Isle of Skye · Town
Portree
Skye's colourful harbour town and the most practical base for exploring much of the island.
Explore Portree →Sea cliffs, mountain roads and islands that reward the journey
Explore Portree, Trotternish, Dunvegan and the Cuillin, then travel beyond Skye to Raasay, Mull, Iona and smaller islands scattered along Scotland's west coast.
Scotland's western islands
Come for the famous views — stay long enough to discover the quieter places
Island travel works best when the timetable has room for ferries, weather and unexpected stops.
Explore the islands
Choose somewhere to begin
Use the map to explore Skye's peninsulas and villages, then look outward towards Raasay, Mull, Iona and the Small Isles.
Featured places
Where to go on Skye & the Inner Hebrides
Skye has enough for several days on its own. The wider islands become natural extensions when you have more time and are happy to let ferry journeys become part of the experience.
North Skye · Landscape
Trotternish
A dramatic northern peninsula of cliffs, pinnacles and extraordinary coastal scenery.
Explore Trotternish →
North West Skye · Heritage
Dunvegan
A quieter part of Skye centred on its village, castle, sea lochs and western coastline.
Explore Dunvegan →
Central Skye · Landscape
Fairy Pools & Glen Brittle
Mountain scenery beneath the Cuillin with pools, waterfalls and access to one of Skye's most dramatic valleys.
Explore Glen Brittle →
Inner Hebrides · Island
Raasay
A quieter island opposite Skye with walking, coastal scenery and views back towards the Cuillin.
Explore Raasay →
Inner Hebrides · Island
Isle of Mull
A large island of mountains, coast, wildlife and small communities, with Tobermory as its colourful northern hub.
Explore Mull →
Inner Hebrides · Island
Iona
A small island with pale beaches, quiet roads and one of Scotland's most important early Christian sites.
Explore Iona →
Isle of Skye · Village
Broadford
A useful southern Skye base with sea views and easy access to both the bridge and the Sleat peninsula.
Explore Broadford →
South Skye · Landscape
Sleat Peninsula
A greener, quieter side of Skye with sea views, gardens, villages and ferry connections towards the mainland.
Explore Sleat →
Choose your kind of day
What are Skye & the Inner Hebrides best for?
Cuillin, cliffs & wild ridges
Mountain Landscapes
Sea lochs, harbours & island crossings
Coast & Islands
Small roads, villages & quieter corners
Slow Travel
Castles, abbeys & island stories
History & Heritage
Easy combinations
Places that work well together
Island journeys need more time than the map suggests. Keep each day geographically tight and let the scenery do the work.
Portree, Trotternish & Staffin
A classic northern Skye day built around dramatic landscapes.
- Portree for the base
- Old Man of Storr and coastal viewpoints
- Continue through Staffin and the northern peninsula
Dunvegan, Neist Point & western Skye
A slower west-coast route of castle history, sea cliffs and long views.
- Dunvegan for the village and castle
- Head west towards remote coastal roads
- Finish around Neist Point if weather and daylight allow
Mull, Iona & the south-west islands
A journey where ferries, small roads and island pace become part of the experience.
- Use Mull as the main base
- Cross towards Iona for a slower heritage day
- Allow generous time around ferry connections
Island miles take longer
Skye and the Inner Hebrides are places where road width, ferries, weather and viewpoints matter more than mileage. Choose fewer stops and give them more time.
For a day
Choose one Skye peninsula or one compact island route.
For a weekend
Stay in one base and explore in different directions.
Ferries
Check sailing times before building a day around an island crossing.
By car
Allow extra time for single-track roads, passing places and photo stops.
When you know where you are going
Stay · Do · Explore
Once you have chosen an island or peninsula, use the local guide to build the trip around it rather than trying to cover everything at once.
Keep exploring
Continue into the Highlands or farther along the west coast
The Scottish Highlands, Argyll & the Isles and Scotland's northern island groups are natural next steps from Skye and the Inner Hebrides.