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Beautiful, wild and even mystical, the Isle of Skye, located in the north of Scotland, is a dream destination for all lovers of the great outdoors. With its large plains populated by sheep, its magnificent cliffs and its spectacular waterfalls, this ‘isle’ is rich in timeless landscapes. Fine Dining Lovers gives you the names of the best spots to explore on the Isle of Skye but also some good places to eat between two visits.
Torabhaig Distillery
The Isle of Skye has two distilleries: the young Torabhaig and the ancestral Talisker. If you like peaty whiskey, visit the first one without hesitation. This distillery, founded within a completely renovated old farmhouse, is ideally located in the southeast of the island, facing the sea, a few kilometres from the entrance to Skye – ideal for a first morning stop! This building dating from the 19th century now houses magnificent copper stills that produce Torabhaig whisky, the first cuvée of which was released in 2017. If the Torabhaig Single Malt 2017, a victim of its own success, is rarely available, you can still taste Allt Gleann and Club Reserve Release, but also Caisteal Chamuis and Mossburn whisky.
To learn more about this new whisky house that has already made a name for itself on the market, consider booking a 45-minute guided tour of the distillery, including tasting. Torabhaig also has a premium offer with a chocolate and whiskey pairing at the end of the session.
Once your visit is over, you can eat at the pretty Torabhaig café, which offers beautiful English pastries such as scones or cakes, salads, wraps, sandwiches and soups – all homemade.
If you want to eat something more substantial, push a few kilometres further to The Inn at Àird a’ Bhàsair, a Scottish pub with a friendly atmosphere. You can taste traditional fish 'n' chips but also local mussels cooked with chorizo, and discover Skye beer and other delicacies.
Fairy Pools, Neist Point, Old Man of Storr
After eating, take the road to the northwest of the island. Make a stop by the Fairy Pools of the Isle of Skye, a magnificent place with multiple waterfalls with bluish colours and natural pools of cold water – swimming is possible if you’re brave enough. Then on to Neist Point, the most westerly point on the Isle of Skye – and also one of the most touristic. From the car park, a staircase will lead you to a path that runs through the peninsula from end to end. Once you arrive at the lighthouse, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Scottish Hebrides islands, but also of the vertiginous cliffs.
Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye
Further east, do not miss the Old Mann of Storr site, a rocky chaos, the waterfalls of Lealt Falls and Kilt Rock, but also Duntulm Castle, a ruin located at the end of a cliff. After that, consider pausing for some well-deserved tea time in Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye. It's the ideal place to take a ‘walkabout’, refuel and have a drink. For a snack, head to Café Arriba, open from breakfast until 6pm, offering good cakes, vegetarian dishes and hot drinks.
In the evening, we strongly advise you to return to the south of the island for dinner at Kinloch Lodge, a world-renowned hotel and restaurant. A former hunting lodge built in the 17th century, it is located at the end of a long private road, on the shores of Loch Na Dal. The cuisine, local and seasonal, is one of the best on the Isle of Skye, and the place also has a fine selection of wines. At the end of dinner, prolong the evening (by the fireplace in winter) with herbal tea or a digestive in the large living room with bay windows overlooking the loch.
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