Isle of Skye circuit

Reach Skye by the bridge at Kyleakin or by ferry from Mallaig. The classic loop runs Portree, the Trotternish Peninsula and the Quiraing, Dunvegan Castle, then south by the Cuillin. Roads are mostly single-track and slow, and it is best done over three days with time for walking.

The stops

1. Start

   Kyle of Lochalsh

2. Worth a look

   Eilean Donan Castle

   Castle on the way to the bridge

3. Town

   Portree

   Harbour town, the main base for the island

4. Viewpoint

   Old Man of Storr

   Short walk up to the rock pinnacles

5. Viewpoint

   Quiraing

   Landslip ridge with a walking route

6. Worth a look

   Dunvegan Castle

   Seat of Clan MacLeod

7. Viewpoint

   Fairy Pools

   Walk to the pools below the Cuillin

8. Viewpoint

   Sligachan

   Hotel and bridge with the Cuillin behind

9. Back to the start

   Kyle of Lochalsh

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Portree

  Torvaig Campsite · B&Bs

• Night 2

  Dunvegan

  Kinloch Campsite

When to go

May–Sep

On the road

Many single-track roads; busy at Fairy Pools and Old Man of Storr in summer