The Most Beautiful Places to Visit on the Isle of Skye
Skye packs more landscape into one island than anywhere else in Scotland: rock pinnacles, sea cliffs, waterfalls, fairy glens and the jagged Cuillin mountains. These are the places our guides stop at again and again, and how long to give each one.
The most beautiful places on the Isle of Skye: the Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, the Quiraing, Duntulm Castle, the Fairy Glen, Dunvegan Castle, the Fairy Pools, Sligachan and Portree.
Give Skye at least two nights; six of these ten are on one loop round the north of the island.
- On the list10 placesNorth, west and south Skye
- Most famous viewOld Man of Storr50 m rock pinnacle
- Best waterfallThe Fairy PoolsGlen Brittle
- Best basePortree15 minutes from the Storr
- Give itTwo nights or more5 hr 30 from Edinburgh
- See the most3-day Skye tourFrom £248 per person
Skye's most beautiful places at a glance
How long to give each place, and which of our tours stops there.
| # | Place | Allow | Our tours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Old Man of Storr | one and a half to two hours for the walk | 3, 5 and 7-day |
| 2 | Lealt Falls | twenty minutes | 7-day |
| 3 | Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls | twenty minutes | 3 and 5-day |
| 4 | The Quiraing | an hour, or three for the loop | 7-day |
| 5 | Duntulm Castle | half an hour | 3 and 5-day |
| 6 | The Fairy Glen | forty-five minutes | 3, 5 and 7-day |
| 7 | Dunvegan Castle | two hours | 3, 5 and 7-day |
| 8 | The Fairy Pools | one and a half hours | 7-day, Inverness day |
| 9 | Sligachan and the Cuillin | twenty minutes | Inverness day |
| 10 | Portree | an evening | All Skye tours |
Getting to the Isle of Skye
Most people drive over the Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh, which has been free to cross since 2004. You can also take the CalMac ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, a crossing of about 45 minutes that makes a good round trip with the bridge. Trains run to both Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig, and buses connect Inverness and Glasgow with Portree.
It's a long way: about 5 hours 30 from Edinburgh, 5 hours from Glasgow and 2 hours 30 from Inverness to Portree, without stops. That's why we don't recommend Skye as a day trip from Edinburgh or Glasgow. From Inverness, a day trip works.
Let us do the driving: our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow) takes the road through Loch Lomond, Glencoe and past Eilean Donan Castle, then spends a full day on the island with two nights in Portree.
The most beautiful places on Skye
We've ordered them the way you'd drive them: up the Trotternish peninsula in the north, across to Dunvegan in the west, then down to the Cuillin mountains in the south.
1The Old Man of Storr
Trotternish, about 15 minutes north of Portree
The Old Man is a pinnacle of rock about 50 metres (160 feet) tall, standing in front of the cliffs of the Storr ridge. It was left behind by an ancient landslip, when the edge of the plateau broke away and slid downhill, leaving towers of rock that look like a face from some angles (hence the name).
The path from the car park climbs steadily through open ground to the base of the pinnacles; allow around an hour and a half up and back, more if you go round the back for the classic view over the Sound of Raasay. Go early or late in the day in summer: the car park fills by mid-morning.
Best for: the most famous view on Skye. Allow: one and a half to two hours for the walk.
See it with us: A stop on our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow), 5-day and 7-day Skye tours.
2Lealt Falls
Trotternish, on the coast road north of the Storr
Lealt Falls is the quick one: a deep, narrow gorge right beside the road, where the River Lealt drops in a series of falls on its way to the sea. A short path from the roadside car park takes you to the viewpoint over the gorge, and from the top you can see down to the bay and across to the islands of Raasay and Rona.
It's at its best after rain, when the river is full and loud. Stay behind the fence: the edge of the gorge is steep and often wet.
Best for: a waterfall without a walk. Allow: twenty minutes.
See it with us: A stop on our 7-day Skye and Outer Hebrides tour.
3Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Trotternish, near Staffin
Kilt Rock is a sea cliff of basalt columns, with bands of rock running across them like the pleats and pattern of a kilt. Right beside it, Mealt Falls pours out of Loch Mealt and drops about 55 metres straight off the cliff edge into the sea. You see both from the same viewpoint, a few steps from the car park, and on a windy day the water blows back up the cliff.
Just up the road at Staffin, the beach at An Corran has dinosaur footprints in the rocks, visible at low tide.
