Isle of Skye
9 Facts about the Isle of Skye &
9 of our favourite locations
The Isle of Skye is probably the most popular Island for visitors to Scotland and the one Island we get requested to help visitors explore on an almost daily bases, and probably for good reason. The Isle of Skye really is a special place.
The Isle of Skye really does have it all, it’s got the Cuillin mountains, some of the most rugged and scenic landscape in the whole of the Highlands of Scotland. There’s historic Dunvegan castle which is the longest inhabited Castle by one Scottish Clan, with the Viking origin Clan of the MacLeod’s owning and living there for over 800 years.
There’s the Old Man of Storr, an ancient mountain landscape, carved out by the teeth of a mythical water creature called a Broonie. We have the town of Portree, with it’s beautiful coloured houses ,sitting right ton the waters edge, then we can’t forget the ancient dinosaur footprints, jagged mountains, coral beaches, and more history than you could explore in a lifetime.
Natural Wonders on the Isle of Skye
A beautiful Walk out to Neist Point and Lighthouse on the Isle of Skye during a tour of Scotland
The Isle of Skye is famed for its beautiful natural landscape and is recognised the world over for the stunning views it beholds. Driving or walking around the Island there’s natural features such as the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, Neist Point and the Cuillin Mountains. It truly is a walkers paradise. It doesn’t mater if you’re the type of person who enjoys a relaxing walk at your own pace or a full on hike up a large Scottish mountain, the Isle of Skye will have a hike perfect for you.
The Isle of Skye, has 12 Munros. Munros are mountains in Scotland over 3000ft in height, so climbing Munros is a dedicated hobby to a lot of Scots, there are 282 Munros overall. When you’ve hiked to the summit, you have ‘bagged a Munro’
All 12 Munros in Skye, are located in the Black Cuillin mountain range.
Historical Locations on the Isle of Skye
MacLeod Clan have Viking origins & have lived at Dunvegan Castle and the surrounding area for over 800 years on the Western part of the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland
The history on Skye is really something else too, with ancient remains of fossilised Dinosaur footprints and fossils being discovered frequently. It’s believed that approx. 15% of all mid-Jurassic discoveries world wide are made on Skye which has led to some naming the Island the “Dinosaur Island”
“Between 2000 - 3000 years old”
For more recent history, there’s the remains of Brochs, which are believed to be a type of Iron Age roundhouse only found in Scotland and are thought to be approximately between 2000 - 3000 years old. One of the reamining examples left on the isle of Skye is the Dun Beag Broch
There’s also the most dominant clans on of the Isle of Skye, the MacDonald and MacLeod’s who both had Castles on the Island, some of which are still there, some ruined like Duntulm Castle, which you can walk to and others like Dunvegan Castle which you can pay to enter. It’s believed the Clan MacLeod originated from Vikings settlers from the 13th Century.
Visit Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye
The Colourful homes in the Harbour of Portree, the capital of the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland
The town of Portree is the capital of the Isle of Skye and is located on the eastern side of Skye with beautiful views looking over the sheltered bay.
It’s the gateway to the Trotternish peninsula, which leads to some of the most gorgeous scenery in the Highlands of Scotland.
The town itself started life as a fishing village around 200 years ago by the then Lord MacDonald. The name Portree is believed to have come from the Gaelic Port Righ, meaning the King’s Port due to a visit by King James V in 1540. King James V is the father of Mary Queen of Scots, and died shortly after his visit to Portree in 1542
9 Interesting Facts about the Isle of Skye
Old Man of Storr Mountain on the
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebrides islands.
Dinosaur footprints can be found fairly easy on the Skye coastline.
There are 2 Scotch whisky distilleries on the Isle of Skye, the legendary Talisker and the new Torabhaig whisky Distillery.
Bonnie Prince Charlie visited the Isle of Skye to escape, after defeat at Culloden Moor in 1746 during the last Jacobite Uprising
The world’s most tattooed person is a man called Tom Leppard from the Isle of Skye.
There’s legendary creatures called “Broonies” in the waters around the Isle of Skye which helped build the Old Man of Storr (if you believe in legends)
There are more sheep on the Isle of Skye than people, with believed to be ten sheep for human resident.
That’s an estimated 130,000 woolly Sheep on SkyeAccording to legend if you put your face in the water under the Sligachan Bridge, it’s said you’ll have eternal beauty granted by faeries.
Just of the north coast of the Isle of Skye, in a part of the North Sea called the Minch, there are poetic Blue Men living in the water who love to wreck ships and eat the Sailors. (note to self, stay out of the water)
9 of the most beautiful places to visit on the Isle of Skye
Trotternish Peninsula & Coast
Kilt Rock
Duntulm Castle
Dunvegan Castle
Portree
Fairy Pools
Fairy Glen
Sligachan Bridge
Dun Beag Broch
