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Isle of Skye 2 Day Itinerary

Are you looking for a 2 day itinerary for the Isle of Skye, Scotland? I am excited to share how we spent a couple days on this beautiful isle, including a detailed itinerary, tips on where to stay and eat, and what to pack for your own trip to the Isle of Skye!

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The Isle of Skye is arguably one of the most beautiful spots in Scotland- and possibly on earth too! Our family of 3 (including our 1 year old) recently traveled to this beautiful Scottish isle, and I’m excited to share our Isle of Skye 2 day itinerary with you! The Isle of Skye is constantly growing in popularity- and for amazing reasons. Located in northwest Scotland, it is accessible by bridge, making it easily accessible by car. It has a gorgeous coastline, numerous stunning lochs, and amazing views. The locals are kind, the animals are adorable, and it is overall a beautiful destination!

We spent 2 full days in the Isle of Skye and found that it was enough. Could we have spent more time there? Definitely! But we managed to see everything that was important to us, and we moved at a relaxing pace, so have no fear if you can only spare two days. We wouldn’t have wanted to spend less time there- that’s for sure!

Before I begin, I want to give you a BIG TIP/WARNING regarding cell phone service! It can be spotty, so bring a paper map and/or a screenshot of printed driving directions before you head out. We had our own rental car, but tour buses and private drivers are available for hire if you prefer. I’m excited to share our complete 2 day itinerary of the Isle of Skye with you!

You might also want to check out: Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting the Isle of Skye, Scotland

 

Isle of Skye 2 Day Itinerary

Day 1

We spent day 1 driving the Trotternish Loop, which is home to several of the Isle of Skye’s “must see” destinations. The stunning peninsula is located on the northern side of the island, and you won’t want to miss it. In my opinion, a 2 day itinerary of the Isle of Skye would not be complete without driving the Trotternish Loop. You can drive the peninsula in either direction, depending on where you are staying (we stayed in the beautiful town of Edinbane- more on that below). Keep in mind that public restrooms are sparse and food can be difficult to find in some areas too. So pack yourself plenty of snacks (I recommend an entire lunch picnic). We started our day at 8am, took our time at most spots, and were finished with our day around 5pm. We spent a total of 2 hours in car. Whether you are driving yourself or taking a backseat in local transportation, I highly recommend using Sea-Bands if you are prone to getting car sick.

Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye

Our first stop of the day was Fairy Glen, which turned out to be our favorite stop of the day! It is supposedly one of the less popular spots on the isle (large tour buses cannot drive there), but it was beautiful. I would not miss it!

We spent about one hour exploring Fairy Glen and easily could have spent more time there, but we had a full day of exploring ahead.

Don’t forget to respect the area, and keep your eye out for fairies! 🙂

Pro Tip: This one can be difficult to find, as it wasn’t clearly marked from the main road (A87). We accidentally passed it up and wound up in the charming town of Uig. There are free public restrooms in the parking lot by the ferry dock. If you have a full day ahead, I recommend heading there before you leave the area! Check out this post for more tips!

You might also want to check out: Traveling to Scotland with a Toddler or Baby

Quiraing on the Isle of Skye

We then drove 10 miles to Quiraing, which took about 30 minutes (keep in mind that many of the roads are single-lane, so be prepared to pull over often for oncoming traffic…and sheep). Quiraing is a landslip with cliffs and beautiful rock formations. Our daughter was peacefully napping in her car seat when we arrived, so we parked and took turns heading out to explore. The entire hike is 4.5 miles, so hiking the entire thing was not an option for us (since we wanted to see more!).

It was beautiful! My husband and I each had the chance to hike out about 10 minutes. It was windy but worth it!

Pro Tip: Be prepared for less-than-ideal parking conditions here. Watch out for deep holes and wet mud, and don’t forget to bring a pair of good rain boots. Check out this post for more tips!

Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock on the Isle of Skye

I first knew that I wanted to visit the Isle of Skye when I saw a photo online of Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock. It reminded me of the natural beauty that I loved so much in Ireland. Once I actually started planning our trip, I was surprised to find that the viewpoint is actually pretty small, and it’s really just a quick stop.

The drive from Quiraing to the Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock viewpoint is a short 4.5 miles (about 10 minutes), and it is definitely worth the quick stop. Just don’t plan on spending hours here. It’s a quick place to admire its beauty, take a couple photos, and then move on. It’s a very popular spot and the parking area was crowded with buses, and you can find some local vendors here if you want a snack.

Pro Tip: Grab a peek of Brother’s Point from this lookout, which is the next stop on our itinerary! Check out this post for more tips!

