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Rock pinnacle
Old Man of Storr
Rock pinnacle among the remains of ancient landslips below The Storr, on the Trotternish peninsula north of Portree.
A mini guide to
Isle of Skye: Portree & Dunvegan
Harbour town, clan castles and the Cuillin, reached by bridge or ferry
Photos
1 / 8Welcome to the area
Harbour town, clan castles and the Cuillin, reached by bridge or ferry
Portree is the main town on the Isle of Skye, a harbour town about 119 km from Inverness by road. Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod, stands on Loch Dunvegan on the north-west side of the island. Talisker Distillery is at Carbost, and the Fairy Pools lie below the Cuillin in Glen Brittle.
Skye is reached by the Skye Bridge, which carries the A87 over Loch Alsh, or by CalMac ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. Many roads away from the main routes are single-track with passing places, and the island is spread out, so plan driving time generously.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Landslip landscape
Quiraing
Craterous landslip on the Trotternish escarpment, with rock features known as the Needle, the Prison and the Table.
Viewpoint
Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Sea cliffs about 55 m high of banded dolerite on the Trotternish coast, with a waterfall fed by the outflow of Loch Mealt.
Waterfalls
Fairy Pools
Series of pools and waterfalls on the Allt Coir' a' Mhadaidh in Glen Brittle, at the foot of the Cuillin.
Viewpoint
Sligachan
Settlement close to the Cuillin and a viewpoint for the Black Cuillin ridge.
Distillery
Talisker Distillery
Island single malt distillery at Carbost on the Minginish peninsula, established in 1830.
Directions Website Report a problem with Talisker Distillery
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Isle of Skye: Portree & Dunvegan and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Use passing places
Many roads on Skye are single-track with passing places. Pull in to let oncoming traffic pass and never park in a passing place, as VisitScotland advises.
2
Plan fuel and food
Settlements are far apart outside Portree, Dunvegan and Broadford, so plan fuel and meals before long drives.
3
Respect crofts
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code covers walking on land with crops and livestock. Follow it near crofts and keep dogs under control.
4
Check the ferry
Weather can affect CalMac sailings. Check the CalMac website for service updates before you travel.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Isle of Skye: Portree & Dunvegan
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Isle of Skye: Portree & Dunvegan (area photo): Lauwz The Kiwistralian, CC0, source
- Old Man of Storr: lydia harper lids_harper, CC0, source
- Quiraing: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Fairy Pools: gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K, CC BY 2.0, source
- Sligachan: A forrest68, CC0, source
- Talisker Distillery: Chmee2, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dunvegan Castle and Gardens: Sarahteeco, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Neist Point: Ian Cunliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dun Beag: Nessy-Pic, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Skye Museum of Island Life: HelgeRieder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Duntulm Castle: Helmut Zozmann, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Armadale Castle, Gardens and Museum of the Isles: Wojsyl, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Torabhaig Distillery: thejackrustles, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Skye Bridge: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- The Cairngorms: Aviemore & Grantown-on-Spey: dave conner, CC BY 2.0, source
- Oban, Argyll & the Mull ferry: Mike Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Black Isle & Easter Ross: Vcarceler, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Inverness & Loch Ness: dave conner from Inverness, Scotland, CC BY 2.0, source
- Fort William, Glencoe & Ben Nevis: Viewfinder at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Scottish Highlands