1-Day Isle of Skye + Hike Options (from Inverness or Skye)

Your epic one day adventure will begin in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Heading out of the city, I will immerse you in local folklore, suggest other places to visit during your stay and make suggestions about where you can discover the very best food, drink and entertainment that Inverness has to offer.

First we are off to Loch Ness and to meet the hairy cows. You will not only get to meet and photograph them but I will also enhance the experience by bringing carrots so you can feed them. This is a unique bucket list experience for many people. You will hear all the stories of the world's most famous Loch and see the scenery change dramatically as we head out to the Isle of Skye.

On our way to Skye we will travel through spectacular glens, historical battlefields and ancient crofting communities where I will weave fascinating stories and personally curated historical narratives into the fabric of your journey that will help you understand the rich cultural heritage that saturates every corner of this land. I have also put together a soundtrack for this tour that enables you to form an ethereal connection between the music and the landscape.

We will stop for a short coffee break at an award winning chocolatier, you can even watch the chocolate being made on certain days through a viewing window.

Next we will make a quick photo stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, featured in the film Highlander starring Sean Connery. It was voted one of Instagram's most photographed castles in 2023. We do not access the castle on the tour due to time constraints needed for the Old Man of Storr short hike, however this is flexible so if the group all agree we can adjust the schedule to spend more time here.

It is just a 15 minute journey from here to the Skye Bridge. This is a particularly iconic moment for fans of the TV show 'Outlander' as we cross 'Over the Sea to Skye'. There is an alternative route to Skye via the world's only working turntable ferry (Apr to Oct only). This is a much less travelled path with spectacular viewpoints along the way and a seal colony. Thist is a longer route and requires more time. If you are interested in this option please mention after booking or on the day and we can adjust the itinerary to suit.

First we make a stop at the old cattle market town of Broadford to visit a hidden gem. This location is the conclusion to one of the stories I will tell you on the way to Skye. You will also get the opportunity to sample one of Skye's most famous drinks.

Then its on to Sligachan Old Bridge, the first of the Isle of Skye’s many otherworldly locations and the setting for my trademark 'bridge photo', taken on my drone. Get ready to strike a pose! You will also get the opportunity here to immerse yourself in a famous fairy legend.

We then make the short journey to Portree which is known as the 'Quaint Capital' of the island. Here you can grab some photos of the picturesque harbour as we pass by its pastel coloured houses.

The 'Jewel in the Crown' of this tour is the hike to The Old Man of Storr (we can swap this out for a Quiraing hike if you prefer). Alternaively if you prefer not to hike, the tour can be modified at this point. The rock formations here and at The Quiraing were left behind after massive landslides swept the rest of the hillside away. The rewards on both hikes are truly magnificent.

If there is time after the Old Man of Storr hike, there is time to explore the landscape here at Lealt Falls, previously a work place for around 50 local people.

Theres also time for a quick photo stop at Scotland's most famous waterfall, Kilt Rock. It is made up of colourful layers of basalt rock columns, where the waterfall drops 90 metres onto the beach below. Sometimes on a wild day you can hear the cliffs whistle!

Kilt Rock is the furthest point we can travel on a 1 day tour so it is time to take a well earned rest as we travel back to Broadford for refreshments. If you want more hiking to the Quiraing, Neist Point, Fairy Pools, visit other islands and explore Skye's diverse sealife then please check out Luke Tours 2,3 and 5 day tours. On the way back I will tell you more about the island, other stunning locations, the best accommodation, food, drink and hiking opportunities that Skye has to offer.

We will make a quick stop at Broadford to grab refreshments and browse the gift shop.

Then you can sit back, relax and enjoy yet more stunning scenery and music or maybe get editing all your photos as we return to Inverness.