Brother’s Point (Rubha nam Brathairean) on the Isle of Skye

Brother’s Point (Rubha nam Brathairean) is the easternmost point on the Trotternish Peninsula. It is a short 2 mile drive from Mealt Falls and Kilt Rock (it took us about 5 minutes to drive there). Of all the places we visited on the Isle of Skye, this was the least crowded and one of the most beautiful!

We actually didn’t walk out onto the peninsula, because the rain started to roll in and we wanted to keep our daughter warm and dry. But the walk to the peninsula was stunning and worth it! The green hills are covered in friendly sheep, and the sound of crashing waves was beautifully peaceful.

Pro Tip: Keep your eye out for this one- it is hard to miss! There is a small car park across the road (A855) and a weathered sign at the entrance to the walkway for Brother’s Point. Then you’ll pass through a gate, where you’ll see a second sign letting you know where to go. Check out this post for more tips!

Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye

Our last stop of the day was the Old Man of Storr, which was just 7 miles down the road (a 10 minute drive). This beautiful, rocky hill is one of the most popular spots on the isle. We found the largest crowds here (TONS of tour buses).

Confession… I messed up when planning this stop! I somehow missed the fact that we should allow a couple hours for this hike, and we didn’t arrive until the end of the day. Unlike the other stops of the day, you have to hike quite a bit to the actual hill. The hike itself is over 2 miles. The rain rolled in (full force!) and the wind was strong- so we wound up turning around about halfway. We are still glad that we saw as much as we did, and we loved what we did see!

Pro Tip: If this is a must-see for you, consider visiting toward the beginning of the day and allow for a couple of hours!

Day 2

On day 2 of our trip to the Isle of Skye, we decided to focus our attention on the west side of the isle. We were blessed with gorgeous, sunny weather all day and loved moving at a slow pace.

Neist Point on the Isle of Skye on the Isle of Skye

If I had to choose my favorite spot on the Isle of Skye, I would have to say Neist Point! The walk to the Neist Point Lighthouse (which was built in 1909) was nothing short of amazing. The sun was shining, the water was exceptionally blue, and the green hills were covered in cute, friendly sheep.

It is important to note that the walk to the point (and the lighthouse) is steep at times. It is well-paved, but there are also a lot of stairs. The walk is over a mile each way, and like most spots on the Isle of Skye, is not stroller-friendly. The lighthouse is no longer in operation and the buildings are now privately owned, so you’ll want to be respectful and stay in the designated areas.

Pro Tip: Plan to stay here awhile! It was windy, so bundle up, but it was absolutely gorgeous! The car park is small but parking is allowed along the road. Check out this post for more tips!

Dunvegan Castle & Gardens on the Isle of Skye

Dunvegan Castle and Gardens was fascinating! It is the only castle in the Scottish Highlands that is still a private residence to its original family- the chiefs of the McLeod clan. How cool is that?

Our daughter was ready for a nap when we arrived, so she slept in her carrier while my husband and I explored the inside of the castle. We loved reading up on its fascinating history and learning more about the McLeod family and the rest of the Isle of Skye.

We then spent the remainder of the afternoon in their beautiful gardens! They were extensive and offered a large variety- liked a woodland walk and rose garden. We were in no hurry to leave!

Where to Stay & Eat on the Isle of Skye

A majority of travelers stay in the town of Portree when visiting the Isle of Skye. Portree is a lovely little coastal town (the biggest on the isle) that has an abundance of lodging options. It is conveniently located near the Trotternish Loop, and has several grocery stores and restaurant options. You will need to pay for public parking downtown. If you like to stay in hotels, hostels, or B&Bs when you travel, I highly recommend looking in Portree for great options. When we stay in hotels, we like to use Expedia or Hotels.com, as they offer amazing rates! We didn’t stay in Portree but did our grocery shopping there. There is a small Co-op downtown on Bank Street that is open late. We preferred the larger Co-op on Woodpark Road (just a couple minutes away), as they had more options.

If you would like a more remote experience, away from the “tourist” areas, I recommend booking a VRBO outside of Portree. We stayed in an amazing vacation home in Edinbane, which was a 20 minute drive from downtown Portree. Unfortunately, this particular vacation home is no longer listed, but there are several other amazing options available, from stone-built cottages to cottages built in former grain mills and in old post offices. Initially I was a little hesitant to book a home outside of Portree. I worried that we would spend too much time in the car, but it actually turned out to be a much better location for exploring the Isle of Skye as a whole. We were conveniently and centrally located right in between the Trotternish Loop and the west side of the isle, making it easy to access the spots on both day 1 and day 2 of our itinerary. We loved eating dinner at the Edinbane Inn after our long days of exploring. My husband decided to eat like a local and enjoyed his haggis pie!

