Last Updated on February 13, 2024 by Natalia
From the famous Old Man of Storr to the Fairy Pools, the best walks on the Isle of Skye showcase some incredible scenery. The best way to see the island’s natural beauty is to go for as many walks as possible, in a variety of different spots. Some of the best walks on Skye involve some hiking, such as the steep uphill section at the Old Man of Storr walk or the 7-kilometre Quiraing circuit. If you fancy something a little more relaxing then there are also some easy walks on Skye, including the walks at Coral Beach and Talisker Bay. There are plenty of amazing walks to enjoy on the island, many of which should be included on a perfect Isle of Skye itinerary. Find out which spots to visit with this guide to the best walks on the Isle of Skye.
Looking for accommodation on the island? Make sure to check out our article on the best hotels and places to stay on the Isle of Skye!
Best Walks on Skye
Neist Point
An obvious inclusion on this list of best walks in Skye is the lovely walk at Neist Point. It’s one of the most beautiful spots on the island thanks to the dramatic cliffs, sea views and the Neist Point Lighthouse.
The walk to Neist Point from the car park isn’t too strenuous, but does involve some uphill and downhill walking. Early on in the walk there is a steep downhill section, but the path is quite well paved and there are also some steps and a handrail to make it easier.
After this there is a small uphill section, but it’s not too steep and is only for a few minutes. At this point the lighthouse will have come into view, and you can make your way towards it to explore. Beyond the lighthouse there are some rocky cliff edges that you can get down to, and from here you get some great views out to sea. Keep a close eye on the sea as it is possible to spot wildlife from here, with sightings of dolphins, whales, sharks and more possible!
It should take around 20-25 minutes to walk from the car park down to Neist Point Lighthouse without stopping. There are some nice views to enjoy if you do wander from the path slightly, so it’s worth doing this but will add a bit of time to the walk.
The walk back to the Neist Point car park follows the same path but in reverse, so is fairly easy for the most part. Towards the end there is the steep ascent which you came down earlier which is the hardest section of the walk.
It’s around a 45-60 minute return walk from the car park to Neist Point, but despite being fairly short it’s definitely one of the best walks in Skye. There is a great viewpoint of the cliffs and Neist Point Lighthouse from above if you walk along the path near the edge of the cliffs by the car park. As there are lots of nice views to enjoy and sometimes wildlife to see, the walk may end up taking a bit longer as you make stops to take it all in.
Coral Beach
One of the most pleasant walks on Skye is the walk to Coral Beach near Dunvegan. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches on the Isle of Skye, thanks to the stunning blue water and white sand. A small hill besides the beach provides some great views of Loch Dunvegan and out to sea.
The walk to Coral Beach is pretty flat and the track is easy to follow, so it’s very easy going if you want a relaxing stroll. It’s around a mile from the car park to the beach, so it only takes around 20 minutes before you can enjoy this lovely spot.
To get the best view of Coral Beach it’s best to walk up the hill at the far end of the beach. From there you get a great view of the beach from above, as well as being able to enjoy more of Skye’s lovely scenery. It’s also possible to see some wildlife whilst walking at Coral Beach, with sightings of seals and eagles fairly common.
At low tide it’s possible to walk over to the small island of Lampay, which is located around 150 metres from Coral Beach. During other times of the day water covers the route to the island, so if you want to time your visit then click here to find up-to-date tide times!
Free parking is available at the start of the Coral Beach walk, although spaces are somewhat limited. The car park was pretty full on our visit, with some people having to improvise to find suitable parking spaces. If you’re planning to visit Dunvegan Castle during your time on Skye, then it’s worth driving further along to enjoy a nice walk at Coral Beach.
Old Man Of Storr
One of the best walks on Skye is the hike at the Old Man of Storr. The Old Man of Storr is one of the island’s most famous attractions, and consists of a unique 50-metre tall rugged rock formation that is said to resemble an old man.
It’s one of the more challenging walks on this list, as it starts off with a 45-minute uphill walk. There are some fairly steep sections on the walk, in particular just before you reach the Old Man of Storr viewpoint. Although it’s a bit of a workout, it’s definitely manageable for anyone with an average level of fitness, and you’ll be rewarded with one of the best views in Skye!
The Old Man of Storr walk starts from the car park, and immediately begins to lead you uphill along a gravel path. At the start of the walk it’s obvious where the path is and so it’s fairly easy to follow.
As the walk progresses the path does become a little unclear, but there are several routes to take and it’s fairly easy to figure out the right direction to be walking. It’s one of the most popular walks on Skye, so if you’re unsure then just follow the bulk of people as they will be heading up to the same viewpoint.
As you approach the viewpoint you come to one of the steepest parts of the walk, which is a bit of an uphill slog for around 5 minutes. At this point it’s definitely worth the effort for the stunning view of the Old Man of Storr and beyond!
