Highlights of Isles of Skye

If you are planning to go to Skye this Summer be prepared for crowds. If you are driving you can make it a Day Trip by using the bridge access. Bring your own food and go on picnic. Look at Visit Scotland web site for more info and videos on scenic locations throughout Scotland; some are just as scenic and are much less trod on than Skye is now. Other sites are Secret Scotland and Historic Scotland.

Hi, Rachel,

Check out walkhighlands.co.uk for some ideas of where to hike on Skye. As you'll have the wean with you, you'll probably want to take some of the "one boot" hikes. There are descriptions of all of the hikes, so you can make your own judgment. I'd suggest the Fairy Pools, but they'll be over run with visitors, there's very limited parking, and there's absolutely no shade. No toilets, either.

If you want a really beautiful lookout, you could drive down to Elgol (it's about a 90 minute round trip). If you walk north just a little bit from the harbour, the view up Loch Scavaig, with the Cuillins in the background and the lodge at Camasunary in the foreground, is one of the best in Scotland.

Portree Harbour is quite attractive, with the various colored houses. You could do a short hike toward the Old Man of Storr, and the hike down to Neist Point Lighthouse should be something that the three of you could manage. Very few of the hikes on Skye are suitable for a pram, so you may have to carry the little one.

If you want to see the best of the Cuillins, check out this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA

If that link doesn't work, search for Danny Macaskill The Ridge on YouTube. Prepare to be amazed. However, don't try duplicating it with the bairn!

Best wishes for an enjoyable visit to Skye, and Scotland!

Mike (auchterless)

Hi again, Rachel,

If you're going to be on Skye in July or August, and hiking in the early morning, evening, or on an overcast day, you may want to invest in some sort of midge screening/netting for the little one. You and your husband can get away with something like Repel, or Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard with Picaridin, but I wouldn't recommend putting insect repellent, even non-Deet, on a baby.

Check with your pediatrician to see if he/she has any recommendations.

I don't want to put you off Skye, but just be prepared. The midge situation could hold true for many places in the Highlands and Islands. I haven't heard yet whether this is going to be a bad midge year. I'm hoping not, as I'll be over in just over a week.

Best wishes,

Mike (auchterless)

p.s.: Just had a quick look at the popular midge repellents Smidge and Lifestyles Insect Repellent. Both are Deet free, but not recommended for anyone under two years of age.

p.p.s: As a pram would be impractical for most hikes in Scotland, there is an alternative. If you're not already bringing one with you, most of the outdoor stores (Black's, Tiso, Nevisport) in Scotland carry backpacks/harnesses (child carriers) designed for safely carrying babies while hiking. Check out their websites.

I think the Trotternish Penisula drive would be a good place to spend your one day (Fairy Glen, Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr, the Quirang and just scenic all around). Depending on how much you want to get out/hike, you could fit in the Fairy Pools (we did and didn't feel rushed, but we didn't hike the full paths). If you take the car bridge, you'll want to hit Eilean Donan Castle.

My wife and I visited the Isle of Skye May 5 (Saturday) through May 8 (Tuesday), and even at this early time of year (vis-a-vis tourist season), every venue we visited each and every parking lot was full and vehicles were parked along the road for several hundred yards on both sides of the entry path (both sides of the road at the Old Man of Stor). This was true for the Lealt Falals, Kilt Rock, Dunvegan Castle, Neist Point, Fairy Pools and Fairy Glen. The entire time we were there it either rained or was threatening rain and almost gale force winds. Despite the poor weather, there were loads of people (more importantly loads of vehicles--many being driven by people obviously unaccustomed to driving on the left side of the road, with a manual transmission, and even less accustomed to knowing the courtesy of the road when driving on single-track roads with "passing pull-outs". I can't imagine what the traffic would be like now (June) , or even heavier in July. Be prepared for spending more time than you might like sitting in a vehicle. If you're driving, be aware of road conditions.

The warning about the Midges is an important one; they were just emerging from a long winter nap when we were there.

Thank you all for the tips! We ended up taking a lot of your recommendations! Did the Man of Storr hike, Kilt Rock viewpoint, the Fairy Glen, the Quiraing (and just walked a bit of it), and the FairyPools. It was all just beautiful and we are hoping to travel back sometime--Scotland has proven to be so amazingly beautiful! Luckily, it was just breezy enough we didn't run into too many midges too!
Thanks for your help!