As an island off the west coast of Scotland, Skye is an incredible place of beauty and history. We pick places to travel for a variety of reasons. For Scotland, we decided to go for the Isle of Skye. There were a number of reasons, including a well known TV series. For us, Skye's landscape, history, and people were reasons we made our trip this summer. We added things into the itinerary, but Skye was always the destination.  We arrived in Skye after a day of driving from Inverness. The drive across took most of the day, as we stopped at castles and waterfalls we found along the way. Our arrival time to our airbnb was after 7pm, so we found ourselves wandering the main city of Portree.  Most restaurants take reservations, which we had researched. However, as we did not know our arrival time, we winged it. We were able to find a spot along the waterfront that asks you to wait in line for a table. The Lower Deck is a few doors down from the Pink Building. One of the most iconic photos of Skye, it's an easy find in the city.  The next morning we were up early and on our way to explore the Isle we had researched for months. Here is our overview. Some of the places below will have posts of their own, as they can't be captured in a single post.  Go early. We were there just before 8 and found ourselves in an empty parking lot. A lot of bus tours head this way throughout the day, which wouldn't have given us the same experience. The beautiful overlook is the perfect place to start before heading into the depths of the island.  This spot will have a blog post to itself. Words cannot describe how incredible this place is. We hiked for miles and every step was something more incredible. Duntulm Castle Ruins Another spot that will have it's own post. The ruins in themselves were impressive. However, learning about their history over the course of our trip made the site more and more interesting.  We had been following the steps of the Jacobites across Scotland. Finding Flora McDonald's grave along the way was a part of the Bonnie Prince Charles history. She had helped smuggle the Prince out of Scotland to spare his life and went on to live a life of her own in the colonies of America before returning to Sctoland.  An interesting piece of UK history is it's open land policy. You are free to travel across any part of the land in Scotland as long as you are mindful and respectful of the property you are on. The Fairy Glen is an interesting structure of hills and mounds dotted across a section of the countryside. It has some stunning views of the valley below, especially if you're brave enough to climb to the edge of the rock that sits above.  Learning the history of the Clans is a must when you visit Scotland. Their rich heritage is spread across the country, embedded in colors of tartans and kilts. Dunvegan Castle is still used as a resident for the Mcleod Clan, however they open their doors to the public to share their story. It is home to the Fairie Flag, another story for another post.  The furthest point east of the Isle, Niest Point Lighthouse sits on the sea to guide boats across the water. It's a popular spot for watching for sea life. The road to the point is extremely narrow, and the hike is moderate to difficult if you have trouble with stairs. However, the views are incredible as you walk along the way, especially if you can catch it at the end of the day as the sun begins to move towards the ocean.  Our last hike of the day was to one of the most famous hikes on the Isle of Skye. The Old Man of Storr sits as an iconic image across the landscape of the westernly route in the Trotternish Peninsula. After an extremely long and busy day, The Old Man had us lost in thoughts. Thoughts shared in another post. Lealt Falls One more stop before bed that evening to catch Lealt Falls. Located just along the road through the Trotternish, these falls are an easy stop to catch a break or eat your lunch. We were grateful for the last moments of the day to be spent watching the water flow across the rocks and out the sea in the distance. It had been an incredible first day on the island.  Day two we were up and out the door with Nate from Skye Mountaineering. We headed back toward Duntulm, however this time we had a guide and an inside view of the life on the Isle of Skye. This hike was incredible, and we will share information in another post. The rain started as we ended our hike. We decided to see if it would let up and took some time learning about life on the Isle of Skye in the museum. This is definitely worth the stop on your trip. Learning about how residents survived in a place so remote while the rest of the world had electricity and running water was fascinating. It's connection to the World War's and it's contributions also bring to light a people rich in connection and pride for their homeland.  The falls of Rha were an unexpected find, and will be a post in themselves. These falls off the road in the city of Uig were worth looking for, twice.  Peaceful and beautiful on calm days, the fairy pools draw visitors in to swim and enjoy their calm beauty. The day we went a winter storm had arrived in August. The rain was brutal, the wind was whipping, and the water was raging. It was incredible to see, but too dangerous to go into. Sligachan Bridge There's a legend around the bridge stating holding your face in for 8 seconds grants you eternal beauty. We will never know such a thing. The waters under the bridge were far too dangerous. However, it's incredible structure and history connected to the people and town around it was worth the stop.  Cold and tired, but still in great spirits, we finished up the last of day two. A quick stop in Portree for takeaway, and then another stop at Lealt to compare with and without rain. We felt the trip had not only been success, but had exceeded every single one of our expectations. And we still had one more stop.  Up and out of our Airbnb on the last day of Skye had us hunting for dinosaur fossils. Located on the An Corran beach in Staffin, we were just a short walk away. However, as we were headed off the island after out stop, we drove along the cliffs and out onto the beach. You have to go when the tide is right, and we were right on time. We spent the last of our time on Skye scrambling across the rocks searching for the last piece of history Skye wanted to share with us. We were not disappointed. Tips: Plan accordingly for bathrooms. They are limited on the island. Parking will cost you at a variety of sites. This can cause you to go over budget if you're not aware. Rent a car. You can see more and go farther GET A LUNCH BAG. There's a store in Portree you can stock up on food you'll need. Taking a lunch not only saves you time, it ensures you have access to food on remote spots of Skye. The one we use is linked below. Have good shoes. Full stop. And take extra socks with you in case it rains. Our shoes we LOVE are also on the same link below. It is windy. You need a jacket and a good hat. 
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