Once you’ve spent some time at the top enjoying the views it’s time to head back down. It’s around a 30-minute walk back to the car park from the viewpoint, so in total the walk is doable in around 1¼ hours if you’re going at a good pace.
The car park at the Old Man of Storr costs just £3 for up to 3 hours, which gives you plenty of time to walk to the viewpoint and back. Payment can be made by cash or card, and you can also pay for more time if you want to try one of the longer walking routes.
As it’s such a popular spot, the walking route can get quite busy. If you want to avoid crowds then we recommend arriving early in the day.
The Quairing
The Quairing circuit earns its place as one of the best walks in Skye thanks to its fantastic views and magnificent scenery. A walk here provides stunning views of mountains, rock formations, small lochs and more.
The amazing landscape here is strikingly similar to some parts of Iceland – which in our opinion is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe! If that’s a country you’re yet to tick off your list then make sure to check out our guide to the best things to do in South Iceland.
Although there are a few walks possible in the area, the most popular is the Quiraing circuit. It’s definitely one of the best walks on Skye, but arguably is more of a hike than a walk – so if you’re looking for something easy going then it might not be for you!
The Quiraing circuit is a 7-kilometre hike that takes in some of the best scenery on the island. Expect amazing views and beautiful landscape over the course of the walk, and with minimal stops the circuit can be completed in around 2 hours.
Paid parking is available at the Quiraing car park, with prices of £3 for up to 3 hours, £5 for up to 6 hours and £7 for up to 12 hours. Payment can be made via cash, card or the RingGo parking app.
Talisker Bay
If you like waterfalls then one of the best walks in Skye is to the beautiful Talisker Bay, which is somewhat of a hidden gem. It’s home to the breathtaking Talisker Waterfall which plunges off a cliff edge towards the sea, and it’s so stunning that we included it on our list of the best waterfalls on the Isle of Skye!
The walk to Talisker Bay is relatively flat and easy, and takes around 20-30 minutes one-way to the beach from the parking area. It’s an easy to follow path, and you’ll get some lovely views of hills and green countryside as you approach the beach.
Once you head through the gate and onto the beach, the beautiful Talisker Bay Waterfall should come into view. The waterfall is particularly impressive after heavy rainfall, so in this case it’s quite handy that Skye normally gets a fair bit of rain!
The best views of the waterfall are from almost directly opposite on Talisker Beach, but if you want to get closer then you can walk along the beach towards it. During low tide it’s possible to get right up to the falls if you scramble over some rocks at the bottom of the cliffs, but it’s still pretty amazing from afar as well! If it’s a particularly windy day the falls sometimes even appear to flow upwards as the wind blows the water back up over the cliff.
Due to the fairly remote location of Talisker Bay, this is one of the best walks on the Isle of Skye if you’re looking to get away from the crowds. We only saw a handful of other people on our visit here, whereas some of the other walks on this list were a fair bit busier.
The walk starts from the small settlement of Talisker, where there is a makeshift car park and some suitable parking spaces at the side of the road. From there it’s around a mile to the beach, so it’s a relatively easy-going walk.
One thing it’s worth noting is that the road to Talisker is one of the worst we saw on the island for potholes, so take care when driving. Don’t let that put you off visiting though – just make sure to read our advice for driving on the Isle of Skye before you visit.
Fairy Pools
The fantastic natural scenery on the Fairy Pools walk helps make it one of the best walks on the Isle of Skye. This series of rock pools with beautifully clear blue water is one of the island’s top attractions, and the looming Black Cuillins mountains provide an incredible backdrop for your walk. There are also a number of waterfalls running between the various Fairy Pools, which add to the area’s beauty.
It’s hard to find a more picturesque location for a walk on Skye, and as you walk towards the pools you will have brilliant views of the Cuillins towering above you. It takes around 15-20 minutes to walk from the car park to the first of the Fairy Pools, with the pools continuing on for a fair way beyond this point.
After an initial downhill section, the walk is slightly uphill for the majority of the way there. The path isn’t properly paved, so can be fairly uneven at points. There are two bridges currently under construction as of mid-2022, but until they’re open the walk to the Fairy Pools includes crossing some stepping stones.
It’s up to you how long you continue beyond the first pool, but it’s worth going for at least a little distance to see a few of the pools and waterfalls. The scenery really is outstanding, especially if it’s a clear day as you should get great views of the Cuillins mountains. Once you’ve gone as far as you want then just turn back and follow the same path back to the car park.
The length and time of the Fairy Pools walk does depend on how far you go, but we’d recommend allowing at least one hour for your visit. Parking at the Fairy Pools car park is expensive with prices of £6 for a car or £8 for a campervan/motorhome.
