Welcome to our guide to the Best Hikes in Isle of Skye, Scotland!
In this guide to the Isle of Skye trails, we will recommend the best hikes in Isle of Skye, Scotland. The Isle of Skye is among the most beautiful in the British Isles, filled with majestic vistas and endless areas to explore. Hiking the Isle of Skye is the best way to see those gorgeous landscapes. With so many hikes in the Isle of Sky, we chose the 6 must-do best hikes in Isle of Skye that were our favorite.
In this comprehensive guide to the Isle of Skye trails, we will recommend the best hikes in Isle of Skye, Scotland. The Isle of Skye is a breathtaking island located in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, UK, It’s renowned for its otherworldly landscapes, majestic mountains, and pristine coastline. Hiking is the best way to explore the island’s natural beauty and soak in its serene atmosphere. With numerous hikes available, choosing the best is quite difficult, therefore, we have handpicked the best 6 must-do hikes in Isle of Sky that we found to be the most enjoyable and rewarding. These hikes are sure to provide an unforgettable experience and make your trip to the Isle of Skye truly unforgettable.
Don’t miss our full Scotland road trip itinerary, with our suggested 10 day Scotland itinerary (with 3 optional extra days) filled with maps, trails, pictures and lots of recommendations on all the must-visit places in Scotland, including the Isle of Skye.
Note that all photography on this guide (and throughout our website) was shot by me (Alina) and if you wish to purchase any, some are available at my Etsy shop.
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Now let’s start our guide to the 6 Best Hikes in Isle of Skye, Scotland:
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Our recommended 6 Best Hikes in Isle of Skye, Scotland
Isle of Skye Trail #1 – The Quiraing Walk
Our favorite hike of the 6 best hikes in Isle of Skye and the most scenic place to see in the Isle of Skye and is a total MUST! The Quiraing has its unique geological formation with jaw-dropping views of the surrounding landscape. The walk itself is generally easy and flat except for some steep areas and some risky passings so be careful. There is paid parking and no toilets (note that the walk takes time). The weather in Scotland could be unexpected, we had a beautiful sunny day at the beginning of April and suddenly it began to snow, which was magical. And yes the video and the picture below were taken on the same day.
Now let’s review the few trails in the Quiraing Walk:
1 – The Quiraing Circuit – Full loop trail, 6.3 km long, allow at least 3 hours! We recommend it for more experienced hikers (due to its difficulty and total length). Furthermore, weather conditions may lower visibility and make the path even more dangerous, so we recommend doing it only in clear weather.
2 – The Prison Walk – About half of the full circuit, 4.3 km long, out and back trail. We did that walk and believe it lets you see the most of Quiraing. It took us 2 hours to complete. You walk towards The Prison which is a pyramid-shaped peak, then you do loop around it from the right side. You can see in the picture below, follow the green arrow around The Prison, follow a steep climb near the fence, and come back to the main road (red arrow).
3 – A third option for those who don’t want to do the hike is merely to walk a few meters from the parking along the trail for the jaw-dropping scenery of The Quiraing.
Isle of Skye Trail #2 – Old Man of Storr
The Old Man of Storr, a towering rock formation that provides an exhilarating hike to the summit. The most famous landmark in the Isle of Skye, hence, the most famous hike among the Isle of Skye hikes. The path starts through the gate near the back of the car park, note that the path is pretty steep uphill but except for the tough climb and lots of stairs, the path itself is not the hardest.
There are several trails, the main one goes to the Old Man of Storr. Then, beyond the Old Man stands the Needle Rock (the way it looks from the side, picture below), also known as the Cathedral (the way it looks from behind, picture on the right), which has some “windows” through it near the top. After you reach the Needle Rock, there is an option to continue uphill on a path until you reach a hill from which you can view the whole scenery. This trail is 4.7 Km long.
We had snowy weather and the whole trail from the Old Man of Storr and forward was covered in snow, which was magical. However, we could barely see the trail itself. Furthermore, it was quite late and we were among the last visitors, that’s why we finished the trail at the Needle Rock and went back the same way (marked yellow on the map). It took us an hour and a half to get to the Needle Rock and back to the car. But we do recommend continuing the trail until the hill for the most magnificent views! The parking is paid and there are toilets.
