Just arranged/booked 5 days travel to/from the Isle of Skye.
Time only allows 1 full day on the island and mobility means driving everywhere as opposed to walking.
Has anyone been, and could they recommend best viewing spots reachable by 2WD car as it will be, to say the least, a whistle stop day!

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 06, 2025, 10:58:57 AMJust arranged/booked 5 days travel to/from the Isle of Skye.
Time only allows 1 full day on the island and mobility means driving everywhere as opposed to walking.
Has anyone been, and could they recommend best viewing spots reachable by 2WD car as it will be, to say the least, a whistle stop day!

To put it simply - the whole place 

To narrow it down a bit, I can strongly recommend the following;

Elgol - at the end of a longish, narrow in places, but pretty fair road south-west out of Broadford. It's a small fishing village, more providing trips across the bay to the foot of the Cuillin Hills nowadays, but even from the village you'll hardly get a better view of the Cuillins across Loch Scavaig. On the way down to Elgol, the road runs around Loch Slapin and from the eastern side there is a stunning view of Bla Bheinn across the loch. If the tide's low and the water fairly still, you can see the marble in the bottom of the loch.

The Quiraing, outside Staffin on the northern Trotternish peninsular is another good one, easily accessible and one can get a good view of the landslip formed formations from the parking area with no need to walk far.

En route to the Quiraing, a little bit to the south of The Storr, is a cracking little waterfall, The Bride's Veil. There's a parking area in front of it and it's only a little stroll (no more than 50 yards I'd guess) to the fall itself. From there, one can also see the Old Man of Storr. The Old Man is even better seen from closer, but it's a heck of a climb from the car park so probably not to be recommended.

Apart from diverting to Elgol, I'd recommend taking the main (only) road from Broadford to Portree (quite a nice harbour there), then taking the road up the eastern side of the Trotternish peninsular, past the Storr, turning off at Staffin for The Quiraing then continuing along that road to come down to the ferry port at Uig. The main road from there heads back to Portree. There's plenty to please the eye all along that route.
If time permits, you could turn off at Borve, taking the road to Dunvegan, which loops back  the the main road at Sligachan, a bit south of Portree.

DON'T forget your camera 

Here are a few examples of what you could see;
http://www.uknorthernlandscapes.co.uk/skye1.html

Feel free to PM  me if you want any more specific advice.

Wow - many thanks, Chris. The gallery on that site is just awesome

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 06, 2025, 12:41:16 PMWow - many thanks, Chris. The gallery on that site is just awesome

You're welcome, Mick.

As you might have guessed, I've been there several times and those are just my favourites of the hundreds of pics I've been lucky enough to get.

One thing I forgot to mention, take midge repellent too - the blighters just love getting their gnashers into visitors. Gawd knows what they live on otherwise.
In fact, in my experience, the only thing they like better than a good helping of visitor is a second helping.

I can't recommend anywhere to go in/on Skye but from Chris's comment I can recommend this as used by the armed forces (not necessarily in Skye though) and I 'swore' by it when working on the campsites down here and also when on holiday abroad. Only use this one though "original" as it's far better than any others you may see with the same name:

Quote from: Trainfish on April 06, 2025, 02:06:25 PMI can't recommend anywhere to go in/on Skye but from Chris's comment I can recommend this as used by the armed forces (not necessarily in Skye though) and I 'swore' by it when working on the campsites down here and also when on holiday abroad. Only use this one though "original" as it's far better than any others you may see with the same name:

I can second that - another good one is Smidge;
https://www.smidgeup.com/

When are you going? It's a fabulous place, but in recent times many 'popular' places have been ruined by tourism. So expect the massive car parks to be full. Also, it's a big place, and if you've only got one day, you're probably not going to need a car park if you want to see much of the island.

The Old Inn at Carbost used to be good for lunch, but I've not been for a number of years.

Quote from: Yet_Another on April 06, 2025, 02:51:28 PMWhen are you going? It's a fabulous place, but in recent times many 'popular' places have been ruined by tourism. So expect the massive car parks to be full. Also, it's a big place, and if you've only got one day, you're probably not going to need a car park if you want to see much of the island.

The Old Inn at Carbost used to be good for lunch, but I've not been for a number of years.

Early June so the kids will still be at school
It's 350 miles from me to the I.o.S. and, at my age, I'm not daft enough to attempt it in 1 day so it's 2 days there and 2 days back. I just don't want to be anywhere but local for weekends

Edit - took this last year and it seemed to work OK so it will be with me again this year

Moose highly recommends the Talisker distillery ... But then again, Moose is a Scotch-drinking lush...

I motorist's guide to Skye. I assume you are staying three nights on the island.

I used to have to go over for business - before the bridge opened.

For your holiday, I suggest Dunvegan/Uig in the north and Glenbrittle or Elgol in the south. Probably enough driving, especially as you are motoring there and back.

To enjoy yourself, please don't fash yourself and allow plenty of time as you'll encounter incompetents getting into a richt búrach regarding passing places. No idea about timing their approach so no-one needs to stop (like dynamic loops on the railway). Also some especially lovely people use the passing places to park their caravan or camper van so that they can admire the view and take jolly nice photographs.

You're right about school holidays - Scottish ones start at the end of June but be prepared to expect some places to be busy.

I hope you have a SuperSpiffing holiday.

Best wishes

John

PS Was it Glorious Cambuslang where you stayed on your last Highland Fling? Maybe I'm misremembering.

Quote from: Train Waiting on April 06, 2025, 09:12:17 PMI assume you are staying three nights on the island.
Allow plenty of time as you'll encounter incompetents getting into a richt búrach regarding passing places. No idea about timing their approach so no-one needs to stop (like dynamic loops on the railway). Also some especially lovely people use the passing places to park their caravan or camper van so that they can admire the view and take jolly nice photographs.

PS Was it Glorious Cambuslang where you stayed on your last Highland Fling? Maybe I'm misremembering.

Just 2 nights, John. Tuesday/Wednesday so all day Weds gadding @Train Waiting
I know just how many cretins can be met on single track roads having run the gauntlet in Yorkshire and also Scotland last year.
My 2024 trip I stayed at Crianlarich, Oban and Glasgow. This year will be Tyndrum, Armadale (on the island) and Dumbarton
Thanks for the hints on places to visit.

Quote from: Newportnobby on April 06, 2025, 04:14:37 PMEdit - took this last year and it seemed to work OK so it will be with me again this year

Half of the battle is trying to find one that works for you. I've used that one before and another brand, and I might've well as not bothered! The third brand I tried (no idea which one now unfortunately) did the trick.

Quote from: 5944 on April 07, 2025, 09:13:44 AMHalf of the battle is trying to find one that works for you. I've used that one before and another brand, and I might've well as not bothered! The third brand I tried (no idea which one now unfortunately) did the trick.

I've found that by far the best solution is to take someone with you, the taste of whom the midgies prefer to you 

Quote from: chrism on April 07, 2025, 10:07:14 AM

Quote from: 5944 on April 07, 2025, 09:13:44 AMHalf of the battle is trying to find one that works for you. I've used that one before and another brand, and I might've well as not bothered! The third brand I tried (no idea which one now unfortunately) did the trick.

I've found that by far the best solution is to take someone with you, the taste of whom the midgies prefer to you 

I have written a begging letter to a Miss Liz Hurley but told her she can't bring her son