The Ultimate Isle of Skye Day Tour from Inverness
Description
Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and stories of this magical island with a local Highland company. This is the only scheduled tour which will take you to both the highlights of Northern Skye (including Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr and Portree) and the Fairy Pools, in one action-packed day from Inverness! You will also get to experience Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Ness along the way. Our highly experienced driver guides will keep you entertained on the scenic drive through the hills and glens of the Scottish Highlands. Join us, and tour Skye with the people who know it best on this wonderful day tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
As we leave Inverness behind, the Highlands’ most famous waters appear: Loch Ness. We’ll hug the shoreline while your guide brings the legend to life—tales of sightings, science, and a sprinkle of mischief—eyes peeled for her!
Our first stop is at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle. This castle is instantly recognisable the world-over as it has featured in many films and innumerable Scottish souvenirs! We will stop at our favourite vantage point here to enable you to take some photos and admire the majestic beauty of this iconic sight in its wonderful coastal location. Please note that there will NOT be an opportunity to visit the castle.
Arrive in Portree and head to the harbour viewpoint—cue pastel-perfect houses and sweeping bay views. Dive into quirky local boutiques, cozy cafés, and harbourfront lanes; 45 minutes here flies by. Hungry? Grab a fresh-baked lunch or a tasty takeaway and refuel like a local. (If you have pre-booked lunch with us in the morning, we will collect it here and deliver it to you on the mini-coach, saving you precious sightseeing time).
Kilt Rock is an exposed sea cliff which resembles the traditional Highland kilt, and which never fails to impress our guests. It also boasts a waterfall which cascades 60ft (180m) into the Sound of Raasay below - a truly unique sight, and particularly so when the wind blows the waterfall back up the cliff!
As we head north, we’ll pause at a loch-side viewpoint for your first look at the Old Man of Storr — a striking 50-metre pinnacle rising from the dramatic Trotternish Ridge. You may recognise this iconic landscape from films including 47 Ronin, Macbeth, Snow White and the Huntsman, Prometheus and The BFG.
You’ll have time to wander up to this beautiful series of pools and waterfalls. The scenic path to the first pool is gently uphill and takes around 20 minutes (0.7 miles), with the most impressive waterfall just 5 minutes further on (0.9 miles in total). Most guests linger here, with the Cuillin Mountains as a stunning backdrop to the crystal clear water of the pools. Whatever the weather, there are photo opportunities at every turn! Please note: the out-and-back walk is around 1.5 miles and takes roughly 40 minutes, so a moderate level of fitness is required.
After savouring Skye’s showstoppers, we cross back over the bridge and turn east, threading through mountains and storybook glens. As the scenery swells around us, your guide brings to life the Highlands’ darker chapters—the bloody upheavals that emptied once-thriving communities and left these glens hauntingly quiet.
We end on a high—literally. Look down on Urquhart Castle, dramatically set on a peninsula reaching into Loch Ness— a fitting finale after a day of spectacular sights on Skye. Then it’s a quick drive back to Inverness, carrying the best souvenir of all—memories of an unforgettable day on Skye.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Walking (approximately 1.5 miles to and from the Fairy Pools) is involved, and some of this is on rough terrain
- Seats will be assigned - groups/couples will be seated together
- Unfortunately, due to the duration of the tour and time on the coach, this tour is not appropriate for children under the age of six
- We would recommend wearing/bringing warm clothes, hiking boots and waterproof jackets
Reviews(1,280)
Many thanks to Andrew- loved to hear the stories when on the way from one location to another. Despite of the rain and fog, it was a great day.
Excellent your service! We had Andrew for our tour to the Isle of Skye… super personable, very very knowledgeable, and a great driver! This is the absolute best bus tour we’ve ever been on. I totally recommend this if you are considering any tour in Scotland!
Our tour guide Andrew ia a very funny man, a good story teller n caring person. If u want to explore Isle of Skye, this is a good option for u.
FABULOUS Murdoch is the Tour guild of Tour Guilds. A True Scotsman who is proud of his Country and Heritage. We've been on a lot of tours all over the World Murdoch outshines them all. Patient,knowledgeable. A lot of History in a short time.
This tour with Andrew and WOW Scotland was absolutely outstanding. This was my 2nd day tour of Skye (different travelling companion) and it included stops (Urquhart Castle, and Loch Ness for photos) which my past tour with Rabbies did not include (the driver told us parking was too difficult). The absolute highlight (besides our fantastic guide) of this WOW Scotland tour was the Fairy Pools - I am so very glad we saw this. Andrew, our guide, was entertaining, thoughtful, professional, and genuinely strived to ensure each passenger's comfort and enjoyment. He gave us a fascinating and well-told account of some of Scotland's history on our way back, which was the perfect way to accompany the stunning scenery we passed along the way. This is a quality and well-structured tour and I would recommend it highly. Seeing the Fairy Pools is really a must-do, and ask for Andrew if you can!
The tour to Isle of Skye was exceptional and we saw so much. What made it an incredible experience was our caring, humorous, knowledgeable and accommodating guide, Colin. Along with having deep knowledge and history of the area, he also brought the fun and kept us lively and engaged the entire 12 hours. I highly recommend this tour and with Colin!
Amazing tour! Tour guide Andrew is extremely knowledgeable and well spoken. Purchasing a sandwich from Lisa from Skye Bakery was delicious and efficient. Long day but well worth the effort. It just kept getting better. Would recommend. Our 13 year old son loved it too!
This was by far the best tour my wife and I went on during our trip to Scotland. Andrew our tour guide was not only super knowledgeable he was also extremely entertaining. On our way back to Inverness he told us the true story of Braveheart. We also got a bonus stop at Eilean Donan Castle which was not part of the tour description. He said we were such a good group and had been on time all day we had time for one more stop. We would definitely go on another tour with WOW and if possible have Andrew be our tour guide.
Andrew was an amazing tour guide. He kept us entertained the whole day with humour and educating us on Scottish history and landmarks. Our kids felt very welcomed and also enjoyed every minute. The actual experience was second to none. Bakery lunch was delicious and very filling. Thanks, Andrew and the team at WOW.
The tour was very well organized, punctual, and followed the planned itinerary perfectly. Andrew was an excellent guide—friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable about Scottish history. The vehicle was comfortable and in excellent condition, and the driving was safe throughout the trip. I highly recommend booking a tour with Wow—you can do so with complete confidence!
