance, but the excellent Museum of the Isles – situated just a short walk away – tells the story of the Castle’s heyday and the Clan Donald’s fortunes over many centuries. Make sure to visit Armadale’s highly-rated Stables Café and Gatehouse Shop. If you have kids, we have a popular playpark within our gardens. Armadale Castle’s Isle of Skye holiday accommodation, which includes six cosy cabins, one estate cottage and a heritage apartment, is the perfect base for exploring this peaceful part of the island.

- Dunscaith Castle: sitting on a rocky point outside the crofting township of Tokavaig in Clan Donald territory, the ruin of Dunscaith Castle was once home to a Viking warrior queen who beat the Celtic hero Cú Chulainn in a wrestling match. The castle is separated from the mainland by a derelict drawbridge, which creates a window above the sea looking over to the Cuillin Mountains. A beautiful spot for a picnic, or as many couples have found, a Skye elopement wedding!

- Duntulm Castle: a former stronghold of the Clan Donald, Duntulm is a wild and windswept ruin with incredible views to the Isle of Harris – and local legend says it’s haunted.

- Dun Beag Broch: an Iron Age hillfort built between 2,000 and 2,500 years ago, located near Dunvegan. This is one of the best preserved brochs on Skye, and with stout footwear you can walk right inside it.

- Dunvegan Castle: a stately home within an imposing fortified exterior, Dunvegan is the home of the Clan Donald’s famous rivals, the Clan Macleod. These days we’re on friendlier terms, and we recommend a rainy day tour of Dunvegan Castle’s beautiful interior, where you can see antique portraits and artifacts relating to Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora Macdonald.

- Eilean Donan: situated just over the sea on the mainland, Eilean Donan is so close to Skye that we’ve added it to our list of things to do. Restored in the 20th century, Eilean Donan (pronounced ‘ellen-don-un’) has become an icon of Scottish tourism. Open from February to December, this is a great option for off-season visitors.

Jurassic Skye

Millions of years before Vikings and Clans, Skye was the home of dinosaurs. Incredibly, we can still see the footprints of dinosaurs today! The best places to look for dinosaur footprints are An Corran beach near Staffin, Score Bay, Rubha nam Brathairean (Brothers’ Point), and Duntulm Beach. And at the Staffin Dinosaur Museum, open April-October, you can see fossils and models and learn more about this ancient period of our island’s history. A perfect adventure for kids!

Northern Lights in Scotland

When conditions are right, Scotland’s night-time skies are filled with the incredible colours of the Northern Lights. Scottish Gaelic is our native language here on Skye, and we call the Northern Lights ‘Na Fir-chlis’, which means ‘the nimble men’. Visit Skye in the winter for your best chance to see these incredible, shimmering colours fill the sky. Our top tips for viewpoints are Neist Point, Stein – where you’ll also find SkyeSkyns shop and tannery – Duntulm, and the Quiraing. Make sure to wrap up warm in a plaid scarf from the Armadale Castle Gatehouse Shop!

Portree Shops

Portree has so many things to do during your visit to the Isle of Skye. The island’s capital, its Gaelic name Port Rìgh means the Port of the King. This thriving town has plenty to keep you busy whatever time of year you visit. Mackenzie’s Bakery on Somerled Square is the Skye locals’ favourite spot for a takeaway coffee and award-winning cakes. The Square is named after Somerled, a fearsome Norse-Gaelic warrior. Somerled founded Clan Donald, the world’s largest and greatest Scottish Clan, whose spiritual home is at Armadale Castle. Somerled Square is also great for bars and restaurants, and from here it’s just a short walk to the best shops:

- Òr Skye: creative retail featuring contemporary art and craft from independent makers and artists. Awesome for jewellery, homewares and decorative items.

- Carmina Gadelica: an independent bookshop with a Scottish and Highland focus. Also stocking art supplies, maps and guidebooks, plus a great second-hand section.

- Highland Natural Accents: a treasure trove of wool and cashmere for your wardrobe and home. Here you’ll find special gifts and treats to take home!

- Hebridean Jewellery and Uig Pottery: on the corner of Wentworth Street, this shop has stunning Celtic jewellery plus beautiful pottery from Uig in the north of Skye.

- Isle of Skye Distillers: tucked away in a side street, this is a must-visit to sample a taste of the spirit of Skye. Skye’s famous Scotch whisky heritage is beautifully complemented by this range of Scottish gins. Bonus visit: almost next door is the influencer’s favourite café, Birch, where speciality coffee is served.

Image by Thomas Ulrich from Pixabay

Dog Friendly Accommodation Skye

Dogs are family, so of course they’ll join you on your Isle of Skye holiday! The best dog-friendly accommodation is at Armadale Castle in Sleat, the spiritual home of Clan Donald. Their cosy Highland cabins are an easy drive from the Skye Bridge, or a short drive or walk from the CalMac ferry that runs on the Mallaig-Armadale route. Comfortably furnished, Armadale Castle accommodation is perfect for a Highland self-catering holiday with your four-legged friend. You can go for woodland or hill walks straight from your door. Also in the locality are longer walks along the coast to the stunningly sandy Camas Daraich beach (perfect for wild swimming) or famous Dunscaith Castle, the mythical lair of a Viking warrior queen with an incredible view of the Black Cuillin mountains. Armadale Castle Gardens are dog-friendly, and the Clan Donald’s Stables Café is dog-friendly too – call in for home baking, tasty lunches and hot drinks. If the weather is stormy, cosy up on the sofa and gaze at the epic sea views from Armadale Castle Cabins over to the wilderness of Knoydart. Open all year round, Armadale Castle is the perfect dog-friendly base for your Skye holiday.

