Scotland is an incredible place to road trip; it has some outstanding scenery, unique activities to try out and plenty of attractions to visit. Our VW Campers have toured the whole country, but one place that seems to be pretty darn popular is the Isle of Skye.
Getting there
There are a few ways to reach the Isle of Skye, some a little more complex than others. If you’re hiring one of our Trax Campers then you can opt for the Road to the Isles from Fort William and then sail over on the Caledonian MacBrayneferry, or alternatively you could drive straight over Skye Bridge. There is also a private ferry, Skye Ferry, in operation during the summer months.
Staying there
Once you’ve crossed the water, you’ll be looking for a place to set up your camper. Due to its popularity, there’s a pretty big choice of campsites on Skye, but we’d recommend Skye Camping & Club Site and Kinloch Campsite. Both of these sites have hard standings with electrical hook-ups and other facilities such as a laundry room, hot showers and Wi-Fi.
Rubha Hunish
Look out for seabirds and mammals at the northernmost point of the Isle of Skye. To reach this beautiful place, you will have to take the 3km walk to the very tip of the island. There are a couple of challenging sections, particularly one steep section down some rocks, but it shouldn’t cause too many problems. The patch will soon reach the lookout, which is now a bothy maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association.
Armadale Castle
Despite its name, this mock-castle country house is now ruins, but it is still well worth a visit. Armadale Castle was once home to the MacDonalds, often referred to as Clan Donald, but in 1925 the family moved somewhere smaller and left the castle to the island. Spend a couple of hours taking in the castle gardens and ruins. The castle façade itself is very impressive, a popular spot for wedding photos.
The Museum of the Isles
If you decide to take a trip to Armadale, you won’t have to travel far to the museum as it is located within the grounds of the castle. In the early 1970’s the Clan Donald Lands Trust bought the estate and opened up the Museum of the Isles. There are six galleries in total, which tell you the 1500 year history of the area and the family.
Boat to The Cuillin (Black)
The Cuillins are a range of rocky mountains on Skye, known as either the Black Cuillin or Red Cuillin, distinguished by the colour of the rock. Although climbing these treacherous mountains might not appeal to you, it would still be a shame to miss them. Instead, experience them by a boat trip, where you will see breathtaking views of the mountains and Loch Coruisk. Check out Bella Jane Boat Trips and Misty Isle Boat Trips.
Talisker Distillery
There are few things that remind me of Scotland more than a good whisky. Talisker Distillery was built on the shores of Loch Harport in 1830 and is now the only single malt distillery on the Isle of Skye. The distillery offers guided tours so you can see for yourself how the whisky is made. You can treat yourself without feeling guilty too as you’ll be handed a discount voucher for a bottle of malt from the shop.
