A weekend at the Isle of Skye (Part 1)

First off, the Isle of Skye is absolutely beautiful. The rugged terrain and picturesque cliffs make it a must see for tourists (and non-tourists) in Scotland. Once again due to a lack of car (and fear of driving on the left side of the road) I decided to take a tour to the Isle of Skye. This time I went with International Student Tours (ISUKTours). If your interested in the website, here is the link: https://www.isuktours.co.uk/. The trip was two days, so for this post there will be a part 1 for day 1 and a part 2 for day 2. This way I can add even more of the lovely photos I took!

Day one started bright and early with the bus leaving Glasgow at 8am. Once outside of the city the scenery is quite pretty, and you’ll get to see lots of adorable sheep and cows.

Town of Luss:

Our first stop was at the quaint town of Luss which is located on the banks of Loch Lomond. The town is very small but there is a footpath that takes you to the loch where you can take pictures from the docks. After that the path loops back through the main town area and ends at the parking lot where the restrooms are located. Be warned that you must have spare change because you have to pay to use the bathroom!

Loch Tulla and the Caledonian Forest:

Our next stop was a scenic lookout point. The area overlooked Loch Tulla and the Caledonian Forest. The view was gorgeous, and the rain was kind enough to stop while we took our pictures (side note: always, always, always come prepared for rain. Even if it is the sunniest day you have ever seen, it could still rain. So, don’t be sad and wet and always bring an umbrella.)

Glencoe:

Glencoe is a famous place for several reasons…1. It was the site of the Massacre of Glencoe in which 38 men and women of the McDonald Clan were murdered. 2. It is the site of many famous films such as Skyfall and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 3. The Three Sisters mountains are the best place to take pictures. However, the photo lookout point for the three sisters is very crowded due to a lot of tours. So when you see that perfect picture take it fast!

Fort William:

After so many photo stops it was time to break for Lunch. The town of Fort William was nice and had grocery stores if you are looking for a cheaper lunch option. There are also an array of pubs and restaurants.

Eilean Donan Castle:

The Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most photographed castles in the world and has been featured in many movies, such as ‘Made of Honor’. The castle looks as if it is from a fairy tale. Originally build in mid 13^th century, it fulfills everything that you thought a castle would look like. You can also purchase admission to view the inside of the castle and this is a popular tourist attraction. Unfortunately, due to time restraints we could only stop for photos but if I could go back I would definitely make sure to see the inside.

Kyleakin:

After stopping at the Eilean Donan Castle it was a short drive to the Skye Bridge. This bridge connects the Isle of Skye to main land making it easy to access the Island. We stayed the night at Saucy Mary’s Hostel located in the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye. After arrival I hiked to the ruins of Castle Moil with some of the other members of the tour. You can also walk down to the ocean or check out the boats in the harbor. The perfect end to the day was getting to see the sunset from Skye Bridge.