👤 Travelers:
Neil Roberts, Kim Henderson, Mary McAdory
Style: Heritage-focused with moderate pace and accessibility consideration
Transport: Self-drive automatic SUV
🏨 Accommodation
Aurora B&B
Address: 10 Ebost West Struan, Isle of Skye, IV56 8FL
Check-in: April 25, 2025
Check-out: April 27, 2025
Duration: 2 nights
Status: Confirmed
Features: Ground floor rooms requested, en-suite facilities, breakfast not included, parking on site
Location Note: Conveniently located for exploring both northern Skye (Dunvegan) and the Fairy Pools/Talisker area
🗺️ Interactive Trip Map
View our detailed itinerary route with all stops marked:
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📅 Detailed Itinerary
Morning:
- 09:00: Check out of 20a, By The Ness apartment in Inverness
- 09:00-10:30: Drive from Inverness to Eilean Donan Castle (70 miles, approx. 1 hr 30 min)
- 10:30-12:00: Visit Eilean Donan Castle (accessible for Mary)
- Historic castle on a small tidal island
- Featured in numerous films including "Highlander"
- Picturesque setting with mountain backdrop
- Well-maintained paths suitable for Mary
Lunch:
- 12:00-13:00: Lunch at Eilean Donan Castle Café or Clachan Bar in Dornie
- Castle café offers soups, sandwiches, and Scottish specialties
- Clachan Bar serves traditional pub fare with local ingredients
Afternoon:
- 13:00-13:30: Drive from Eilean Donan to Kyleakin (9 miles, approx. 20 min)
- 13:30-14:00: Stop at Kyleakin to see Castle Moyl ruins
- Brief viewpoint stop (10-15 min)
- Historic ruins of 14th-15th century castle
- Good views across to the mainland
- Accessible viewing from harbor area
- 14:00-14:15: Drive Kyleakin to Broadford (7 miles, approx. 15 min)
- 14:15-15:15: Stop in Broadford
- Stretch legs in town
- Coffee at Café Sia (well-regarded local café)
- Brief exploration of the village
- 15:15-15:45: Drive Broadford to Aurora B&B (12 miles, approx. 25 min)
- 15:45-17:00: Check in to Aurora B&B and rest
Evening:
- 17:00-17:30: Drive to Carbost (5 miles, approx. 10-15 min)
- 18:00-19:30: Dinner at Caora Dhubh Coffee Company near Talisker Distillery or Taigh Ailean (Talisker Inn) in Carbost
- Caora Dhubh: Casual dining with local ingredients in converted farm building
- Taigh Ailean: Traditional pub food with local seafood, popular with locals
- 19:30-20:15: Optional evening drive to Talisker Bay viewpoint for sunset (4 miles from Carbost, 10-15 min drive)
- Short walk from car park, but Mary can enjoy sunset colors from car if preferred
- Beautiful black sand beach with sea stacks
- Often less crowded than other Skye attractions
- 20:15-20:30: Return to Aurora B&B (9 miles, approx. 20 min)
Morning:
- 09:00: Depart Aurora B&B
- 09:00-09:45: Drive to Dunvegan area (18 miles, approx. 35-40 min)
- 09:45-10:30: Breakfast at The Pier Café in Dunvegan or Café Lephin in Glendale
- The Pier Café: Casual café with breakfast options and waterfront views
- Café Lephin: Small café with breakfast, coffee and baked goods
- 10:30-12:30: Visit Dunvegan Castle & Gardens
- Oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland (800+ years)
- Home to the famous Fairy Flag
- Beautiful walled garden and woodland walks
- Well-maintained paths suitable for Mary
- Allow 2 hours for both castle and gardens
Lunch:
- 12:30-13:30: Lunch at Dunvegan Castle café or drive to Loch Bay Restaurant (15 min drive to Stein)
- Castle café: Casual dining with soups, sandwiches and Scottish fare
- Loch Bay Restaurant: Seafood specialist in the village of Stein
Afternoon:
- 14:35-15:15: Drive from Uig to Kilmuir via Staffin (18 miles, approx. 35 min)
- 15:15-16:00: Visit Skye Museum of Island Life
- Collection of thatched cottages showing island life up to the 1950s
- Relatively accessible paths between buildings
- Flora MacDonald's grave monument nearby
- Highland cattle may be visible (owner can call them over)
- Café with excellent coffee and homemade cakes
- 16:00-16:15: Drive to Staffin Dinosaur Museum (3 miles, approx. 10 min)
- 16:15-17:00: Visit Staffin Dinosaur Museum
- £4 per adult admission
- Accessible facility with impressive fossil collection
- Includes world's smallest dinosaur footprint (1.7cm)
- Run by Dugald Ross who found many of the exhibits
- 17:00-17:30: Visit Staffin Beach (dinosaur footprints)
