Visiting Skye Responsibly

Yet, there’s a fragile balance at play here. Amidst the volcanic hills you’ll find delicate and diverse ecosystems. Alongside the nature you’ll notice the quiet buzz of busy island life. For Skye folk the landscape is a home, a workplace and a place to find peace. But, like many rural destinations, its increasing popularity means that it’s especially vulnerable to environmental damage and disruption.

This makes it important to know how to ‘visit responsibly’ - this means making mindful travel choices to protect the environment, be respectful of local heritage and help to support communities.

Here's a brief guide with some tips on how to do this when visiting Skye….

Eat, Shop & Spend Local 

The easiest (and very enjoyable!) way to support the island community is to spend money with local businesses. You don’t need to stock up with supplies en route. Skye is filled with plenty of hidden gem galleries, makers studios and eclectic village stores. At many restaurants and cafés you can sample incredible local produce.

Single Track Driving 

Single track roads can be alarming if it’s your first time but being aware of the rules will help you feel more comfortable. 

There are plenty of online guides that will give you detailed instructions so that you can familiarise yourself with how to use passing places, who has the right of way, etc. 

Once you’ve learned the rules it’s also handy to remember: 

Always pull over to let cars behind overtake. People might be rushing for a ferry or appointment. 

Be prepared to reverse! 

Whilst not an official rule of the road, everyone appreciates a “thanks” or polite acknowledgement when they’ve stopped for you to pass - friendly waves are the norm here!

Keep Dogs on Leads 

There are a lot of sheep in Skye and it’s important to keep dogs on leads when near them. Although it might be a game to your dog, chasing sheep can cause them to miscarry or badly injure themselves. Always heed the advice on any signs in the area.

Leave No Trace 

Most people wouldn’t dream of dropping litter but there are some things that you might not consider as leaving a trace… 

Campfires: Never light a fire on bare ground, it’s a huge wildfire risk and will leave ugly black ‘fire scars’. These kill the soil and take years to heal. Fireboxes and stoves are great alternatives that raise the flame off the floor and keep them contained. 

Toilet waste: Everyone gets caught short sometimes but please always clean up after yourself (nappy and dog poo bags are handy!) 

Many people discard wet wipes, which are usually made of plastic, or loo paper, unaware that it doesn’t dissolve quickly in the rain. 

Similarly, human waste left exposed isn’t just gross to see, it’s also dangerous to humans, dogs and livestock. That ‘remote’ place is often croftland that someone works each day, a route for dogwalkers or a secret camping spot. 

Litter pick: Go one step further than #LeaveNoTrace and leave an area better than you found it. You don’t need to do a whole beach clean, if everyone picks up just a handful of rubbish as they go it can make a huge difference. You get some feel-good karma too!

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