The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles: Places to Explore
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Isle of Skye
The misty isle, Skye is full of romance and myth, lovely gardens and steep, magnetic mountains (a compass is useless in the Cuillin Mountains). It ranks near the top of most visitors' must-see lists: the romance of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-88), known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, combined with the Cuillin Mountains and their proximity to the mainland, all contribute to its popularity. Today Skye remains fey, mysterious, and mountainous, an island of sunsets that linger brilliantly until late at night, and of beautiful, magical mists. Much photographed are the really old crofts, one or two of which are still inhabited, with their thick stone walls and thatch roofs.
From the gentle, lush terrain of the Garden of Skye to the wild Cuillin Mountains, Skye has abundant beauty and memorable vistas aplenty. It also has as an increasingly impressive range of accommodations and some excellent restaurants that show off the best in the island's produce and culinary talent.
To reach Skye, you can cross over the bridge spanning the narrow channel of Kyle Akin, between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin, or in summer you can take the more romantic trip via ferries between Mallaig and Armadale or between Glenelg and Kylerea. You can tour comfortably around the island in two or three days, but a bit longer would allow time for some hiking or some sea-kayaking. Orientation is easy: follow the only roads around the loops on the northern part of the island and enjoy the road running the length of the Sleat Peninsula in southern Skye. There are some stretches of single-lane road, but with attention and care none pose a problem.
Isle of Skye at a Glance
Elsewhere in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles
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Travel Deals in The Northern Highlands and the Western Isles
- Mercure Inverness in May: $231 & Up Expedia
- Mercure Inverness in May: $231 & Up Expedia
- Mercure Inverness in May: $231 & Up — $231 Expedia
