Frosty’s List Isle of Skye
“My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; my heart’s in the Highlights a-chasing the deer.”
I wish I would have spent more time in Scotland before moving across the world. It is a magical place with rolling hills and a rugged coast, the fresh air, smokey whiskey and the sheep roaming the land! I am by no means an expert of the Scottish Highlands, however after visiting twice, I dream about returning when I can. I wanted to share a whole Highlands itinerary and then remembered how little acreage we were able to see over a four day trip due to the vastness of Scotland! So here are some of the places I would love to visit again if I am so lucky to return to magical Skye one day.
Day 1 & 2 - The Journey from Inverness to Isle of Skye
Travelling isn’t about the destination, it is about the journey. The Scottish Highlands are the prime example of that! Renting a car means you will have the flexibility to explore and stop at random places to wander. Scotland is larger than you would think and it takes time to get from A to B. Always make sure you have enough time to spare and try not to drive too far at night - Scottish roads can be windy and extremely dark once sun sets.
The drive from Inverness to Skye is about 2,5hrs-3,5hrs depending on where on the island you need to be. As we landed into Inverness in the late afternoon, we decided to stop at Dalchreichart for the night. Unfortunately the lovely B&B we stayed at looks to have closed since our visit. There are many lovely cottages, B&Bs and Airbnbs you can find around Skye - I have listed a handful at the end of this post.
Always have a backup plan for outdoor activities - the weather can be unpredictable. We visited Eilean Donan Castle, instead of discovering the Fairy Pools waterfalls, due to stormy conditions. We had a really interesting tour of the 13th century castle and learnt a lot about local history. From there we headed over The Skye Bridge, the only bridge onto Skye, and towards Carbost - the home of Talisker whiskey where we had a tour and a tasting.
You will find many quaint pubs in Scotland, all with their own charm and stale beer smell! We stopped at The Old Inn for lunch - I can highly recommend the Fish & Chips! They had a great gluten free curry as well. Do not miss Caora Dhubh Coffee just outside the distillery. They have outstanding coffee and sweet treats for you to enjoy!
Day 3 - Isle of Skye - walks, sheep & restaurants
No matter where you stay on Skye, I am sure you will be guaranteed beautiful vistas and refreshing surroundings! Our base was Carter’s Rest in Milovaig, Glendale. The owners have changed since our visit, however I would still recommend the location! It was great for local walks, including Neist Point Lighthouse. Embrace the wind and the rain, get friendly with the locals (i.e. sheep) and reconnect with your senses!
Everyone will tell you to eat at The Three Chimneys when you are on Skye. If you do, book well in advance as they get booked up quick! We decided to try the newer must visit restaurant on Skye, Edinbane Lodge serving the best of seasonal and locally sourced produce. What a pleasure of a meal! Their tasting menu did not disappoint even though we had dietary requirements. They catered extremely well for gluten free and pescatarian diets. I must say it is in my top list of restaurant experiences. Edinbane Lodge is also a lovely guesthouse, so you can opt to stay the night and enjoy a good night cap at the bar after dinner.
Day 4 - Drive back to Inverness
On the long drive back to Inverness, we decided to take a different route to see more of the island. We stopped off at Portree to see the famous little town and had lunch at the Sligachan Hotel. As we took the scenic route back our total drive time back to Inverness ended up being about 5 hours! It was worth it though as the stunning scenery of winding roads, forests and little villages on the way kept us entertained all the way back to the airport.
Scotland will always have a place in my heart!
Here are some of the places in and around skye that I haven’t yet been to but have on my list:
Hotels / Bed & Breakfasts / Cottages
The Glenview, Culnakock, Portree Skye
KnoydART Bed & Breakfast, Calgary, Ardasar, Skye
Kinloch Lodge, Sleat, Skye
Strathmore Lodge, Altnacaillich, Altnaharra
Restaurants / Cafes / Pubs
Loch Bay Restaurant, Stein, Skye
The Three Chimneys, Dunvegan, Colbost, Skye
Distilleries & Places to visits
Misty Isle Gin, Portree, Skye
The Storr, Portree
You can find all my Scotland favourites through Google Maps: Frosty’s List Scotland*
*all spots still operating at the time of publish of this posting. I do hope it stays that way! So many amazing businesses have had to close their doors!
