Isle of Skye was our last stop in the NC500 drive in the Northern Highlands of Scotland.

We set off for Skye from Poolewe, a pretty village in the southwest of the northern highlands. On the way we passed through the picturesque Strathcarron and Kyle of Lochalsh where we would have loved to stop, but time was short. We have saved this part of Scotland for our next trip.

In two hours we crossed the awesome Skye bridge with sweeping views on both sides,  went on to Portree (another hour’s drive), and  checked into our Airbnb accommodation.

The Isle of Skye is truly an enchanting place with history, scenic walks and unique geological areas. However, when in Scotland you have to expect rains anytime. There could be a day or two with constant rain or you could be lucky with dry weather. We had a bit of both and did our best to make the best use of our time there.

Over the next two days, we took in the following highlights of this majestic island.

Eas a’ Bhradain Waterfall ( Blackhill Waterfall)

This is the first waterfall that we saw en route to Portree. This beautiful cascade located on Allt Coire nam Brudaran is just off the A87 highway which is the main route from the Skye bridge to Portree – you cannot miss it.

The waterfall towered high by the side of the highway and made a great sight. In our excitement we parked the car in a lay-by and ran out to take photographs. In retrospect we shouldn’t have done that because it was dangerous to cross the road at that bend on a fast traffic highway. It felt weird taking photos of a fall across the road where traffic was whizzing past, but the view was simply wonderful.

Quiraing

Quiraing has some of the most breath-taking landscapes and unique rock formations.

Located north of Portree in an area called “Trotternish”, Quiraing is reached through single track roads through the village of Staffin or Uig. It’s a must-drive for anyone who enjoys some scenic mountain driving.

The Trotternish ridge has been formed by massive landslips that created pinnacles of rock, hidden plateaus and high cliffs.

There are many walks and scenic drives. You need good walking shoes or boots, a camera and a coat to keep you warm. Enjoy some spectacular views, changing lights and shadows due to slopes and the sun, and lovely cascades and colors. It is truly a photographer’s paradise.

Awesome geological formations here like the Prison and the Needle as well as jaw-dropping views over the Raasay and Rona islands are totally worth seeing. It’s easy to spend half a day here.

We even saw a classic car fleet displaying their skills on these narrow, steep roads! (See image).

Lealt Falls

Located to the north of Portree en route to Quiraing is  Lealt waterfall near Staffn.

There is a parking lot, and it is an easy walk to the first viewpoint. You can see the gorge and the waterfall falling down the gorge. A bit further there is a second viewing platform which has a wider view of the falls over the hills and the sea.

It is worth a short stop.

Sligachan

Sligachan, located south of Portree, is where you get the best views of the Black Cuillin mountains. Here you can take a long walk along the north shore of the Loch Sligachan or some serious climbing too, but only if you are really good at climbing.

There are two bridges in Sligachan. The Old Sligachan Bridge is the original and is now only used as a footbridge. Next to it, a new bridge has been constructed for vehicles and forms part of the main road connecting Broadford to Portree. The old rubble bridge was built around 1810-1818, has three uneven arches and is single track.

There are magnificent mountain views and also the huge bronze statues of Collie and MacKenzie – as a memorial to two mountaineering legends. There are information boards that narrate the background history.

It’s a quite a scenic place with the bridge, running water, pebbles, statues and the mountains beyond. This is a popular tourist area with a couple of hotels around including the famous family-friendly Sligachan Hotel.

Fairy Pools

Another must-see attraction with multiple pools and cascades.

Located at the foot of the Black Cullin mountains near Glenbrittle, Fairy Pools are easily accessed by the shorter route from Sligachan Bridge in the south of Portree.

There are a series of blue crystal-clear rock pools and cascading waterfalls with a backdrop of the mountains formed by River Brittle. It is quite a dramatic place with awesome views.

There is the popular Fairy Pools walk, and the adventurous can have a great ‘wild swimming’ experience – mind, the water is really cold!

As their name suggests, these pools have a certain amount of magic, mystery, and legends about them. Although we know this area is relatively peaceful, years ago this was the location of the vicious battle of Coire na Creiche in 1601.

The best way to visit this place is drive from Sligachan. It takes about 30 minutes driving down a long single lane road with passing places for most of the drive. Caution is required as the road is quite narrow and can get busy at peak season.

The Fairy Pools are open 24 hours a day. Sunrise and sunset times are most scenic and beautiful here.

There is a longish walk from the car park to go around the pools and cascades. There are several pools and you may see just a few or all of them. Some are located at a higher level and the path can be steep and uneven at places. It would take about 2 hours to walk through all of them, admire and take photographs.

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

Located at the northwest end of Skye on a rocky outcrop at the shore of Loch Dunvegan is this historic landmark castle – Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. It has been the ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years.

The castle as it is seen today looks like one castle, but it actually consists of 6 buildings built in 10 separate stages, so it is of considerable architectural interest.

There are many pieces of fine art and clan treasures to be viewed around the castle, including the Fairy Flag. It is steeped in history and clan mystery so tours of Dunvegan Castle would be interesting for visitors to Skye. One of the best views of the castle is from the sea – supposed to be imposing to invaders. So, booking a boat tour of the area is a good idea.

Explore the historic Dunvegan Castle & Gardens if you’re looking for a cultural day out to learn the history of the island.

In addition, Dunvegan castle, like other structures in Scotland, has an intriguing mythology. Its famous Fairy flag is said to call the fairies to aid the clan in battle and is on display.

Dunvegan is a great castle to visit with a lot of historical information on display, has beautiful gardens and waterfalls, walking paths, seal boat trips, a café, giftshops and also holiday cottages.

Neist Point Views & Lighthouse

Located just a short distance from Dunvegan castle is the Neist Point Lighthouse – a dramatic viewpoint..

Neist Point on the western coast of Skye is just a viewpoint. The lighthouse has been there since 1909. The views of the rolling hills and the view of the sea over the cliffs are simply spectacular.

Before you reach the car park, the drive along the single track hill road is quite challenging, calling for stops at the right gaps to give way to the oncoming traffic on narrow roads. We were surprised to see even camper vans attempting this drive making it difficult for oncoming vehicles to make space for them.

It is a good place for walkers. However, getting to the lighthouse is not easy because this place is very windy and cold. On rainy days, visibility can be an issue too. If you are lucky with the weather, it is not a difficult walk and should take about 45 minutes to an hour. The path is a bit steep initially but since it takes you close to the cliff edge, it important to be aware of the weather conditions first.

Neist Pont is also a good place to spot birds such as gannets, razor bills and European shags.

Portree

Situated on the eastern side of the island is the village Portree – the capital of Skye. It overlooks a sheltered bay.

Portree was created as a fishing village in the 19^th century by the then Lord MacDonald. Today, it is quite a ‘developed village’ with banks, cafes, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets

The best thing to do in Portree apart from indulging in good food at the choicest restaurants is to view the famous colorful houses located in the Portree harbour. It is easy to get this view without any long walks. Admire and capture this picture postcard view of the row of gorgeous Portree houses over the sea with rolling hills.

The Isle of Skye is truly a gem and worth visiting for a couple of days. The island offers something for everyone, whether you want to feast your eyes, give a good workout for your legs or enjoy challenging and scenic drives.

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