From The Best of Skye, a Hidden Scotland guide

Introduction to Skye

Fifty miles of moors and mountains: an introduction to the island.

Printed in The Best of Skye, a Hidden Scotland guidebook.

You could forgive Skye for having an ego. It’s said that Scotland’s top three tourist destinations are Edinburgh, Loch Ness, and the 50-mile-long rhapsody of moors and mountains that we know better as the Isle of Skye. But while the second largest of Scotland’s islands (behind only Lewis & Harris – but you knew that) is emphatically no secret, it’s popular for very good reason.

Much of the island’s appeal is down to its devastatingly rugged landscapes – towering ridges, contorted peaks, sheer cliffs and sparkling lochs – with the rocky range of the Cuillin Hills one of many focal points for hikers and climbers. This all makes it a stirring place to spend time, even if you’re only cooing at the scenery from the road, although there’s far more to it than outdoor adventure. Artisans, food producers, crofting museums, castles and a whole range of easy-to-linger pubs and restaurants have helped Skye to evolve into a brilliant all-round destination.

The high-summer crowds can be a little oppressive, so it definitely pays to time your trip well, but this is a sizable destination, and crafting your own island experience is easily done. From its traditional villages to its superb wildlife-watching, and from its shapely beaches to its adventure sports, Skye is the kind of place that not only keeps you busy, but nags at you for a repeat visit. Its Gaelic name is An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, which some say translates as ‘the winged isle’: this is a reference to its shape on a map, which resembles a pair of outstretched wings, but could just as easily refer to its soaring beauty.

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