Best for: sea cliffs and a waterfall into the sea. Allow: twenty minutes.
See it with us: A stop on our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow) and 5-day Skye tour.
4The Quiraing
Trotternish, on the single-track road from Staffin to Uig
The Quiraing is the biggest landslip in Britain, and it's still moving: the road across it needs repairs most years. The result is a jumble of cliffs, pinnacles and hidden flat-topped hills with names like the Prison, the Needle and the Table.
From the car park at the top of the pass you can walk out along the path below the cliffs for 20 minutes and still get the view; the full loop takes two to three hours. It's exposed up there, so bring a jacket even in summer.
Best for: big views and walking. Allow: an hour, or three for the loop.
See it with us: A stop on our 7-day Skye and Outer Hebrides tour.
5Duntulm Castle
The northern tip of Trotternish
The ruin of Duntulm sits on a cliff at the very top of Skye, looking out to the Outer Hebrides. It was a stronghold of the MacDonalds of Sleat, who moved out in the early 1700s; legend says they left after a nursemaid dropped the chief's baby son out of a window onto the rocks below.
What's left of the walls is fragile, so the ruin itself is fenced off, but the walk along the clifftop beside it is the reason to come: on a clear evening the sun sets over Lewis and Harris.
Best for: clifftop ruins and sunsets. Allow: half an hour.
See it with us: A stop on our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow) and 5-day Skye tour.
6The Fairy Glen
Just outside Uig
The Fairy Glen is a little valley of cone-shaped grassy hills, tiny lochans and a rocky outcrop called Castle Ewen, which you can scramble up for the view. It's another landslip landscape, but it's easy to see why people decided it must belong to the fairies.
One request from us and the people who live here: please don't move stones to build the spirals you'll see in photos. They damage the ground, and locals regularly take them apart again.
Best for: an easy wander and family photos. Allow: forty-five minutes.
See it with us: A stop on our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow), 5-day and 7-day Skye tours.
7Dunvegan Castle
The north-west of Skye, on Loch Dunvegan
Dunvegan has been the home of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod for around 800 years, which makes it the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Inside you'll find the Fairy Flag, a faded silk banner the clan believes can save them in battle, and Rory Mor's Horn, a drinking horn every new chief is expected to drain in one go. Outside, the gardens run down to the loch, and in summer you can take a short boat trip to see the seals.
The castle opens from April to mid-October and is closed in winter. Read more in our Dunvegan Castle guide.
Best for: clan history and gardens. Allow: two hours.
See it with us: A stop on our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow), 5-day and 7-day Skye tours (April to mid-October).
8The Fairy Pools
Glen Brittle, below the Black Cuillin
The Fairy Pools are a chain of waterfalls and clear blue-green pools on the River Brittle, with the jagged peaks of the Black Cuillin behind them. The path from the car park is about 40 minutes each way, mostly gentle, with a few stepping-stone crossings that can be tricky after rain.
It's one of the busiest spots on the island in summer. Come early, and wear proper shoes rather than trainers: the path is rocky and wet.
Best for: waterfalls and mountain views. Allow: one and a half hours.
See it with us: On our 7-day Skye and Outer Hebrides tour and the Isle of Skye day tour from Inverness. They're not on the 3 or 5-day tours.
9Sligachan and the Cuillin
The centre of Skye, where the road from the bridge meets the Cuillin
Sligachan is where you first see the Cuillin properly: the dark, jagged Black Cuillin on one side of the glen and the rounded, pinkish Red Cuillin on the other. The old stone bridge over the river is the classic photo.
Legend says that if you dip your face in the river under the bridge for seven seconds, you'll be granted eternal beauty. The water comes straight off the mountains, so it's a cold seven seconds.
Best for: mountain views and a legend. Allow: twenty minutes.
See it with us: On the Isle of Skye day tour from Inverness, and we pass it on every Skye tour.
10Portree
Skye's main town, on the east coast
Portree is where most visitors stay, and its harbour, lined with houses painted pink, blue and yellow, is the most photographed street front on the island. It has the best choice of places to eat on Skye: fish and chips on the harbour wall is hard to beat.
It's also the best base for seeing the north of the island, with the Storr only 15 minutes away. Book your bed early for summer.
Best for: food, a base and the harbour view. Allow: an evening.
