A Guide To The Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye
Visiting the Scottish Highlands has been on my list for a few years, and I especially want to go in the Fall. With our recent move to London, the trip is much easier, but it didn't seem feasible to take it so soon after moving to another country. Lo and behold, the Universe had it all worked out. On one cloudy day in London, I logged onto Instagram and saw a friend visiting the English Countryside. I messaged her to see if she would be in London, and “Why yes!” she exclaimed. But she said only for an afternoon because she is headed to Scotland that same day. I mentioned that Scotland was on my list, and she offered to let me join her. Since having kids, I’m a lot less spontaneous than I used to be, but for some reason I felt compelled to join her despite having just taken a trip to Italy 5 days into our London move and only having 2 days to prepare for an entire Scotland adventure. I didn’t even have a raincoat. Thank God for next-day delivery. So I packed everything in one day and hopped on the train to Edinburgh to start my Scottish Adventure.
THE BEST WAY TO VISIT THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
Originally, when I wanted to visit this area, I planned to go with my family. But honestly, for some reason, the planning part seemed daunting. Where do you drive? Will we be comfortable driving on the other side of the road? What are accommodations like so far away from the city? Is it actually kid-friendly? As much as I love traveling with my family, I sometimes like to vet a place before bringing my kids to make sure we can navigate it with them. That said, I am very happy I took this trip without my kids. This isn't to say the Scottish Highlands aren't kid-friendly, but if you're going with your kids, I recommend traveling in a way that makes it much more streamlined and enjoyable for everyone.
All this to say the best way to travel to the Scottish Highlands is to book a tour.
If this is your first time visiting the Highlands and/or you are not used to driving on the other side of the road, booking a tour is the best option. I really don't know how we would have navigated everything without a local to help us. We booked an extensive 3-day tour through the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye. It was a smaller group of about 15 people, and they picked us up in Edinburgh. On Day 1, we explored the Highlands and arrived on the Isle of Skye in the evening. On Day 2, we explored the Isle of Skye, and on Day 3, we explored more of the Highlands as we headed back to Edinburgh, where they dropped us off at the end of the tour. I appreciated the tour not only because I didn't have to navigate the winding Highland roads, but especially because the price included accommodations. More on that later.
If you do decide to drive yourself, please keep in mind….
The roads are very windy, and cars drive fast.
Sometimes the roads almost suddenly turn into one lane, so you have to pull over to let a car pass.
It gets extremely windy in the Highlands and Isle of Skye, so this can be an added obstacle to driving.
Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye is about a 6-hour drive with no stops, and it would be best to map out your stops to make the most of the trip. Especially because it could be hours until you find the next bathroom or restaurant.
WHERE TO STAY
Finding accommodations on the Isle of Skye can be tricky, as many B&Bs don't have websites, and Airbnbs and hotels can be costly. If you're not familiar with the area, you can also end up in a location you don’t like, or one that's too remote. The tour keeps you near the center of the quaint town of Portree, so food and amenities are close by. The B&B we stayed in had no bells and whistles, but it was simple, clean, and within walking distance of restaurants. The host was a nice older woman who cooked us breakfast every morning. As mentioned, B&Bs are mainly small, family-owned establishments that can only be booked by phone, which can make finding accommodation a bit difficult, especially if you are traveling from outside the UK.
Now that I have more insight, if you want to book your own accommodation, I think Portree is a great area to stay on the Isle of Skye, and I would stay as close to the city center as possible.
WHERE TO VISIT
The tour covered many popular attractions in the Highlands and on the Isle of Skye, but it reminded me why I almost never book group tours. It was nice to see so many different areas, but we traded time and the pleasure of really taking in each location for quantity. The tour was very regimented, with strict time slots, so we had to see the sites, take photos, and then head back to the van. It would have been nice to spend more time in each place. Overall, it felt like we spent more time in the car than outside in the Highlands. I understand why; the Highlands are very spread out, so it takes a while to get to each destination. Three days simply isn't enough to see a lot and still have ample time at each stop. If you want to take your time and explore the Highlands, I recommend spending at least 7 days. Nevertheless, for a CliffsNotes version of the Highlands, this was the best way to see it all, and you can also bookmark your favorites and plan to revisit them on a more leisurely trip. Below, I have listed all the places we visited in the Highlands and on the Isle of Skye.
Luss Pier
Glencoe Lochan
Old Fort of Fort William
Ben Nevis
Portree Harbour
Kilt Rock
Lealt Falls
The Old Man of Storr
Quiraing
Eilean Donan Castle
Fort Augustus Abbey
We also made food stops along the way, which included some really good cafes, a chocolatier, and a few distilleries. I was surprised by how much the Scottish Highlands reminded me of Iceland, with its bright, colored volcanic grass, abundant waterfalls, and crisp air and water. Sometimes I actually forgot I was in Scotland and mistook my travels for Iceland (I’ve been to Iceland 3 times, and it's one of my favorite countries). The Highlands are absolutely stunning, more beautiful than I thought. Though I was exhausted after a 3-day tour, I’m so glad I got to check this place off my bucket list.
The tour we booked is suitable for children 4 and up, but I would recommend it for slightly older children who do not need to use the bathroom as often. I can’t imagine being cooped up on a bus tour with my children for hours at a time, but the tour is technically family-friendly since there is no hiking involved, and it makes planning a lot easier when visiting the Highlands with your family.
Find the tour we booked HERE.
