We planned an early start on day two in the Isle of Skye and were up bright and early to pack and put on our hiking gear. With a breakfast of apples and granola in the car, we headed to The Old Man of Storr and the start of our most ambitious day of hiking.
First off, a theme in the Isle of Skye is limited parking. It’s certainly not a dealbreaker, but you should be aware so you plan accordingly and plan on an early start. If you head out too late, you run into the possibility of not finding a spot OR getting frustrated with the large tour buses full of people. Be smart! Get up and out before they have their morning tea!
All parking matters aside, the real gem of an early start are the misty views around the rock edges.
Old Man of Storr
Remember those hiking shoes you bought for this trip and put on this morning? Good, you’ll be thankful you left your Michael Kors riding boots at home because the base of this hike is very steep. Take only the essentials and leave the rest in the car.
I’ll keep saying it because this was essential – I couldn’t thank myself enough for buying good hiking shoes for this climb.
It’s not an easy ascent, but it’s absolutely worth it from the top. Besides, you’ll have quads of steel by the time you fly back home!
After a morning spent exploring the rocky cliffside of the Old Man of Storr, we made our way back down and into the car. A short drive later, we made a quick stop at Kilt Rock. Not many things are lame in The Isle of Skye, but this was certainly not a highlight!
The Quiraing
Now let’s talk real quick. Our next stop was hiking the Quiraing. This drive is up a mountainside and I won’t lie, it’s terrifying. There are no railings between you and a tumble down a cliffside and these roads are really only meant for one car. Drive slowly and make use of the pull offs when you see a car coming in the opposite direction.
God must have been listening to the frantic prayers I was babbling as I watched us drive though slitted fingers because we made it unscathed. Parking at the top is sparse so take that into consideration when planning.
If I’ve scared you, and you don’t want to attempt the drive, there is a lot at the very bottom of the mountain road. You can park there and walk up. I won’t lie, it’ll be a hike, but it’s an option!
The path is on the side of a cliff so friends, those hiking boots with the gnarly treads are a MUST! If you’re afraid of heights, this one may not be for you.
Quick side story:
My husband, Mike, is afraid of heights. You can see him below smiling through the shear terror. At times I would turn around to find him practically in a fetal position on the path. Why? He didn’t plan well with his shoes. He wore retired running shoes. Don’t be like him! My shoes had such amazing grips I could’ve spider-walked up the hill without a problem.
It was around the halfway point, and partway through Mike’s slow slip into fear-induced insanity that we started hearing screaming. The scream of someone in serious trouble. One that makes your stomach drop and your breath catch. Hearing it was up ahead, we kept going and saw a group of 4 people who had climbed the cliff face.
Mind you, the only creatures crazy enough to attempt this are the sheep that live up there. The screeching was coming from one of the girls who climbed up and was now terrified to get back down.
So what’s the moral here? Leave the climbing to the sheep.
The hike is well worth the peril of the drive and promises lots of sheep, amazing views, and some really National Geo-worthy spots for your newest profile picture.
Back in the car and after a lunch stop and a tour of Dunvegan Castle, it was on to the last hike of the day at Fairy Glen.
With a couple of waves to sheep friends along the way!
Fairy Glen
Now friends, I told you the drive to the Quiraing had me near dead with images of our car rolling down a mountainside. Believe me when I tell you the drive to Fairy Glen drive was enough to send me over the edge. Even Mike was white-knuckled with a constant stream of expletives for this one.
If you felling yourself slipping, pull over onto a pull off, give yourself a good slap and get back on the road because the glen is well worth the stress!
Fairy Glen is small but the perfect place to explore. There’s a nice little parking lot a short walk up the road which wasn’t overly crowded.
I will assume that is because the drive had most people turning around to go home and change their underpants.
Climb to the top of the rock formations if you’re brave (but good lord, not if you’re afraid of heights) and enjoy the greenery and sheep from the top of hills.
Portree
After a day of hiking, we were ready to venture into Portree for dinner. Unfortunately so was every other tourist. Restaurants were packed with lengthy wait times, and parking was a challenge.
Thankfully, we sat down to a pint at the bar of the Black Sheep while we waited for a table. Dinner was fantastic and well worth the wait.
With our step goals well met for the day, we headed home.
Two days in the Isle of Skye felt perfect for the trip that we planned, however if you wish to do more hiking, there are many peaks to explore with varying levels of difficulty. The Isle is small, but you will need a car and some time to make it to all the spots you want to visit.
Looking for more?
If you missed day one in the Isle of Skye read about it here. If I’ve inspired you to plan your next trip to Scotland, read my guide and get the inside scoop on all the tips and tricks to planning your trip.
