Top 5 Things To Do in The Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye as a Tourist Destination
Imagine a landscape of infinity with wavy green hills and valleys dotted with sparkling lakes. Imagine the endless sky indifferently blending with the valleys, with a desolation that speaks to the heart. This is Skye in Scotland, where the endless vista somehow unveils the magic of the Scottish highlands, with places that seem like a vision from a myth.
Skye is ephemeral and unending, and you could spend a lifetime simply staring at the stoic land. As your steps lead to the Old Man of Storr, you may indeed feel like standing in the shadow of the giant, endlessly meditating on the romance of the clouds with the vales. The seashores of Skye are expansive and secluded, and standing there, in the middle of nowhere, you may feel the solitude suddenly waking up to you in green and blue.
Visiting the Claigan Coral Beach and the Neist Point are among the most scenic things to do in the Isle of Skye, with sights that will stay forever in your memory. In hindsight, Skye may feel like a landscape painting because of the stillness and the desolation that’s everywhere you can see.
Of the famous landmarks in Skye, the Fairy Pools and the Quiraing should be on your itinerary. The rock formations of Quiraing stand like ancient sentinels in this part of heaven, and the Fairy Glen refreshes your senses with its turquoise pools and waterfalls against the backdrop of the Black Cuillin Mountains. If you yearn for civilization amidst the endless emptiness, take a trip to the villages dotting the isle. Portree is the most important village, with all the basic amenities you will need. While it is near the Old Man, the Broadford Village stands in the shadow of the Hill of the Old Woman. The trip to this magical island should seem unfulfilled without a visit to the Dunvegan castle located in the namesake village.
Things To Do in The Isle of Skye
1. Explore the Old Man of Storr
The iconic Old Man of Storr is a rocky formation that somehow looks like an old man just sitting there for eternities. To feel the old man, you would have to explore the magic of Skye through the lens of myths. At a casual glance, the rock may just seem like a geological formation in the middle of a vast landscape. Whereas, seen in the eyes of imagination, you might be able to see a gentle giant cursed into stone just because he could not bear to be separated from his love.
From any perspective, you need to be respectful of the solemn gravity that the Old Man carries. It is one of the most well-known places to visit in Scotland and is almost synonymous with the Isle of Skye. There is something so intrinsically sublime that you may feel it as an embodiment of the stoic nature of Skye, alongside the ancient legends of fairies and giants.
2. Visit The Fairy Pools
Give your heart to the Fairy Pools in Skye, for in this part of the world, urbanity seems to fade away into the ancient myths and legends. These sparkling natural pools may feel like a painting on the backdrop of the Black Cuillin Hills, formed by the River Brittle flowing through the Coire na Creche, hypnotizing the soul with the crystal clear blue water. Legends say that these pools are fairy conduits, whereby these mythical beings travel from their worlds to the Isle. Even if you don’t believe in fairies, you can still feel the hypnotic magic of the blue waters that implores you to sit for a moment and reflect.
Visiting these pools is one of the most amazing things to do in The Isle of Skye and is something that you should not be missing out on. The surrounding scenery is absolutely stunning, creating the most photogenic moments even for a casual visitor. For history buffs, the adjacent area was once the witness of a bloody clan battle in the Wars of the One-Eyed Woman.
3. Drive the Quiraing
The Quiraing are rocky outcrops on the Isle that evoke a sense of depth and, maybe, a vision of desolation. There is something so fatalistic in the Quiraing that you may not be able to put your fingers on exactly where the place belongs in God’s psyche, but it’s still something to ponder upon. The rocky formations have taken various shapes in the eyes of imagination, the most famous being the needle jutting out of the land like that tree in the foreground of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
If you are on a 7-day trip to the Isle of Skye, you may wait for the last day to feel the deep Sabbath that the Quiraing unveils to the senses. Besides the needle, another famous landmark within the Quiraing is the Prison, which, from a particular angle, looks like a medieval fortification. Somehow, a trip to the cloud island (Skye) may take you closer to heaven on earth, and the Quiraing looks like the walls that keep the isle protected from wickedness.
4. Tour Dunvegan Castle
The Dunvegan Castle, over the years, has become an integral part of the Isle, being a stark emblem of the clan culture of the highlands. The castle embodies the pride of the MacLeod clan and has stood its ground in the mythical Isle for the last eight hundred years or so. Travelers are welcome to explore this castle and have a feel of life in Scotland. Dining at the café or shopping at the souvenir shop should be in order when you visit the place, which is definitely one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in Scotland.
As with everything else in Skye, the castle also has its share of fairy myths, with a talisman apparently gifted by the fairies still preserved inside the castle. This fairy flag is believed to have miraculous powers, and it is said to have protected The Dunvegan Castle. One of the chiefs of the MacLeod clan was said to have married a fairy, who gifted this magical flag reminiscent of fairy worlds to humans, reminding you of the strangest of stories you will find whispered still in the Isle of Skye.
5. Visit the Talisker Distillery
Whiskey flows as naturally in Scotland as the flow of life itself. The golden drink is a cultural heritage of the Scots to the world, with each famous place distilling the flavors into a bottle of whiskey. The single malt whiskey produced at Talisker is unmistakably an embodiment of Skye, and you can easily feel the magical intoxication warming up the senses to the vast open skies in Skye. A trip to the Talisker Distillery is one of the highlights of The Isle of Skye as a tourist destination, creating unforgettable memories at every sip.
The sublime wildness of the full-bodied whiskey is easily discernible and is something of a whiskey collector’s privilege around the world. It’s a sweet whiskey, and a trip to the distillery unveils a mesmerizing light and sound show that introduces you to the solemnity of the brand. The tasting experience within the distillery is something straight out of a storybook, and you might almost feel the whispered songs of the fairies lulling you to a deceptive sleep.
