Skye Highs Short Break

This is a 4-night trip to the Isle of Skye to immerse yourself in some of the most dramatic scenery Scotland has to offer. You can enjoy some exceptional low-level local walks with big views, opt for a day tour, or simply relax in a cosy pub and mingle with the locals. This tour is easily combined with a pre-tour extra night in Fort William where this relaxed holiday kicks off.

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

Solo Travellers

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

The walks on this tour are graded as easy to moderate with distances ranging from 5 to 7 km (3 to 5 mi) which are optional and can be completed at your own pace. The ascent/descent is gentle and the highest elevation is +338/-336m (+1109/-1102ft) on Day 4 when completing The Old Man of Storr linear walk. Please view the itinerary for more details. It is advisable to do several walks of similar length before setting off to make the most of your adventure.

The terrain is a mixture of well-established tracks and faint paths including forest trails, and farm tracks. During or after rainfall the trails through the woodlands may be boggy when wet, and progress along the route may slow you down. You may like to use walking poles as these can help by taking some pressure off your knees, or help with balance when the ground underfoot could be slippery.

4 nights of accommodation are included in hand-picked guesthouses and B&Bs of a 3-star standard.

We carefully select small and friendly accommodation that offers great value, local food, and warm welcomes. The properties we normally use are detailed below, however, are subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered.

You can add extra nights at either side of your tour in Fort William, Glasgow, or Edinburgh - please contact us for details.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This holiday is available to solo walkers, although a single supplement is payable. If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate your request, although it is not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in a party. A single supplement is payable.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Your accommodation will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival, alternatively, your guidebook also includes details of local shops and convenient lunch stops on the way. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs and restaurants.

The routes are partially waymarked and easy to follow. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple.

Recommended Reading

If you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:

• Map. Skye Trail Map, Harvey 1:40,000

Skye is a popular destination year-round with enthusiast walkers, cyclists, and sight-seers alike, especially during the summer months. If you prefer a bustling atmosphere you may relish this experience, but please make sure to book well ahead of time to avoid disappointment. It will help if you are flexible with your dates if you'd like to travel in peak season. If you are seeking a more peaceful island experience then we recommend traveling at the beginning or at the end of the season.

By air: Convenient airports for getting to Fort William are Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness. Glasgow and Edinburgh in particular are well-served by low-cost and scheduled airlines. With each of these airports a regular shuttle bus (and also a tram for Edinburgh) operates into the city centre; duration approx. 30 mins.

By bus and train to Fort William: from Glasgow take a bus (3hrs) or train (4hrs), from Inverness take a bus (1h50), from Edinburgh take a train or bus first to Glasgow (1hr) then onward travel as aforementioned.

By air: Again, Glasgow and Inverness are the most convenient airports. You can also travel to Edinburgh.

By bus and train from Portree: to reach Glasgow take a bus all the way (6h20) or bus to Fort William (3 hrs) then a train (4 hrs). To reach Inverness take a bus (3hrs). To get to Edinburgh take a bus to Glasgow (6h20), then train or bus (1hr) to Edinburgh.

The website www.travelinescotland.com is fantastic for researching train and bus timetables throughout Scotland. Your pre-departure information pack will also have handy hints and tips about journeys and transport services.  Please note that outside the Scottish school holidays and peak summer months, bus timetables are reduced.

Jacobite Steam Train

Unfortunately, we are unable to book the Jacobite Steam train which runs between Fort William and Mallaig. Instead, you will be booked on to a Scotrail service which runs on the identical train line over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct. If choosing to travel on the Jacobite Train, you can book directly on West Coast Railways.

When you travel with public transport, you take your luggage with you. Baggage transfers are not included.