Now, back to the Edinbane, because I highly recommend staying there if possible. Oh my goodness- the view! Edinbane is stunning, has a remote feel, and is surrounded by beauty! We had the most amazing views of the Scottish Highlands, and the sunset was just incredible. The farm animals were adorable and friendly (visit in the spring to see the baby lambs). The home was remodeled with beautiful, homemade, wooden furniture, and it was completely spotless (a must for us!). Our hosts made sure we were comfortable and went above and beyond in terms of hospitality.

Looking for lodging inspiration? Here are a few lovely vacation homes to stay in on the Isle of Skye with various price points:

  1. Cottage (in an old post office!) in Edinbane (our favorite town!) – sleeps 4
  2. Luxurious cottage in the heart of Portree- sleeps 9
  3. 1 bedroom with a view of Portree Bay- sleeps 2
  4. Malt House in a former’s grain mill (over 200 years old!)- sleeps 4
  5. Tranquil rural hideway in Penifier, just 3 short miles from Portree- sleeps 4
  6. Stone built croft cottage with sea views- sleeps 6
  7. Cottage by the sea and mountains in Peinachorran- sleeps 4

If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, the Isle of Skye offers several lovely options:

  1. Skeabost House Hotel
  2. Uig Hotel
  3. Tongadale Hotel

Pro Tip: Book early! The Isle of Skye is an incredibly popular place, and accommodations fill up months in advance. We booked our vacation home 8 months in advance and were shocked to find that our options were already quite narrow.

 

Bonus: What to Pack for a Trip to the Isle of Skye

I hope you’re feeling ready and excited to explore the Isle of Skye! I am often asked what items were a must to pack for the Isle of Skye, so I decided to include some more tips here. If you are traveling to the Isle of Skye with a toddler or baby, you can check out my dedicated post here. Here are a list of items that we packed and were grateful that we had:

  • Rain boots for the entire family. The Isle of Skye typically sees around 220 days of rainfall per year, so your chances of experiencing this beautiful isle in the rain is high.
  • Rain jackets for the entire family. If you’re traveling with a little one, consider using a rain suit to keep them fully dry. This also doubles as a great wind-breaker.
  • Warm hats or beanies. Trust me, you’ll likely reach for these often.
  • Sea-bands for motion sickness, if you are prone to getting car sick. I have used these for decades and cannot recommend them enough.
  • Paper maps of the the Isle of Skye. Do not count on using Google maps. Service is spotty!
  • Portable cell phone chargers. You won’t want to get stuck with a low battery!
  • Bug spray. The Isle of Skye is known for midges. We personally didn’t have a problem, but we came prepared. Our family prefers natural bug spray options, and thankfully there are several out there.

 

My hope is that you have found our Isle of Skye 2 Day Itinerary useful and inspiring as you plan your own trip the beautiful Scottish Highlands! I would love to hear from you! Have you traveled to the Isle of Skye? Is it on your bucket list? And please let me know if you have any questions, and check out Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting the Isle of Skye before you go!

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64 Comments

  • Sierra

    What a gorgeous place! I really didn’t know much about it before reading this post. Thanks for all the details!

  • Daniel

    I’m not quite sure why but I’m a huge fan of Scottland coastal towns. Even though this part of Europe doesn’t get a lot of sunshine and can’t really be marketed as a summer holiday destination, I just love the dramatic views with the cloudy sky in the background. I visited several other similar places in Scottland but I haven’t made it to Isle of Skye yet. However, I would love to do it someday

  • Ambica Gulati

    What a dream destination! Looks like paradise. I used to think Enid Blyton’s books were pure fantasy but I was wrong. Fairy Glen–wow, like there actually is a place for fairies. This just transported me to my childhood dreams.

  • Mijia Eggers

    What a remote but civilized place! The area looks so vast that I would think of a week stay there. There are not so many tourists either. We usually like to go those places where no mass tourists in sight. Those pictures are taken very good.

    • Leah

      Thank you! It is a beautiful destination. There are a lot of tourists, but not nearly as many people as you’ll find in the large cities (such as Edinburgh). A week in the Isle of Skye would be amazing!

  • Amrita

    It often happens the less famous place turns out to be quite stunning. Fairy Glen looks simply stunning. infact, your Scotland itinerary made me think about visiting the place. It is so beautiful, just like a fairyland. I agree with you about Neist Point being your favourite. By the pictures, it happens to be my favourite too. Scotland is truly a gem!

  • Medha

    Scotland looks gorgeous and I’d love to take a road trip there someday. A lot of your pictures remind me of Ireland and it’s lovely countryside. I’d love to bump into a fairy at Fairy Glen haha. I can see why Neist Point was your favourite though, it’d be mine too! That coast and those massive rocks jutting into the sea are breathtaking. Dunvegan castle looks pretty cool too!

