On any trip to Scotland, the Isle of Skye is a must-see. The rocky slopes of this island provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. The scenery in Scotland is second to none. It’s a mystic place where you feel like a character in a fairy tale. The weather in Scotland can be very unpredictable though, and when we went in October, it was steadily pouring with what felt like gale force winds. It’s still very possible to have an amazing experience; you just need to be prepared to get wet. We took a guided tour for four days from Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye, and it was a great experience, although renting a car would also be a viable option.
The Eilean Donan Castle, near Dornie, is one of the most easily recognized castles in Scotland. The location is uniquely spectacular and isolated – set on a small rocky island at the point where three great lochs (Loch Alsh, Loch Duich and Loch Long) meet. The Medieval castle was built in the 13th century for Alexander II. The location itself was ideal defensively, and the castle was originally built as a defense against the Vikings who repeatedly raided the north of Scotland during these times. The Castle and exhibitions are open between March 1 and November 2.
The Fairy Glenn is small, quick to visit, and very easy to hike. If there is any place that you could possibly spot a fairy on the Isle of Skye, this is the one. Located on the Trotternish Peninsula, it is easy to combine the Fairy Glen with a visit to The Quiraing, Kilt Rock, and the Old Man of Storr. By the time we got up here, looming rain clouds were dumping huge amounts of rain on us. It was also very windy. In a matter of minutes, we were soaked. The view we wanted to see was almost completely hidden in the rainclouds, but luckily it cleared up to reveal the beautiful scenery of the highlands. It was very magical, and well worth face planting into the mud at the end. Kilt Rock is a cliff formation lined with columns of basalt rock that make it look a bit like a kilt and Mearn Falls is a waterfall dropping off the cliffs into the ocean – it’s really quite impressive!
There are also the Fairy Pools, which is a drive, but it is another very popular destination on the Isle of Skye. The vivid blues and greens of the pools suggest an unnatural origin, hence the name. It’s an easy walk along a series of waterfalls, making it perfect for people of all ages and activity levels. Another memorable destination, especially to get out of the rain a little is Talisker Distillery. It’s the only whisky distillery on the Isle of Skye. Talisker distillery is open year-round and you can choose between three different tours differing in length and numbers of malts you get to taste. The classic distillery tour with one tasting costs £8 and lasts for about 45 minutes. Take a tour, taste some whisky, and bring some home as a souvenir!
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 20 miles southwest of Inverness. Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as “Nessie”. If you have time you can take a river cruise and try and spot Nessie, if not, I would recommend stopping in Inverness for some delicious fish and chips.
The scenery in Scotland is unbelievable, so there’s no mystery as to why so many movies and television series filmed in the highlands of Scotland. Harry Potter and Game of Thrones are probably the most well known. Do you know of any additional movies?
Xoxo,
Lexi