Bonus info: other top dog-friendly things to do on Skye include visiting Café Cùil in Minginish, An Crùbh café and Am Pràban bar at Camuscross, and Relish Skye café in Portree.

History of Isle of Skye

Skye is an ancient island with fascinating history. People have lived here since the Stone Age, but the most exciting period began when Somerled arrived. A Norse-Gaelic king of the Hebrides, Somerled was the original patriarch of Clan Donald. His descendants established the famous Lordship of the Isles, which at its peak was second only to the kingdoms of Scotland and England in power. After much violent conflict, the official power of the Lordship of the Isles ended in 1493 – but the Clan Donald’s influence was still huge, with the Clan owning extensive lands on Skye. The Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745 were difficult times for the Clan. Next came the Highland Clearances and mass emigration to the New World. Eventually most Clan land had to be sold off. Today, the Clan Donald has its spiritual home at Armadale Castle in Sleat. The Castle is now a romantic ruin, and if you’re looking for things to do on Skye, visit the brilliant Museum of the Isles – Skye’s only museum accredited by Museums Galleries Scotland. Experience the history of the Highlands and Islands through the epic story of Clan Donald. Our five galleries and exhibits take you through 1,500 years of rich history and culture including Vikings, Jacobites, Clan Chiefs and crofters. Take your photo by the museum’s standing stones, and travel back through time to a land where the High Chief of Clan Donald was the ultimate Lord of the Isles.

Whisky

Uisge beatha, the water of life, is such an important part of Highland culture. The Isle of Skye now has two whisky distilleries: Talisker in Carbost, and the independent Torabhaig in Sleat. Both have shops and eateries, and run distillery tours to take you through the magical distillation process. An honourable mention goes to the Isle of Raasay distillery, with a bar, restaurant and rooms, which you can reach by ferry from Sconser on Skye.

Image by Felix Wolf from Pixabay

Loch Coruisk

Beautiful Loch Coruisk is a remote paradise. If you have only a short time for things to do on Skye, visiting Loch Coruisk must be on your list! The loch has a spectacular setting within the Black Cuillin, and will take your breath away. Named Coire Uisge in Scottish Gaelic (pronounced Corra Oosh-guh), meaning Cauldron of Water, it can be reached by boat from Elgol or by hiking from Sligachan. This is a long, challenging hike of about 25km, needing good preparation and experience. The easier, faster option is the boat tour, which comes highly recommended.

Fairy Pools

Catch the Fairy Pools on a fine day after rain, and you’ll be amazed at the beauty of this famous Skye attraction. Perfect for wild swimming, these clear pools and waterfalls in remote Glen Brittle are now so popular amongst all the things to do on Skye that visiting out of season is best recommended. Be sure to drive responsibly and respectfully along the single-track road to the car park, as the fairies of the pools are well known to cause punctures and vehicle damage to the unwary! And if you’re on the trail of Clan Donald, the infamous Battle of Coire na Creiche took place at the Fairy Pools. The Macdonalds and the Macleods, a rival clan, fought a battle so violent and bloody that the water ran red. Fortunately those days are long gone, and you can learn more about clan feuds at the Museum of the Isles at Armadale Castle.

Image by Maike from Pixabay

Neist Point

A great place to view the Northern Lights on the Isle of Skye, Neist Point is another famous landmark very popular with visitors. A wonderful coastal walk of around an hour in length, Neist Point gives visitors magnificent views over the sea to the Outer Hebrides. Neist Point lighthouse is a striking building that looks great in photographs!

Image by Frank Winkler from Pixabay

Old Man of Storr

Of all the things to do on the Isle of Skye, the Old Man of Storr is top of most visitors’ lists! It’s one of the world’s most famous landmarks, featured in numerous films as well as thousands of Instagram posts. Known as Bodach an Stòr in Scottish Gaelic, this basalt rock pinnacle is part of the Trotternish Ridge near Portree. It’s steep hike of average difficulty and about 4km in length, so go well prepared and observe the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times. You can start from the car park north of Loch Leathan, which has toilets and a shop. We recommend visiting early or late in the day to avoid the crowds and get the best photos!

Image by Harry Burgess from Pixabay

Glenfinnan Viaduct

Although not on the Isle of Skye, visiting Glenfinnan is an easy thing to do while you’re here. The home of the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Glenfinnan viaduct, Glenfinnan is a tiny but thriving village where you can spend the day. After walking to see the viaduct, get coffee and cake at the Glenfinnan Coffee Co pop-up wagon, located by the Church of St Mary and St Finnan at the head of Loch Shiel. Or, you can eat at the Station Museum, where you can also get a close-up view of the Jacobite Steam Train! For Clan followers and Outlander fans, the striking Glenfinnan Monument is a short walk from the National Trust for Scotland car park. The monument was raised to commemorate the start of the Jacobite uprising of 1745, which began in Glenfinnan eight months before the Battle of Culloden when 1,200 Highland Clansmen gathered to salute Bonnie Prince Charlie and pledge their allegiance to a doomed cause. To reach Glenfinnan from Skye, take the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. From Mallaig, drive the short distance to Glenfinnan or take a train or bus (just be sure to check the service timetable for your return journey!). For visitors staying at Armadale Castle holiday accommodation, this is an especially easy and fun day trip. You’ll need to book a ferry place for your car in advance.

Image by jojobia from Pixabay

Skye is a big island offering so many things to do. We’ve given you a flavour of the top activities and locations to visit on the Isle of Skye, and look forward to welcoming you at Armadale Castle soon!

Links & Downloads

- Historic Environment Scotland designation