The Road To The Isle Of Skye
Written by Graeme Johncock
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The Isle of Skye is pretty high on the list for people visiting Scotland and rightly so! However, don’t be in such a wild rush to get there that you can’t enjoy all of the interesting things to see along the way. It’s logical to visit Inverness either before or after Skye and the route between the two is one of my absolute favourite road trips!
Loch Ness
The name Inverness translates from Gaelic as “Mouth of the River Ness” and its not long until you’re driving alongside Scotland’s most famous loch! There’s a long lay-by with unrivalled views down all 23 miles of the enormous Loch Ness. Legend says that a monster is hiding somewhere below the surface of the water, nicknamed Nessie and reports go way back to the 6th century. There are still hundreds of sightings every single year and while I can’t promise one, there aren’t many better places to catch a glimpse!
Urquhart Castle
It’s hard to pass by Urquhart Castle without stopping. Not only is it one of the most important castles in Scottish history, it’s also a stunningly beautiful place. Dating back over 1500 years, it guards passage through the Great Glen against any threat trying to sail up Loch Ness. Fought over in the Wars of Independence, Urquhart was later given to Clan Grant who found themselves continuously fighting the west coast clans. Things came to a head in 1545 where the MacDonalds made off with around 8000 livestock along with anything else that would fit in their ships!
Invermoriston Falls
Further along Loch Ness, Invermoriston Falls mark where Glen Moriston joins the Great Glen. Take a short walk from the car park to the old Summer House giving a stunning view across the tumbling waterfalls to the Old Bridge peeking out beneath the modern road crossing.
Lunch at Redburn Café
Redburn Cafe might look small, but it produces some incredible food in that tiny space! Whether you’re looking for soup and a sandwich or a bigger meal, there are some great Scottish classics there! Best of all, during the summer there are usually Highland Cows in the field across the road to give you one more reason to stop here!
Memorial To Roderick Mackenzie
If you didn’t know this was here, then you would drive right past it! A large cairn stands at the side of the main road commemorating Roderick Mackenzie, an unsung hero of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. He was an ordinary man who looked so similar to Prince Charles Stuart that he became his body double! After the Battle of Culloden, Roderick was caught here in Glen Moriston by soldiers looking for Bonnie Prince Charlie. He played his part, but unfortunately the prince was wanted dead or alive! Roderick was killed and decapitated and if you cross the road you can still find his grave where his body was buried
Battle Of Glenshiel Viewpoint
In my opinion, the drive through Glenshiel is one of the best in all of Scotland. Mountains soar on either side as you weave along through the narrow valley and there are plenty of viewpoints to stop along the way. One layby is marked with crossed swords to show it’s the site of the Battle of Glenshiel. In 1719, 1400 Jacobites waited up the slopes here to ambush a government army as it marched along the pass. It was a disaster for the Jacobites and while casualties were light, defeat here ended this rising before it really got started.
Clachan Duich Burial Ground
Picturesquely perched on the edge of Loch Duich, Clachan Duich is the ancient burial ground for Clan Macrae of Kintail. We know it’s been in use for at least 1000 years, but it most likely dates back even further than that! It’s well worth stopping even briefly to soak in the history.
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle might well be the most photographed building in Scotland outside of Edinburgh. It dates all the way back to the 13th century, although it became a ruin after government warships destroyed the fortress around the same time as the Battle of Glen Shiel. Thankfully, Lt Col Macrae-Gilstrap bought the castle and restored it in the early 1900s, building the iconic bridge in the process. It’s in a stunning spot and if you have the time then it’s very worth spending an hour or so wandering the halls!
Skye Bridge
Since 1995, there’s no need to get the ferry to Skye (unless you want to) after the building of the Skye Bridge. Today it’s free to cross and makes visiting the island far easier. Once over the bridge, it’s around 10 minutes to Broadford or 45 minutes to Portree depending on where you want to end the day!
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