With the busy summer season getting closer by the day, I was thinking about some of the recommdations I would give to those visiting the Scottish Highlands and Islands this year.
Now I want to caveat all this by addressing the elephant in the room. Because I live half an hour from the Skye Bridge, we will often pop over to the Isle of Skye for an afternoon. We love being able to enjoy all that Skye has to offer and also go home at the end of the day.
When I say that I wouldn't recommend a day trip to the Isle of Skye, really I mean I wouldn't recommend spending just one day on the island. During the summer months, we meet hundreds of people at our work who are heading to the Isle of Skye for the day. They might be travelling from somewhere like Inverness or Fort William, which is at least an hour and a half from the Skye Bridge.
Skye is a lot bigger than you think
During the summer months, the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands in general get incredibly busy. If you are travelling for a day trip to Skye from Inverness, for example, it'll take you almost 3 hours to get to The Old Man of Storr or the Fairy Pools. And if you are wanting to drive to the Quiraing and back from Fort William, that'll take you at least 6 hours. That's a lot of time to be driving on often very busy roads, with some single track roads and no time allotted for toilet stops or lunch breaks.
My point in sharing this is that often we meet people in our work who want to see the main points on the Isle of Skye but haven't realistically thought about the distances and journey times they will need to account for.
The weather is very changeable
Even during the summer months, it might be sunny in one end of the island but wet in another. We will often see people who are not dressed appropriately for hiking up to see the Old Man of Storr.
Because the weather is so changeable, planning to spend one day on the Isle of Skye could mean you face a day of bad weather which you may be unprepared for.
There is so much to see
I've been sharing blogposts on this blog now for almost 3 years, and I've written over 25 blogpots about places see and eat on the island (which you can read by clicking here). Even still, I have a massive list of places I still want to visit and see. We haven't really had a chance to stay at any of the unique accomodation offerings available on the Isle of Skye, and have barely scratched the surface on some of the more unique places to visit on the north end of the island.
What I'd Recommend Instead
Realistically, I just think there are too many incredible sights to see on the Isle of Skye to be able to see it all in one day. I would actually recommend spending a few days staying on the Isle of Skye. Whether you camp, stay in a self catered accommodation, or book a hotel, there are plenty of accommodation options on the island if you can plan far enough in advance. There are also some amazing accommodation options in Lochalsh, which is a fantastic option for exploring Skye and the surrounding areas and discovering some incredible hidden gems.
If you really can't stay for a longer period on Skye, I'd really recommend being realistic about plans for the day. Spending 6 hours in the car is not my idea of fun and not a way to experience somewhere as beautiful as the Isle of Skye. Be ruthless and focus on the one or two things you want to see on the island and make lots of time for enjoying the journey and making spontaneous stops along the way.
Over the years that I've lived in the Scottish Highlands, Skye has really grown to be a place I love to spend time on. It can be a little overwhelming at times to visit Skye because there are so many things to see here. But by slowing down and being surprised by hidden gems, I've grown to see the beauty and the something special that the Isle of Skye has to offer.
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