- Visible at low tide (check tide times in advance)
- Neil and Kim can walk down to see prints while Mary rests in car
- 170 million-year-old fossilized prints
- Alternative viewing spot may be available from parking area
- 17:30-17:40: Drive to Kilt Rock viewpoint (2 miles, approx. 5-10 min)
- 17:40-18:00: Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls viewpoint
- Easily accessible from car park
- 90m/300ft cliff face of basalt columns resembling a kilt
- Waterfall plunges from cliff to sea
- Great photo opportunity
Evening:
- 19:00-20:30: Dinner at The Old Inn, Carbost (no reservation needed)
- 20:30-21:00: Return to Aurora B&B (distance varies: 12 miles/25 min from Edinbane or 7 miles/15 min from Colbost)
Morning:
- 09:00: Check out of Aurora B&B
- 09:00-09:45: Drive to Broadford (12 miles, approx. 25 min)
- 09:45-10:30: Breakfast at Cafesia in Broadford
- Café with good breakfast options and coffee
- 10:30-11:00: Drive from Broadford to Portree (25 miles, approx. 35 min)
- 11:00-12:00: Visit Portree harbor
- Colorful buildings and scenic harbor
- Accessible short walk along waterfront
- Beautiful views of surrounding hills
- Portree is the largest town on Skye
- Relax at harbor-side café while taking in the views
Lunch:
- 12:00-13:15: Lunch at Café Arriba or Scorrybreac Restaurant in Portree
- Café Arriba: Casual dining with soups, sandwiches and local fare
- Scorrybreac: Higher-end restaurant with excellent seafood (may need reservation)
Afternoon:
- 13:15-13:45: Drive from Portree to Old Man of Storr car park (7 miles, approx. 15 min)
- 13:45-14:45: Stop at Old Man of Storr car park
- Mary can enjoy the view from car
- Neil and Kim could take a 30-45 minute quick hike if desired
- 160-foot/50m rock pinnacle visible from parking area
- One of Skye's most iconic landscapes
- 14:45-15:15: Drive to Sligachan (10 miles, approx. 20 min)
- 15:15-15:45: Stop at Sligachan
- Beautiful mountain views accessible from car park
- Historic bridge and hotel
- Great photo opportunity of the Cuillin mountains
- River Sligachan with legend of eternal beauty
- 15:45-16:15: Drive back toward Struan/Ebost area (15 miles, approx. 25 min)
- 16:15-17:00: Optional: Visit Dunbeg Broch near your accommodation
- 10-minute uphill walk for Neil and Kim while Mary rests in car
- Iron Age fort with spectacular views over Loch Bracadale
- About 3,000 years old
- One of the best preserved brochs on Skye
- 17:00-19:30: Journey back to Inverness (115 miles, approx. 2.5 hours)
- Drive via Broadford, Kyle of Lochalsh, and Loch Ness
- Possible brief stops at viewpoints along the way as time permits
- Check into City Center VRBO apartment in Inverness
Evening:
- 20:00: Dinner in Inverness
🚗 Driving Distance Summary
- Day 6: Inverness to Aurora B&B via Eilean Donan Castle: ~100 miles (3 hours total driving)
- Day 7: Skye northern loop: ~110 miles (3.5 hours total driving)
- Day 8: Aurora B&B to Inverness via Portree: ~175 miles (4.5 hours total driving)
♿ Accessibility Notes for Mary
- Eilean Donan Castle (partial)
- Dunvegan Castle gardens
- Kilt Rock viewpoint
- Staffin Dinosaur Museum
- Portree harbor
- Sligachan viewpoint
- Most café and restaurant recommendations
- Old Man of Storr (main formation visible from car park)
- Staffin Beach (dinosaur footprints may be viewable from distance)
- Talisker Bay (sunset visible from parking area)
- Castle Moyl ruins (viewable from harbor)
- Short hike at Old Man of Storr (30-45 min)
- Walking down to Staffin Beach dinosaur footprints
- Dunbeg Broch walk (10 min uphill)
🍽️ Dining Notes
Restaurants Requiring Advance Reservations:
- The Three Chimneys (Colbost)
- Edinbane Lodge
- Scorrybreac Restaurant (Portree)
- Loch Bay Restaurant (Stein)
Local Specialties to Try
- Skye Brewery beers (Sky Blue, Sky Red, Sky Gold, Sky Black)
- Talisker whisky
- Fresh seafood (especially at Loch Bay Restaurant)
- Local lamb dishes
- Cullen skink (traditional Scottish soup)
- Haggis (for the adventurous)
- Cranachan (traditional Scottish dessert)
📝 Weather Contingency
If weather is poor, consider these indoor alternatives:
- Extended visit to Dunvegan Castle interior
- Talisker Distillery tour (if available)
- Additional time at Staffin Dinosaur Museum
- More time in cafés and restaurants
- Aros Centre in Portree (if open)