Trotternish Peninsula

Bride's Veil Falls

A small waterfall by the side of the road. It’s very pretty, but be warned, there’s no formal path, and the short walk to the falls is frequently muddy & slippery.

Directions: large layby

Parking: A large, uneven layby.

Time: 5-10 minutes.

Old Man of Storr

The Old Man is probably the most visited of the “Big 6” attractions on Skye, and for good reason. I recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds and secure a parking space. The walk is around 4km and 350m of ascent, depending on how far you walk up the path. If you can, continue to the small hilltop at the end of the route for the best photo opportunities and views.

OS Maps route

If you don’t want to walk up to the Old Man but would like a nice view/photo. I recommend parking up at one of these points: one, two, three.

Directions: Old Man of Storr parking

Parking: it costs £5 for 6 hours (info).

Time: approximately 1.5 hours up and back.

The Quiraing

The Quiraing (pronounced kuh-rang) is another popular “Big 6” attraction (again, for good reason), so it gets very busy at the main car park from 10am onwards. The road up is single-track, narrow, and twisty, and is best done early in the morning to avoid potential crowds.

You can park up and walk 100m to the viewpoint, or walk around 4km out and back to The Quiraing and The Needle. The weather may dictate what you do!

OS Map route

Directions: main car park

Parking: a large car park, it’s pay & display and costs £3 for 3 hours.

Time: approximately 1 hour out and back, or 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint.

Rha Waterfalls

A stunning waterfall at the end of a short, picturesque forest walk. Park up and walk back along the road you just drove down to find the entrance. Look for the gap in the wall and the sign for “Uig Wood”.

Directions: car park

Parking: A large tarmac car park is located by the road junction.

Time: approximately 20 minutes.

Fairy Glen (Detour)

Fairy Glen is the name for Balnaknock (Bail nan noc - village in the hills). It’s a 100,000-year-old geological formation sculpted by post-Glacier landslides and subsequent erosion to create unusual cone-shaped craggy hillocks, random boulders, lochans and a basalt castle.

Note: this is one of Skye’s “big six” and a unique geological site. However, it’s up a tight, single-track road, plus it’s a busy attraction and a detour from the main route. Only visit if you definitely wish to see it; we recommend skipping it and continuing north from Rha Falls.

Directions: Fairy Glen parking

Parking: £3 for 4 hours.

Time: around 45 minutes.

Skye Museum of Island Life

A collection of traditional, thatched black houses, each with a different historical theme: island life, WW2, old shop, etc. If you’re interested in the history of Skye, it’s worth the £7.50 to get into the village. Otherwise, you can park up and just have a look at the houses. There are toilets and a café which sells locally made hot pies, hot drinks, ice cream and cakes.

Directions: large gravel car park

Time: 10 to 30 minutes, depending on whether you go in.

Duntulm Castle

Perched high on the cliffs at the northern tip of Skye, Duntulm Castle is an evocative ruin once held by the MacDonalds of Skye. Though the castle is closed to entry due to its fragile structure, it remains an atmospheric stop for photographs and a glimpse into the island’s clan history. There is a small roadside parking area beside the ruins, making it an easy detour as you drive through the Trotternish Peninsula. On a clear day, the views stretch far out to sea, giving a real sense of Skye’s remote northern reaches.

Directions: small roadside parking

Time: 20 to 30+ minutes.

Lunch

For lunch on the Trotternish Peninsula, we recommend:

• The Flodigarry Hotel: an upmarket lunch with sharing plates in a stylish setting. We’ve always found this reasonably quiet and easy to get a table, even without a booking (though we recommend making one). Find the menu & booking here.

• The Hungry Gull: a popular spot with a range of brunch-style options, coffee & cake. Food here is excellent, and it’s very relaxed; however, they don’t take bookings, and you’ll find queues at peak times.

  An Corran Beach

An Corran (meaning "the crescent") beach offers great views out to Staffin Island. Walk over the rocks by the sea and spot the enormous (but often water-filled) dinosaur footprints - if you can find them!

Directions: layby

Parking: a small layby with room for 10 or so vehicles.

Time: 20 minutes 

If you’re interested in Skye’s Jurassic history, stop at the Staffin Dinosaur Museum (£5 entry per person). This renovated, traditional building is packed with dinosaur footprints, fossils & artefacts gathered from around the island.

Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls

Kilt rock got its name because the 90m basalt columns resemble the pleats of a Scottish kilt. Mealt falls is a huge waterfall that drops into the Minch (Atlantic).

Directions: Kilt Rock car park

Parking: a large tarmac pay-and-display car park. £3 for 2 hours.

Time: 10-20 minutes.

Lealt Falls

A cantilever viewing platform with views to Lealt Falls. You can also walk down a steep path to the bay, passing remnants of the old salmon smokehouses and a diatomite factory.

Constables Coffee Truck is located in the main car park and serves great coffee.

Directions: Lealt Falls car park

Parking: Limited free parking is available in the layby.

Time: 10-20 minutes.

Portree

End your time on the Trotternish Peninsula in Portree. The island’s capital, the town itself, is small and easily walkable, with a scattering of shops, pubs, and eateries. The best viewpoints are the harbour and the gardens at the Cuillin Hills Hotel. If you have time, pop into the hotel for either a late lunch or early dinner, or refreshment in the bar - their whisky selection is one of the best on the island!

You can walk between the harbour and Cuillin Hills, which allows you to take in the views over Portree Bay, and along the Scorrybreac Coastal Path.

Parking: Paid parking at Bayfield Car Park; it’s a very short walk into town.