Isle of Skye Trail #3 – Neist Point
Our third recommended hike in the Isle of Skye is Neist Point. It is the westernmost part of the Isle of Skye and it’s absolutely beautiful! A stunning cliff scenery overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a lighthouse at the tip.
There is a trail that leads to the Neist Point lighthouse. The path itself is paved but is considered moderate due to some elevation areas, especially the end of the trail – going up those stairs that you went down at the beginning of the trail. The trail is 2.7 km long and it takes about an hour to complete.
We didn’t do the trail because we felt that the best view is actually from the mainland and this point is not on the trail itself. You can find this viewpoint on the map on the right, marked 1 – Neist Point Viewpoint. You can see our pictures from there below. Another point of interest that we recommend is located along the trail and is called Neist Cliff Viewpoint. It is marked 2 on the map, it’s located on a hill off the path. If you are doing the trail, this point is not to be missed. You might notice some sheep with adorable baby lambs in the area and along the road up to the parking. The parking is free and there were no toilets.
Isle of Skye Trail #4 – Fairy Pools
Our fourth hike out of our 6 recommended Isle of Skye hikes is the iconic Fairy Pools. This is a very popular attraction in the Isle Skye and is not to be missed. A series of beautiful pools with crystal clear water and waterfalls at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills.
The trail is an out-and-back easy 3.7 km trail that took us about 1.5 hours to complete. Just walk from the car park towards the mountains along the River Brittle until you reach the big fairy pool (wide but shallow falls). Unfortunately, we reached the cave (waterfall with orange markings) and stopped there because it was rainy and getting late (only to find out later that the big fairy pool was a few steps further along). You can see on the map on the right, that 1 is marking the cave (the picture below the map), but continue just a bit along the path to reach the big fairy pool. The car park is paid and there are toilets, however, they were closed during our visit.
Isle of Skye Trail #5 – The Fairy Glen & Castle Ewan
Our 5th hike out of the best 6 Isle of Skye hikes is not to be missed! A beautiful landscape with cone-shaped hills that gave the glen a mystical vibe and its name. Castle Ewen is basically the highest hill in Fairy Glen, and it is called a castle because it has a unique top that resembles a castle ruin. Castle Ewen is featured in our guide to the 9 Best Castles in Scotland, if you like castles, check it out for more beautiful castles around Scotland.
The hike is a 0.8 km loop trail and it took us about one hour to explore. It is possible to climb to the top Castle Ewen for views of the glen, although it is a bit tricky climb. There is a paid parking and it is quite small, also there are no toilets. It was snowing during our visit there, which made the glen even more beautiful!
Isle of Skye Trail #6 – Loch Coruisk
The last hike of our 6 best hikes in Isle of Skye is a hike in Loch Coruisk. Loch Coruisk is a secluded beautiful raw nature that is reached only by a very long hike (too long for us to recommend it) or by boat trip from Elgol, which was our choice. Elgol is a small village on Loch Scavaig with amazing views of the majestic Cuillin Ranges. Loch Coruisk is located right at the bottom of the Black Cuillins, just on the other side of the Fairy Pools.
MISTY ISLE BOAT TRIPS – They provide boat trips to Loch Coruisk. We took the 11 AM Standard trip, which is a 3-hour trip with 90 minutes ashore at Loch Coruisk. There is a round-trip trail around Loch Coruisk, however, it’s 7 km long and it would take around 3-4 hours, which you don’t have. So, the best option is to walk along the southwestern side for about 45 min and to head back. If you want to do the whole round trip, you will have to take the Maxi trip that includes 7 hours ashore. For prices and inquiries check out their website.
Well, these were our favorite 6 hikes in the Isle of Skye! If you haven’t chosen a hotel in Isle of Skye, check out the great hotel we chose.
Hotel In Isle of Skye
We chose Cuillin Hills Hotel, a 4-star deluxe hotel with spectacular views over Portree Bay! We booked a standard double room and it was very spacious with a huge bathroom. The views from the breakfast area are exceptional! The breakfast itself was very tasty with lots of options to choose from (we especially loved the waffles). There is free parking, usually, it was pretty full but we always found a spot. We loved the hotel! Great location to explore the Isle of Skye with an amazing view!
Well, that’s it! This was our guide to the 6 Best Hikes in Isle of Skye in Scotland, UK.
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