Things to do

Enjoy moody mountains, Celtic mists and legends, heather-clad hills and sparkling lochs, and a unique mixture of scenic splendor and profound tranquility. One of the beauties of Skye is that it its an island you can get right round it comfortably in a day

Must visits are:-

Dunvegan Castle

Dunvegan Castle is located 22 miles west of Portree. It is a picturesque place with wooded gardens. Parts of the castle are thought to date from the ninth century, but building work has been carried out in almost every century since the 1200s when the MacLeods moved in. It is said to be the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland today. Inside there are family portraits galore with antique furniture, books, trophies and weapons. Showcases containing alsorts of medals and relics display such intriguing items as a lock of Bonnie Prince Charlie's hair and a pin cushion embroidered by Flora MacDonald.

Fairy Glen (2 or 3 miles east of Uig)

By Captain Fraser's Folly (the tower on the hill) take the road signposted Sheader for a couple of miles and you will find yourself in the Fairy Glen. These conical mounds and hillocks divided by steep-sided narrow valleys were formed by a process of landslips. It is a very strange place and you could quite imagine that fairies once lived here (or still do). I wandered around here for quite some a while and lost all track of time. The steep crag overlooking the Fairy Glen is called Castle Ewan and is made of basalt.

Talisker Distillery and Visitor Centre

The only distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views of the Cuillins. This alluring, sweet, full-bodied single malt is so easy to enjoy, and like Skye itself, so hard to leave.

Duntulm Castle

Abandoned around 1730 by the MacDonalds, it now lies in ruins close to the sea. It is hoped that a community trust will be able to take over ownership of the castle and make it safer for visitors by consolidating the decaying walls. The project would cost up to half a million pounds and would also improve car parking facilities and the footpath. The site attracts some 40,000 visitors a year and local people are keen to maintain it as a tourist attraction which will be safer to visit than it is in its present condition. It is said to be the home of piping and a memorial cairn commemorates this fact. Duntulm apparently means the fort on the green grassy headland.

The Quiraing (20 miles north of Portree)

Mountains with weird formations of pinnacles and pillars. Best seen by taking the road which cuts through the peninsula at Staffin. Drive past a cemetery which has its own car park to the left of the road. Continue upwards and round the hairpin bend near the top. About 3km from Staffin you will see another car park from where you can explore these wild hills on foot. Paths lead to the rock formations called The Prison and The Needle. You can also reach The Table which is a strange flat area right in the middle where cattle used to be hidden in the 15th and 16th centuries. Recently it was used in a Peugeot car advert. You need a good head for heights though as some of the paths are narrow and it's a long way down to the bottom!

Old Man of Storr

Featured on many postcards is this stone pinnacle which is 160 feet high.

There is a car park at the foot of the hill next to the forest. Signs indicate the path through the forest (over a stile) up to the Old Man of Storr. You will have a good view of the rocky pinnacles above you and a great view of the hills on the mainland across the sea. Assuming you have a good head for heights you can walk up to the Old Man and also access The Sanctuary.

Mealt Waterfall and Kilt Rock (17 miles north of Portree)

This waterfall drops 300 feet into the sea. Often the water from the loch never reaches the ocean, but gets blown away by the wind. The spot is also a popular viewpoint for the Kilt Rock where columns of dolerite, rather like the black basalt of Staffa, form what appear to be pleats in the cliff. So dangerous is this part of the coast, that it has been wisely fenced off.

Eilean Donan Castle

Visit Scotland's most romantic castle. Discover the history, see the stunning views, walk on the ramparts
and catch whispers in the wind; they carry a myriad of tales of MacRaes, MacKenzies and much more.

Portree

Once a busy port it is now busy with tourists. The capital of the island is full of guest houses and hotels with souvenir shops, eating places, banks, a filling station, arts centre, swimming pool, hair dressing salon, chemist and supermarkets. If you need anything, you'll probably find it here. For health foods, check out the little shop at the back of the main square on the road to the swimming pool - it's just behind the ferry office.

And should you not wish to take your own car, The Isle of Skye Tour Guide Company offers a range of guiding and touring services including:

• Driver / guides for clients in their own private cars
• Isle of Skye Grand Tour

The Isle of Skye Grand Tour is a magnificent conducted 156 mile tour in a deluxe seven seater people carrier which takes its participants around the whole Island, covering all the major places of interest. Every detail of the Island's history, people, mountains, wildlife, Clan warfare and myths and legends (from pre-Viking times to the present day is included). This personalised tour takes 8 hours and is exclusive to a party of up to six adults.

www.isle-of-skye-tour-guide.co.uk

West highlands

Wave goodbye to the island for a while, and head back over the bridge to the mainland. Pass famous Eilean Donan Castle and travel through the lands of Kintail, of ‘Five Sisters’ fame, where every mountain has a story of romance, adventure and betrayal, so have those hankerchiefs at the ready.

Gliding through the stunning plethora of colour that blesses Glen Shiel and Glen Garry, head down to Fort William the home of Britain’s highest mountain, the powerful Ben Nevis. Perhaps even go as far as haunting Glen Coe, the scene of a terrible massacre that took place between the Macdonald’s and the Campbell’s, and while hearing the tales of this glens past, perhaps enjoy a small walk, a chance to absorb its amazing atmosphere. Then back via the ‘Pap of Glencoe’ and Ballachulish bridge to Corran Ferry, just 10 miles south of Fort William – and over the little Corran Ferry trip to the Ardnamurchan peninsula – through Strontian and onward to Acharacle – an ancient crofting village at the seaward end of Loch Shiel, then on to Loch Moidart and Lochailort.

There you can rejoin the road to Arisaig – or perhaps double back a little and take a short trip east to Glenfinnan and the famous railway viaduct (of Harry Potter film fame), view and Monument at the head of loch Shiel - then turn, go west and past the sands of Morar to Mallaig – then catch the ferry back to Armadale. A sensational day’s big country touring not to be missed.

To the north - the North West Highlands of Scotland, an untamed land of sea and loch, mountain and glen — magnificent in its grandeur and remote tranquillity. Why not head for the wilderness around Applecross for a spectacular ride up through the mountains and along the coast. Slioch towering over beautiful Loch Maree, sensational Torridon, delightful Plockton, and also the famous exotic gardens at Inverewe are more sights to see in Wester Ross.