Day Trip Recommendations 1 – Isle of Skye

If you are looking for an introductory flavour of what Skye has to offer a day trip over using the ferry at Mallaig is a great way to get a feel for the island.

For details on ferry time see Ferries to Scotland & Scottish Isles | Caledonian MacBrayne | CalMac Ferries We always advise you book your ferries in advance as this is a busy route.

If you want to travel by foot and not take the car, there is plenty of exploring to be done just in and around Armadale and Ardvasar.

At the ferry port you have several shops including Ragamuffin About | My Site (ragamuffinstore.com) plus a couple of places to eat, from the Shed on the pier and Ardvasar hotel (the-inn-at-ardvasar.co.uk). A small walk from the pier is the Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles, Isle of Skye . This a great place to explore and spend an afternoon walking through the gardens and to the ruined castle, then up to museum, which has lots of interesting history especially on the Clan Donald. There is also a restaurant and shop on site.

If you would like to see more of the island then car is a must and there is plenty to see and do.  With local shops and galleries dotted all over the island. It is a big island so you won’t fit it all in, in one day so pick two or three things you would really like to see and remember how much time you need to get back to the ferry.

From Armadale heading up the road to Sleat you pass the Gaelic collage Sabhal Mor Ostaig. Then onward up to Isleornsay where you can find Hotel Eilean Iarmain, which does good pub food. The town of Broadford the 2nd largest on the on the island, has a lovely little shopping square where Skye Antiques can be found.

Just after Sconser, where the ferry leaves for Raasay, the road splits. Either follow the road north A97 to Portree or west on A863 to Carboast, leading to The Talisker distillery. This road also takes you to the fairy pools. The last time we did a day trip on Skye we headed north on A87 but came home via the A863, which gives a wonderful view into the misty Cullins. The Old Inn at Carboast The Old Inn Carbost Isle of Skye (theoldinnskye.co.uk), does really good fish and chips but last time we were there you couldn’t book a table it was first come first served bases.

Portree is the largest town on the island with a large fishing port too. I haven’t stopped in Portree for several years now as we are always away to explore other parts of the island, so I wont like to make any recommendations, but it has shops, cafes, restaurants, bars etc.

Making your way further north you drive alongside the old man of Storr, a wonderful sight and a very popular walk. There is parking and toilets at the start of the walk, but the parking can get very busy in peak season. The next place on the map is Staffin, where the dinosaur footprint can be found down at the beach, in some rocks at low tide. Dinosaur Footprints at Staffin - 2021 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos) - Staffin, UK | Tripadvisor There is also a nice wee museum here and a view spot for Kilt rock. If you are lucky enough looking over the sound of Rhona, you might spot a minke whale or dolphin from there.

Once at the very North, you can find the resting place of Flora MacDonald in Kilmuir graveyard.  Unfortunately, when we were last there the beautiful black house museum Skye Museum | History was closed due to Covid, but still lovely to look at from the outside.

Driving up to Kilmuir you are driving past the breath-taking Quirang The Quiraing - Isle of Skye: Complete Visitor Guide | Out About Scotland . We have never managed to have time to do the walk but it is on the list as is the Fairy Pools at Glenbrittle Fairy Pools and Coire na Creiche (Walkhighlands) Always good to have a reason to go back.

After we had finished a Kilmuir, there was only time to have a quick stop in Dunveagan at the Bakery Dunvegan Bakery: Skye's Oldest Bakery - What's on Skye (whatsonskye.com) before heading back to the ferry.

With so much still to see and do another day trip will be on the cards soon.

Just remember it is a big Island so make sure you have time to get back to the ferry!