March 2020
I hope your visit to the Isle of Skye is longer than three days.
It was in the first week of March of 2020. We had an exhibition scheduled in London. So I asked them to fly me out early to Inverness, I bought a ticket on my dime to London, and after arriving in London, I was soon notified about the event cancellation and the closing of the borders.
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Before leaving for Scotland, I remember reading in the Deseret News about the first Utah Covid Case in St. George.
While we are at it, here's an article on CNN Travel explaining why we cry on airplanes...
I remember asking Siri about the weather during my visit. The Isle of Skye in March is my ideal climate. I love the temperature in the 50s; I love clouds and light jackets.
Advice Before any trip:
Have google maps of the area downloaded for offline use.
Know the international policy with your cellphone company or buy a sim card. I use Verizon, which charges $10/a day.
If you’re traveling alone, share your location with someone and let them know your itinerary for the trip and if any changes are made.
Don’t forget to exchange currency before leaving the airport. In most cases, you can use your plastic, but it’s always wise to have the correct currency on hand.
Never share a post on social media until AFTER you have left the location. This is vital, especially if you are traveling solo.
What is it about being in the air that makes anything taste 10x better?
Flights
I flew in on Delta from Utah with a layover in Amsterdam.
I am a major fan of the AMS Delta partner KLM Crown Lounge. It truly puts our domestic clubs to shame.
Hotels
For this trip, I stayed at an Airbnb (Private Room) in Breakish. It was a great price and a great location.
HotelLook Options
If you're on a tighter budget, I recommend checking out HostelWorld.
I used HostelWorld many times while living in Germany back in 2013, on a tight budget, and visited other countries on weekends.
Transportation
I rented my car with Hertz (offsite- shuttle). If you are a part of the Delta rewards program, make sure it’s connected to your hertz account to receive benefits. If you’re a Diamond Delta, then you may be in the Hertz President Circle.
Find Great Rental Car Rates in Inverness at Discover Cars
I had a minor heart attack with the idea of driving on the left side. My struggle was mainly for the first day. After the long drive to my Airbnb in Breakish, I felt more confident.
I drove a small Mercedes B class. It was perfect. It had lane assist, a navigation system, and a backup camera, which is extra helpful when driving on the wrong side of the road.
Advice: Always take a video of your car rental before and after your trip for documentation.
Eilean Donan Castle
I made a quick stop at the exterior of the Eilean Donan Castle before sunset before arriving at my Airbnb in Breakish.
I am a bit ambitious on my travels, and I like to get an early start well before sunrise.
Advice: Create a detailed plan with google maps and take a screenshot to remember your itinerary.
Day 1:
Left Breakish Airbnb around 4:30 am
Stopped by the Co-op in Portree for food during the long day of driving
Old Man of Storr
Car Park (Google Maps) for the Old Man of Storr Hike
All Trails App: 3 miles, Estimated 2 hours round trip.
Brother's Point
If you do the Brother's Point hike, it is about 2 miles,
Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Quiraing
Parking for Quiraing Hike (Google Maps)
This hike was surreal. I felt like I had stepped into the Lord of the Rings set. I'll try to add more footage for this one later. If you only have time for one hike, I recommend this one.
Honestly, I do not remember seeing the Fairy Glen or Dunvegan Castle, but it's on my map screenshot.
I may have skipped them to view the lighthouse and then drive north to the pool. If you have the time, add these stops to your itinerary.
Sometimes I become overwhelmed and forgo original plans.
Fairy Glen Parking and the Castle Ewen (Google Maps)
Dunvegan Castle and Gardens (Google Maps)
Neist Point Lighthouse
Neist Point Lighthouse (Google Maps)
I drove a little over an hour back to the house for a short break and invited these two people also staying at the same Airbnb to join me in my last two stops for the day.
It’s not a good time of year to depend on public transit. So I highly recommend renting a car here. We then continued to.
Sligachan Bridge
Sligachan Bridge (Google Maps)
Fairy Pools
Fairy Pools (Google Maps) at sunset
I invited the two other Airbnb guests on my day two journey, warning them of the ambitious early hour.
Day 2:
Fort William (Google Maps) Gas Stop
Steall Waterfall
Steall Waterfall Hike (Google Maps)
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Glenfinnan Viaduct View Point (Google Maps) (Harry Potter)
Dunscaith Castle
Dunscaith (Google Maps) Castle
Elgol Beach
Elgol (Google Maps) for Sunset – The drive alone is worth it and is insanely gorgeous (about 40 minutes from Breakish).
Day 3
I meant to drive out early enough to see the Culloden Battlefield (Google Maps), but I ended up driving there only to leave soon after for the airport.
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