The Best of Skye: Curated by Hidden Scotland

The Isle of Skye is a place of rare wonder, a wildlife-rich spread of bays, peaks, cliffs and ridges. The views are big, but the prospect of adventure is even bigger. This guide is curated by Hidden Scotland – it takes in everything from the best walks to the finest restaurants – to help you to have your own unforgettable island escape.

Includes a pull-out map of the island by renowned illustrator Emily Hogarth.

Contents:

Introduction

• History
• Areas
• How to Use This Guide
• An island of many faces
• Getting Around
• Right to roam

Things to Do

• Walks, Wildlife & Nature
• History & Heritage
  
• Arts & Crafts
• Arts & Culture

Food & Drink

• Restaurants
• Bars
• Cafés

Stories

• Jurassic Isle of Skye
• The Dream Makers of Skye
• Calum's Road
• Flora MacDonald A Jacobite Heroine

Accommodation

• Hotels
• Hostels & Campsites
• Self Catering

"Many islands around Europe can claim to be blessed with grand scenery, but precious few can match the raw, elemental drama of Skye. Craggy slopes and muscular headlands stretch across the map like works in some gargantuan open-air gallery, while a glimmering array of lochs, burns and white-sand bays offset the towering geology.

The island is no pocket-sized retreat. Covering more than 1,650 square kilometres, it stands as a realm of its own, a land where eagles soar, skies brood and single-track roads snake off into the distance. As a cultural destination, meanwhile, it’s vibrantly alive, with a string of historical settlements and a population of some 12,000. Among these locals runs a rich vein of creativity and a long tradition of producing artists, musicians and makers – indeed, spend long enough among Skye’s cloud-snagged mountains and wave-bashed peninsulas and it’s hard not to feel inspired yourself.    

The following pages are your guide to making the most of the island (as well as its far smaller but similarly lovely sister island, Raasay). In your hands you’ll find an overview of the best places to stay, the best things to do, the best locations to visit and the best spots to eat and drink.

As you’ll no doubt be aware, visitor numbers here can be high in peak season. With this in mind, we’ve also made an effort to spotlight a whole host of lesser-known attractions, championing the places and people that truly make Skye what it is. It’s somewhere to explore at length, a destination where the choicest rewards are often found in the quietest, most unexpected places – and we hope this guide allows you to enjoy this very special island to the full."