If you have time then you may also want to drive to the Glenbrittle Youth Hostel which has some similar pools nearby. These pools are another naturally beautiful spot, and have the benefit of being much less busy than the main Fairy Pools.
Staffin Bay
The fossilised dinosaur footprints found at Staffin Bay mean that it’s one of the best and most unique walks in Skye. It’s a great place for a walk by the sea, and you can enjoy some lovely views of nearby peaks and cliffs.
Since the dinosaur footprints were discovered in 2002, Staffin Bay has become a popular place for walking on Skye. It’s not every day that you get the chance to see dinosaur footprints, so it really is a unique place for a walk!
In order to see the footprints you’ll need to visit in low tide, as they can be submerged during high tide. The footprints are located on the rocky area in front of the parking, which you can reach by going down the ramp to An Corran Beach and climbing over onto the rocks.
On our walk at Staffin Bay we actually were unable to find any of the fossilised dinosaur footprints, and other people had the same issue. Having done a bit more research it does seem quite a few people struggle to locate them, so you’ll need to have a good eye if you want to see them! One of the best pieces of advice we can give is to ask other people if they’ve managed to locate them as they’ll be happy to point them out to you if they can.
Even if you don’t see the footprints though, it’s a lovely place to walk thanks to the beautiful scenery. We still had a nice visit and trying to find the footprints was enjoyable – even though we spent over an hour failing to find them!
There is free parking available at Staffin Bay besides An Corran Beach, and it’s easy to find your way to the rocky area from there. It’s also nice to walk further along the roadside towards Garrafad and Staffin Harbour whilst you’re there to enjoy more of the area’s scenery.
Fairy Glen
The rolling hills at the Fairy Glen make for one of the best walks on Skye. Despite the name, there are no real tales of fairies here – despite what some other articles claim! It’s easy to understand the assumption, due to the enchanting landscape that is somewhat similar in appearance to the Shire from the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.
This collection of rock formations, cone-shaped hills and small ponds is the result of a landslip, and the natural scenery makes it a beautiful place for a walk. There is no real set path as such, but you can simply wander through the hills and make your own route as you enjoy the nature.
Pictures of the Fairy Glen often show rocks laid out in spirals on the ground, but these have no real significance and have been created by other tourists. Some tour guides encourage visitors to do this or leave coins for the ‘fairies’, but creating these spirals is strongly discouraged in order to keep the area in its natural state – so please don’t add to the problem! Locals do remove the rocks sometimes, so if you don’t see them on your visit that’s actually a positive thing.
One of the best vantage points to visit on your walk at the Fairy Glen is Castle Ewan – a natural rock formation resembling castle ruins. It’s possible to climb to the top of the ‘castle’ and get some lovely views over the surrounding landscape.
As there is no real set path, it’s hard to say how long a walk at the Fairy Glen takes. It’s not too large of an area, but there’s plenty of nice landscape to enjoy so you can take your time if you wish. We’d personally recommend spending at least half an hour wandering round and taking in the scenery.
There is a small car park at the Fairy Glen, which costs £2 for up to 2 hours or £3 for up to 4 hours. Parking is quite limited, so it is sometimes recommended to park in the nearby village of Uig and then walk to the Fairy Glen from there.
Two Churches Walk
The pleasant Two Churches walk is definitely one of the best walks in Dunvegan, Skye. It’s the perfect place for getting out and enjoying the island’s nature, and you get some lovely views along the way.
This woodland route starts from the Dunvegan Duirinish Church of Scotland and leads you up to the ruins of St. Mary’s Church and the Milennium Duirinish Stone. Once you reach the Duirinish Stone you will have lovely views of Macleod’s Tables, Loch Dunvegan and the Cuillin Ridge in the distance.
Begin the walk by heading through the gate to the left of the church, and then follow the path through the wooded area for a while. After a while you will need to turn to the right and head uphill, which will lead you to the edge of the woods.
Carry on walking until you see a gate leading towards the towering Duirinish Stone, and then make your way towards the stone. This stone was erected in the year 2000 by locals to celebrate the millennium, and you can enjoy some wonderful views from here.
A short distance away you will find the ruins of the Old St Mary’s Church, and as you come to the road turn right to head back towards the village. At the end of the road turn right again and you will end up back where you started.
We’ve already suggested downloading maps.me as it marks walking trails in Skye quite well, and this is no different. Having the app means you can make sure you’re on the right path, so it’s worth downloading if you haven’t got it already.
Free parking is available at the Dunvegan Duirinish Church of Scotland and also in a lay-by near the Duirinish Stone if you would prefer to start the walk from there. In total the walk should take around 45-60 minutes with minimal stopping, but may take longer if you’re taking time to enjoy the lovely views.
For more hikes and walks around the Isle of Skye click here to view different trails on AllTrails!
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