7 reasons to visit Skye

Exploring Skye’s rugged beauty was my hands-down highlight. Every bend in every road offers amazing views of coastal inlets, towering mountains or (on a clear day) the Outer Hebrides on the horizon. Take in the mystical rock formations in the north of the island, such as The Quiraing, Kilt Rock and The Old Man of Storr, a pinnacle rock that can be seen for miles around. Or journey into the island’s heart to discover the aptly named Fairy Glen, a magical miniature landscape carpeted in soft grass. On a warm day, take a wild dip in the chilly aqua water of the Fairy Pools that cascade down from the Black Cuillin mountains.
 
GH Tip: You’ll need a car to explore Skye. Anyone who is familiar with the windy, single-track roads may drive too close for comfort, so use the designated passing places to allow traffic behind you to overtake and oncoming traffic to pass safely. Be aware of the sheep wandering out on to the road, too!

If the weather permits, exploring Skye’s surrounding waters by boat is unmissable. AquaXplore offers boat trips to (hopefully) catch sight of puffin colonies, dolphins, minke whales and basking sharks. Adrenalin-seekers can opt for the speedy offshore RIBS (rigid inflatables), which whizz out at 25 knots to the remote islands off Skye. For a more sedate spot of wildlife watching, try the Bella Jane boat trips. You’ll see the seal colony at Loch Coruisk and be taken into the stunning heart of the Cuillin mountains, which would otherwise require some 16 miles of hiking to reach! From £16 for a mini return trip on the Bella Jane.
 
Bear Grylls fans should book Skye Ghillie for guided foraging and walking tours off the beaten track, as well as fly and shoreline fishing in remote hill lochs.
 
GH Tip: You can’t fish in Skye’s lochs on a Sunday. The island has some of Scotland’s fastest following rivers, so I recommend organising an experienced fishing guide if you plan to have a go at catching salmon or sea trout!

 

Richly clad in tartan and with a fire on every hearth, Kinloch Lodge, with its sweeping loch-side views, is a luxury base from which to explore Skye. Home to one of Scotlands best-loved cooks, Lady Claire MacDonald, and steeped in clan heritage, the house has a wonderfully warm and informal atmosphere, making you feel as though you are a familiar MacDonald house guest. From £160pp (April – October inclusive) or £119pp (November – March inclusive), all including dinner, bed and breakfast.
 
GH Tip: Take a morning cookery workshop in Kinloch Lodge’s bustling Michelin-star kitchen with head chef Marcello Tully followed by lunch. £99pp, including lunch. Discover your style of Scotch and request a whisky tasting in the wood-panelled bar, or ask for afternoon tea in the drawing room.
 
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There’s something for every palate and pocket on Skye and, with Scotland celebrating its Year of Food and Drink in 2015, there’s no better time to eat your way around the Island.
For great value seafood, eat at The Oyster Shed where half a meaty lobster and chips comes in at a lip-smacking £8.50.
Sit in at Skye Pie Café in Culnacnoc for the home-made pies or, if exploring the stunning Trotternish Ridge, take ‘walker’s pies’ to go. From £3.95.
Discover Scorrybreac, a little gem of a restaurant, run by Callum Munro. ‘Everything, from our venison to our oysters, is from Skye. I’m so proud to be part of putting our island on the foodie map,’ Callum said in the middle of service on a busy Saturday night. He opened Scorrybreac as a pop-up restaurant in his parents’ front room but, following its success, he has taken up humble residence above Portree’s candy coloured harbour, where local Scottish food is served with classic French flair. From £27.50 for two courses.
Or you could dine at Kinloch Lodge itself to see why they’ve retained their Michelin star for five years. Every morsel of Marcello Tully’s eight-course tasting menu is a masterpiece, £80pp.

Seasoned foodies on the hunt for unique and authentic experiences should seek out some of Skye’s small artisanal producers.
David Oakes of Sconsor Scallops dives for king-sized scallops, selling his bounty beside the Loch. David explained – while shucking open a fresh scallop for me to eat… raw! – ‘Our hand-dived scallops are moved to shallow water, where there’s plenty to eat, so they’re meatier and more flavoursome.’ You’re sure to sample David’s scallops at many top restaurants across Skye, but if you’re self-catering, pick up a sack of scallops ‘live in shell’. From £20 for a minimum order of 12, dived to order with 48 hours’ notice.
Any foodie, er… worth their salt will know that gourmet sea salt is an on-trend ingredient. It’s no wonder, therefore, that Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company should capitalise on the gallons of clear, mineral-rich seawater surrounding the island. See why the non-bitter, clean tang is worthy of its Great Taste award. £4.99 for 150g.

Thanks to some incredible fossilised footprints found on the beach at An Corran, Staffin, Skye, I was surprised to learn, is dubbed Scotland’s Dinosaur Isle. You couldn’t tell from its rather tumbledown stone exterior, but the tiny Staffin museum hosts an impressive collection of Scottish dinosaur remains.
 
GH Tip: If you’re planning to scout out the footprints, be warned that in a bid to preserve them, directions remain elusive. Keep your eyes peeled, close to the ramp that runs down to the beach at Staffin.
 
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Glendale, in the remote north east of Skye, is one of the few places in the UK with no light pollution, so sightings of the northern lights or aurora borealis, meteor showers, the Milky Way and comets aren’t uncommon. Conditions to view an aurora are often unpredictable but hopeful stargazers should refer to Glendale Skye Auroras Facebook page for nightly test photos and updates on whether an aurora is emerging. Good luck: you could find that on Skye, there’s no limit!
 
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