  • MEENAKSHI J

    What a lovely virtual tour of Isle of Skye. It’s a shame that I wasn’t aware of this place until this post. Although, each of the places looks picturesque from the rolling hills to sea to the castle, for me it has to be Neist point. Looks absolutely stunning!

  • Julie

    This is definitely on my list of places to visit and your tips are really quite helpful for planning purposes. Saving this for later!

  • Amanda

    Okay after seeing your recent IG posts of the Isle of Skye I immediately added to my bucket list. So thank you for the itinerary because I will surely be following it once we go!!

  • Sharon

    What a beautiful place! We only had an opportunity to see Edinburgh and Sterling when we were there and we knew immediately we MuST get back to Scotland- so much beauty!

  • Kelly

    Wow what a beautiful place! This sounds like a great itinerary. I never knew much about Isle of Skye and now I really want to visit! Thanks for sharing so much information.

  • Margie

    Absolutely stunning scenery. It seems like a place to just get lost and enjoy nature. Would love to visit Isle of Skye and the rest of Scotland!

  • Jay Artale

    Such a dramatic landscape. I’d love to visit to do some plein air water colours or sketching. Do you think the roads would be ok for a VW camper van? I’d love to visit and tour for a while. Doesn’t look like the type of place you should rush through!

    • Leah

      It sounds like you would really enjoy the Isle of Skye! Yes, a camper van would be perfect there. We saw many during our stay there! The roads are narrow, but they can accommodate even larger vehicles.

  • Ann

    You guys have been to so many great places in Scotland and I am totally green with envy!
    Me and my husband started to plan a trip from Inverness to Edinburgh, by train, but it all just slipped away. I am guessing its aboout time to put the plans in motion!

  • Sue

    I have never considered the Isle of Skye before but it looks beautiful! I agree with your comments on Ireland & having visited it properly for the first time earlier this month, I was blown away by the landscapes. Many of your photos reminded me of my trip so I will definitely be adding Skye to my list! Great itinerary.

  • Anna

    I really love the Isle of Skye! I spent one of my favourite camping holiday there, 2 days – just you as well. My favourite spot was the Coral beach. When I visited, there weren’t so many people (end of August), so it seems like it became more popular since then.

  • Larch

    I have to admit that even though I am from Glasgow, I have never been to Skye. The scenery is glorious and windswept. Dunvegan was my “house” when I was at school, so I should really pay it a visit.

  • Andi

    We are thinking about Scotland or Ireland next summer to escape the heat in Phoenix, this looks like such a beautiful location – all green and full of places to hike – right up our alley – we will even take the rain that goes along with the summertime package! Would love to have an Airbnb here so that we can cook, etc. looks like you had a great one!

  • Lisa

    Isle of Skye is definitely on my must visit list for Scotland now. It looks absolutely beautiful. I would love to do some hiking there. Oh and I love the sign about the fairies getting angry!

  • Slavka

    Oh, what a place! Your article inspired me to include the Isle of Skye into my itinerary around the Scotland. It’s good to know we have to book so early. Who would have thought!

  • Sarah

    Isle of Skye looks stunning. It’s not somewhere I’ve thought of visiting before. But those trails, the hikes, the scenery are exactly what I look for. I’d just be nervous about the Scottish weather!

    • Leah

      It is definitely on the cool side, depending on that you are used it. It is very cold compared to where we live, but we were just fine with plenty of warm layers. 🙂

  • Catherine

    This trip looks amazing!! I’ve been wanting to visit the Isle of Skye for a while now, and we have a 3 year old, so glad to know its doable with small children! I am going to pin this for when we go! Fairy Glen looks amazing, and its good to know that there are Airbnbs available. Thanks for the itinerary!

  • Melinda

    The Isle of Skye is somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for years and these pictures make me want to buy a plane ticket now! The pro tips are great and will help make many trips much smoother.

  • Bethany

    Stunning! What time of year did you visit? We are considering eloping in Scotland or Ireland in April. Isle of Skye looks like a scenic moody landscape.

    • Leah

      What an incredible place to elope! Congratulations! We visited Scotland in May (and we learned that it is one of the drier months with less rain fall). We have been to Ireland in June, but we haven’t been to either destination in April. I am sure that both would be stunning, but do expect rain and some chilly weather. 🙂

  • Heather

    This is so helpful to read in advance of our trip there this summer! Unfortunately we only have one day on Skye with a 4 year old and 7 year old – any suggestions on must dos within that time frame? Thanks in advance!

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