See it with us: Our 3-day Skye tour (also from Glasgow) spends two nights in Portree, and every Skye tour stops here.
How to see Skye's best places
Skye is bigger than it looks, and the roads are slow. The easiest way to plan is one area per day:
- North (Trotternish loop): the Old Man of Storr, Lealt Falls, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, Duntulm and the Fairy Glen. A full day from Portree.
- West: Dunvegan Castle, the Coral Beach and Neist Point lighthouse for sunset. Half a day to a day.
- South: Sligachan, the Fairy Pools and, if you have time, the boat trip from Elgol into Loch Coruisk below the Cuillin. Half a day to a day.
| Time you have | What you'll see | Our tour |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day from Inverness | Eilean Donan, Portree, the Fairy Pools, Sligachan | Skye day tour, from £100 per person |
| 3 days from Edinburgh or Glasgow | Storr, Kilt Rock, Duntulm, Fairy Glen, Dunvegan, Portree | 3-day Isle of Skye tour, from £248 per person |
| 5 days | The 3-day highlights plus Oban and the Cairngorms | 5-day Skye tour, from £444 per person |
| 7 days | Storr, Lealt, the Quiraing, Fairy Glen, Fairy Pools, Dunvegan, plus Lewis and Harris | 7-day Skye and Outer Hebrides tour, from £556 per person |
Multi-day tours don't include accommodation, so you choose where you stay (we can book it for you). Prices vary by date. For how long to stay, getting there, where to stay and the best time to go, see our Isle of Skye travel guide.
Small-group tours of the Isle of Skye
Storytelling guides, no more than 16 travellers, and someone else on the single-track roads.
Isle of Skye 3-Day Tour from EdinburghTwo nights on Skye via Glencoe and Loch Ness: the Old Man of Storr, Fairy Glen and Eilean Donan.From £248 per person25% depositView tour →
Isle of Skye 3-Day Tour from GlasgowLoch Lomond and Glencoe on the way up, two nights on Skye, then Eilean Donan and Loch Ness to Edinburgh.From £248 per person25% depositView tour →
5-Day Scotland Tour from Edinburgh: Skye, Oban & Loch NessKilmartin, Oban, Glencoe, two nights on the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness and Inverness.From £444 per person25% depositView tour →
5-Day Scotland Tour from Glasgow: Skye, Oban & Loch NessKilmartin, Oban, Glencoe, two nights on Skye, Loch Ness and Inverness, ending in Edinburgh.From £444 per person25% depositView tour →
7-Day Scotland Tour from Edinburgh: Skye & the Outer HebridesThe Isle of Skye, Lewis and Harris, Loch Ness and Inverness. Ferries included.From £556 per person25% depositView tour →
Isle of Skye Day Tour from InvernessEilean Donan, Portree, the Fairy Pools walk and Sligachan in one guided day.From £100 per person50% depositView tour →Compare dates and prices for every Skye trip on our Isle of Skye tours page.
Want Skye at your own pace? We can build a private tour of Scotland around you.
Isle of Skye: FAQs
What is the most beautiful place on the Isle of Skye?
The Old Man of Storr is the most famous view, and the Quiraing is the most dramatic. For waterfalls, it's the Fairy Pools; for a castle, Dunvegan.
What are the best waterfalls on the Isle of Skye?
The Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle, Mealt Falls at Kilt Rock (which drops straight into the sea) and Lealt Falls in its gorge. All three are best after rain.
How many days do you need on Skye?
At least two nights. That gives you one full day for the north of the island (Storr, Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, Fairy Glen) and time for Dunvegan or the Fairy Pools. Three or four nights lets you see all three areas without rushing.
Can you visit Skye as a day trip?
From Inverness, yes: our Skye day tour covers Eilean Donan, Portree, the Fairy Pools and Sligachan. From Edinburgh or Glasgow it's over 5 hours each way, so stay at least two nights.
When is the best time to visit Skye?
May, June and September for long days and fewer crowds than July and August. Dunvegan Castle is only open from April to mid-October. Winter is quiet and often beautiful, but the days are short and some places close.
Do you need a car on Skye?
Not if you take a tour. Buses link the main villages, but they're infrequent, and many of the best places (the Quiraing, the Fairy Pools, Neist Point) are hard to reach without a car or a guide.
More about Skye and the Highlands
Last updated October 2026 by Jordan Ferguson.
