No visit to Scotland would be complete without exploring the legendary Isle of Skye. We pulled into the parking lot of the iconic Eilean Donan Castle and the song “Come on Eileen” started playing from one of our playlists. The timing was hilarious. This is one of the most iconic images of Scotland. It’s a fullty restored castle on an island where 3 lochs meet, dating from the 13th century.

We walked around in front of it, took some pics, and got back on the road. You can pay to go into the castle, but we chose to skip it. There is a restaurant facing the castle if you want to have a bite and enjoy the view.

We jumped back in the car and drove north to see the Sligachan Old Bridge. It’s said that everlasting beauty can be gained by dipping your face into the river for seven seconds and letting it air dry. I’m not into botox, so I was willing to give this a shot.

Ricci and I walked under the bridge, held our breath, and pushed our faces into the freezing water. We managed to hold it for seven seconds. Three days later I had a huge pimple under my lower lip that lasted the rest of the trip. Not the outcome I was hoping for.

A dip in the cold, cold, COLD Fairy Pools followed our frozen face plunge. The hike to the fairy pools looks long from the parking lot, but it only took about 20 minutes to reach the pools. There are several of them to get into if you’re willing to brave the frigid water. We lasted in the water for a minute before we couldn’t stand it any longer.

The next day the midges (no-see-ums) deterred us from hiking Old Man of Storr. They came swarming in and chased us out of there just ten minutes into our hike. Damn! 

Storr is probably the most famous walk, and definitely the busiest attraction, on the Isle of Skye. If you’re up for the challenging 5.5 km circular hike, you wont be disappointed by the views.

Travel Tip: Midges are attracted to black. Don’t wear black and or yoga pants. Mistakes were made! Ensure your limbs are properly covered. A mosquito net for your head would be an added bonus! The bite marks lasted for about a month and itched like crazy. It sucked!!

After narrowly escaping midge madness, we explored Trotternish and snapped photos at Lealt Falls and Kilt Rock. We searched for dino prints at An Corran Beach but didn’t see any (go at low tide and you will) and took in the otherworldly landscape of the Fairy Glen. 

The Quarang is located in the north of Skye in the area known as Trotternish and it will take your breath away! It’s one of Britain’s largest land slips and is recognizable in many car commercials. We drove the windy curves to the top to snap some photos, but didn’t stay long.

The view is incredible from the mountains, valleys and to the sea. You can hike to the top of the cliff but it’s considered difficult due to sliding rocks and the elevation gain, so be prepared if you plan to do it. There’s a little refreshment truck in case you need to grab a coffee or a bite.

We made a quick stop at Talisker Distillery to enjoy some whiskey. The building is gorgeous and really inviting. You can enjoy a beverage, go on a tour, and shop at their gift store. If you’re not into whiskey, they have a cocktail menu filled with other tasty looking drinks. I was driving so I enjoyed a refreshing non alcoholic sparkling drink.

Caylin and Matt’s recommendations: 

Talisker 10 Year Single Malt – sweet and peaty, with hints of pepper in the back of your mouth.

Talisker 25 Year – rich and smokey with hints of fruit.

Distillers Edition 2020 – full, rich, with a hint of vanilla and a lingering earthy peat background.

Skye is a popular destination so make reservations if you want to eat out. We thought we could wing it and found ourselves in a bind. Pizza in the Skye, a wood fired pizza truck, came to our rescue the first night. The owner shared his passion for his dough and delicious pies.

The second night we ended up at another food truck, A Taste of Skye, located in the parking lot of the Coop in Portree. Owned by farmers that grow their own beef, they offered a decent menu with beef, venison, and lamb burgers, hand pies, and other tasty comfort foods. The long line with locals and tourists was testament of the delicious offerings.

We loved the hand pies and mac n cheese. They only accept cash and the ATM at the Coop charged a high fee to withdraw, but it was worth it. 

We rented Heatherland cottage, an adorable croft house located in Probost, just 7 miles from Portree. Set in a quiet rural location, it has panoramic views over the surrounding croft land and the famous Storr Ridge. It was a very peaceful stay in the 150 year old cottage and we highly recommend it. https://heatherlandcottage.co.uk/

Travel Tip: Skye used to get 200,000 visitors a year and now it’s a couple million. WHOA! Plan well ahead for food and accommodations.

The weather was 70 degrees and sunny during our two days on Skye. Locals told us we were lucky to experience their summer – cause that was it – just those 2 days!