You’ll Love: Walking on the Isle of Skye
Woman’s Weekly Craft & Home Editor, Esme
Where I went
After a brief stop-off in Edinburgh, my boyfriend and I ventured north-west to Skye. Joined to the Scottish mainland by a small bridge, it’s easy to access the island by car but once we arrived we journeyed on foot to better see the awe-inspiring landscape.
What I did
We quickly learned that the area is renowned for experiencing four seasons in one day – the mountain ranges and expansive coastline enshrouded in mist one moment and framed under clear bright blue skies the next. So each morning we set out armed with cagoules and sunglasses, prepared for whatever the weather might bring.
Our first stop was the Old Man of Storr, a dramatic pillar of rock jutting from the Trotternish peninsula and a popular tourist destination. Film buffs flock there to see the distinctive jumble of basalt spurs that featured in 1970s cult classic The Wicker Man and, more recently, Prometheus (2012).
Nearby, the Quiraing offered us the most adventurous hike of our stay, taking almost five hours to complete the four and a half-mile circuit that leads across clifftops, around pinnacles and, at one point, had us scrambling up a muddy vertical ridge. Keep an eye out for the aptly named Prison, Needle and Table rock formations.
Once we’d completed our tour of the north, we ventured to the most westerly point of the isle, Neist Point. After exploring the lighthouse, built in 1909, we climbed a nearby hill for a better view of the headland – on a clear day you can see the neighbouring Western Isles. En route, we took a quick detour to the coral beaches north of Dunvegan. The famously white stretch of beach is the perfect place for dipping a toe in the Atlantic waters and feeling their invigorating coolness.
Finally we arrived at the magical Fairy Pools, the most popular attraction on Skye. We meandered past cascading waterfalls and clear azure pools to reach the foot of The Cuillin, a magnificent mountain range resembling huge sheets of rock surging skywards.
Where I stayed
Nestled in the shadow of the gigantic Quaraing, we made
The Croft our home for a couple of days, surrounded by grazing sheep and their newborn lambs. And there was no Wi-Fi to speak of – absolute bliss!
What I ate
We made our own sandwiches for walking, but for fine dining try The Three Chimneys in Colbost (threechimneys.co.uk, 01470
511 258) for a gourmet menu of authentic local produce, or Scorrybreac (scorrybreac.com, 01478 612 069) in Portree.