The Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness

After departing Inverness, we follow the scenic shores of Loch Ness, one of Scotland’s most famous and mysterious lochs. Keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of Nessie, as your guide shares the captivating story of the legendary Loch Ness Monster and the lore that surrounds it.

As we head west, the landscape transforms into the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Mist drifts over dark lochans and jagged peaks, creating an atmosphere that’s both dramatic and timeless. Along the way, your guide will share tales of clan battles, Highland clearances, and the turbulent history that shaped this remote and hauntingly beautiful region.

Soon, the unmistakable silhouette of the Five Sisters of Kintail comes into view — a majestic mountain range steeped in legend. As we round Loch Duich, the journey opens up to reveal the wild charm of Scotland’s west coast, a prelude to the wonders that await on the Isle of Skye.

Highland cows — or “Heilan coos” as they’re affectionately known — have long rivalled Nessie as Scotland’s most iconic resident. While Nessie remains elusive, these photogenic, shaggy-haired cattle are usually far more obliging when it comes to posing for photos.

On most tours, we’ll stop for a chance to admire these gentle giants up close and snap a few unforgettable pictures. Their distinctive long horns, tousled fringe, and calm demeanor have made them firm favourites with visitors from around the world.

Of course, as with all things in nature, sightings can never be guaranteed. Farmers occasionally rotate their herds between fields, and seasonal changes — especially in October — can affect their visibility. Also, please note that guests joining the tour in Drumnadrochit or Invermoriston will unfortunately miss this stop.

Eilean Donan Castle is said to be one of the most photographed castles in the world, and justifiably so; the 13th Century fortification dominates the small tidal island it sits on, and is surrounded by majestic mountain scenery.

Aside from its presence on innumerable postcards and shortbread tins you may well recognise Eilean Donan from films including Highlander, James Bond – The World Is Not Enough and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, a Bollywood classic.

We will spend around 15 minutes at a classic viewpoint across the water from the castle. Please note that there is not enough time to go into the castle – this is a photo stop only.

Set within a pretty natural harbour, and surrounded by rocky cliffs and rolling hills, Portree is a beautiful place to explore. With its quirky shops, cute cafes and interesting sights you will certainly find plenty to occupy you during our 30 – 40 minute stop here. Your guide will give you some top tips on the coach, and will also point you in the direction of the harbour viewpoint; from here you can admire the pretty pastel-coloured houses that the town is famous for.  Alternatively, you may wish to take a short hike up to the top of the Apothecary Tower, where you can enjoy stunning vistas of the area.

If you pre-ordered lunch from the Isle of Skye Baking Company at the start of the tour (extra charge, see FAQ section for details) then your guide will pick it up here, and will deliver it to you back on the mini-coach.  We would highly recommend taking this option, as the filled breads, cakes and other goodies are freshly-made to order for our guests by a wonderful artisanal baker, and we are pretty confident she has the best baking on the island (of Skye that is, although quite possibly the UK too!)

If you have not taken the lunch pre-order option then you will want to use your time in Portree to grab some lunch. There are plenty of options in the town centre; from a local deli serving seafood rolls and home-made cakes to a traditional fish and chip shop and two Skye bakeries, you will definitely find something to suit you (but please note that Portree is very busy at lunchtime, so you may have to wait in line for quite a while!).

As we venture further north we enter a supernatural and dramatic landscape which was created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. A short photo stop at a loch-side viewpoint gives you a chance to admire the unique rock formation of the Old Man of Storr. This 50 metre high pinnacle juts out from the awe-inspiring Trotternish Ridge and will be widely recognised from feature films including Stardust, The Wicker Man, Prometheus and The BFG.

We spend around 10 minutes here, and may stop at a second viewpoint too (weather and time permitting).

Adding to the drama of this striking sea cliff is Mealt Falls, a powerful waterfall that plunges 60 metres (almost 200 feet) from the cliffs into the Sound of Raasay below. Fed by nearby Mealt Loch, the falls are a breathtaking sight in any weather — but on windy days, nature puts on an extra show as the water is blown back upwards in swirling plumes, defying gravity and delighting onlookers.

Kilt Rock itself is no less impressive. The basalt columns and sandstone layers give the cliff face a distinctly pleated appearance, resembling a traditional Scottish kilt — hence the name. With the vast seascape stretching beyond and the sound of the crashing waves below, this viewpoint captures the wild, untamed spirit of Skye’s east coast. It’s a perfect stop for both photos and a few moments of awe.

We spend around 15 minutes here.

At around 2pm we will begin our journey back down Skye’s most northerly peninsula; the Trotternish. As you marvel at the majestic scenery from a completely different angle, your guide will fill you in on its 190 million year old stones, Jurassic fossils, dinosaur footprints and giant lava blocks, which have led to this area being referred to as Skye’s, “Theatre of Geology”. Whilst the Fairy Pools have become one of Skye’s most popular sights in recent years, we feel strongly that a trip to the island is incomplete without seeing the incredible scenery of the Trotternish Peninsula. As we journey back down south we are sure that you will now agree with us!

The Fairy Pools are a series of beautiful rock pools and waterfalls which are famed for their crystal clear blue waters, and their stunning Cuillin mountain backdrop.  We will spend around 75 – 90 minutes here, to give you plenty of time to enjoy this wonderful sight.

The scenic walk to the first pool takes around 20 minutes (distance is 0.7 miles) and the most impressive waterfall is 5 minutes further on (0.9 miles total).  Most guests spend their time around this area, admiring the crystal clear waters of the pools and their gushing waterfalls. Photo opportunities abound!

For those keen to get off-the-beaten-track and take some stunning photos you can venture on up the path to the other pools further upstream – by walking another 15 – 20 minutes (0.6 miles) you will pretty much have the path to yourself.

Please be aware that the walk to the Fairy Pools and back is a total of around 1.5 miles and will take around 40 minutes, so you do require a moderate level of fitness for this part of the tour.

For those who do not feel fit enough to embark on this hike at the Fairy Pools you are still more than welcome to come on the tour. There is outdoor seating provided to take in the beautiful views and when the weather is not so good, there is a small enclosure where you can keep out of the rain and wind.

With the sights of Skye behind us, we travel east along the shores of Loch Duich, a sea loch surrounded by steep forested hills and glassy waters. From here, we enter the dramatic Glen Shiel – a glen steeped in Highland history and the site of the 1719 Battle of Glenshiel. This little-known Jacobite clash marked the end of that year’s rising and is remarkable not just for its outcome, but for the unexpected international players involved. As we drive through the glen, your guide will bring the past to life, sharing the story of the Spanish troops who joined the Jacobites, and the Dutch forces sent to oppose them.

Continuing past Loch Cluanie, you’ll hear about the modern history that reshaped this land. When the loch was dammed in the 1950s to generate hydroelectric power, entire settlements and bridges were submerged. On days when water levels are low, you may spot the eerie outline of rooftops or arches beneath the surface – ghostly reminders of a lost Highland past.

This stretch of road is both scenic and reflective, offering the chance to process the day’s discoveries while enjoying even more spectacular views of the wild and timeless Highland landscape.

Towards the end of our action-packed journey we will travel back along the shores of Loch Ness. This time, we will stop at the castle we admired in the morning (it will seem like a lifetime ago after today’s epic adventure!). Urquhart Castle is best viewed from above for wonderful views of the medieval ruins, which sit upon a stubby peninsula jutting out into the inky waters of the mysterious loch.

We are confident that you will return to Inverness with memories to last a lifetime, and having fallen in love with the place we feel so lucky to call home.