5 Days on Skye in Summer (plus a few in October)
These were very quickly planned trips which we were luckily able to make given a family home on the island. In August, getting accommodation on Skye is nigh on impossible unless it’s booked a fair way in advance. In October, not so bad though the island feels quite busy all year round these days.
Our objective (myself, husband in our late 60s and oldest adult son) was to do some enjoyable walks, ticking off some of Skye’s most famous ones given we hadn’t enjoyed several of them for a few years.
August Itinerary: Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Oronsay Tidal Island, Talisker Distillery, Neist Point, Coire Lagan, Camasunary Bay. Seeing the Jacobite Steam Train going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
October: Glen Brittle walk and Loch Coruisk Boat trip
Our weather was a bit overcast in August though largely dry apart from one fairly dreich day when we did a hike up to a famous lochan below the Black Cuillin (it was still magnificent in a brooding, intimidating sort of way!)
We are fairly fit for our age and do regular hiking and hill walking. My son walks at an incredible pace so we mostly let him power on.
Day 1: Travelling to Skye
From Glasgow, we had a 5.5 hr or so journey to the family house which sits north of Portree. To cut the road mileage, we decided to go via the Mallaig – Armadale ferry and I booked a late afternoon sailing about a week out. This route takes the same time as going via Glen Shiel and the Skye Bridge and although not quite as dramatic as the latter, it’s still very lovely, getting us to the open sea more quickly. Plus, if it’s a sunny day (which it was), a stroll along the white sands of the Camusdarach beaches is an unbeatable stop and one I can’t resist.
We reached Fort William in about 2hrs 40 – a beautiful drive from Loch Lomond onwards – and stopped at the Larder Café within Highland Soaps, right beside the ruins of old Inverlochy Castle. This has become a firm favourite with a good menu and tasty food. Tomato and Basil soup with Cheese Scones for all of us! The café also has the best loos ever, plus a really beautiful shop and probably smells the nicest of any café I know given their gorgeous soap products.
We had another hour or so to the ferry, giving us plenty time to visit the beaches.They’re only a 5min detour along the B8008 at the lovely Silver Sands of Morar (these also make for a fine stroll.) The beach car park is tiny and fills up quickly but luckily, someone was leaving and we got their space.
Spent 40 mins or so just exploring the various sandy coves and admiring the views to the Small Isles (Rum and Eigg.)
The Black Cuillin were peeping up above the peninsula of Sleat on Skye, known as the Garden of Skye as it’s relatively lush. A very under-rated part of the island and far less visited.
The island of Rum was also bathed in light though cloud was coming in from the south west…
We were still too early for our sailing and decided to see if we could get on an earlier one so we pulled up into the standby queue. As is often the case, we and about 4 other cars got on.Perfect!
It was a truly beautiful sail with the wilds of remote Knoydart and Loch Hourn looking fantastic.
Watched a school of dolphins on the hunt, jumping spectacularly though didn’t catch them very well…
From Armadale (above, a tiny place) it’s another 1 hr to the house so time for a now much needed tea stop at An Crubh.This is a local shop and cafe with panoramic windows overlooking the mainland mountains. Sat outside in the sunshine, happy to finally reach wonderful Skye!
I never tire of the same fantastic sights on that drive north through Skye.A shot of the Trotternish ridge , though not taken on this trip.It’s a view I often pull in for, just to admire in the ever changing light…
The Black Cuillin were looking superb…
Picked up supplies in Portree’s Co-op and settled in for dinner at home – sautéed spicy chicken, broccoli and home-made potato salad. A very brief look at Portree harbour…
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