If you haven’t heard of this island, then it’s time for you to look it up. Pictures of this place will make you believe in fairy tales again. Green hills, blue water and grey rocks dominate the biggest part of these images. For me it looked like a real good place, and I bet a lot of people wonder what it is like in real life. So did I.
I persuaded mom to go and there we were, surviving a rather bumpy flight. I’m not quite sure if it is just me, but my stomach doesn’t seem to like turbulence. White as chalk, we arrived at the airport in Inverness. Sick but exited our trip began.
Here we are, 4 days later and I think I can now sketch quite a good image of the real Isle of Skye. First of all, the weather is pretty unpredictable. We had, of course, hoped for a lot of sun. However, we have also experienced the sudden rainfall during our stay. I guess it’s part of the experience.
Second thing to mention, is that you’re part of the crowd. The end of April itself is not so busy with tourists, but seeing all the road signs, special parking spots and muddy dirt roads indicated that many people had already been here. However, the scenery of this place remained special.
The Old Man of Storr for example, or the Fairy Glen, are both only truly visible after a hike. Take your time and breath in the fresh air. This time it is absolutely not about the final picture, it is all about the hike itself. Enjoy the many views!
Kilt Rock and the Mealt Falls are pretty, but let’s be honest; who likes standing on a cliff, behind fences, with 10 other photographers left and right of you? Those people are eventually going to have the exact same picture as you. I wouldn’t say you should miss it on purpose, but you shouldn’t expect too much.
If the weather forecast is good, try going to the Neist Point Lighthouse. Make sure you wear some suitable shoes and go see for yourself this stunning view. Words are too incapable of explaining this spectacular place. I literally could’ve stayed here overnight. We didn’t get the chance to watch a sunset over there, but I heard it’s extremely good.
Should you have any time left, then I recommend you going to Carbost. Kenny, Willy and Simon of Sea Skye Marine tours will show you the beauty of the island from a different perspective. Keep your eyes open, because the eagle might be watching you.
For food and drinks, you should at least once visit the Portree Hotel. This is a great place with a wonderful ambiance and amazing dishes. However, this isn’t as local nor traditional as you might like it. Try the Old Inn instead. A lovely pub-like place with great staff. The Three Chimneys has also got to be an amazing place but be sure to make a reservation. We didn’t and came to regret it. Last but not least I can highly recommend the ‘Veggie Haggis’ from the Black Sheep. This food truck stood at the parking lot of the Mealt Falls and this lunch was a real blast.
For your practical information, a rental car is very handy as buses only come occasionally and they don’t particularly cover the whole isle. Should you need a place to stay, please take a look at Scott and Jessie’s Wee Skye Lodge. A perfectly remote place to spend the night. Cows walking on the road and the 5-mile view from your front door make it worthwhile driving over the bumpy road.
Save travels!