Captain’s Rest is a short 10-minute drive to the globally renowned The Three Chimney’s restaurant and a 15-minute drive to the award-winning Edinbane Lodge , and the Michelin star restaurant Lochbay at Waternish but please be sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. There are also a few excellent eateries in Dunvegan itself and more in Portree. In addition to what has already been mentioned, a visit to The Dunvegan for lunch or dinner is a must. They hold various themed menu nights so keep an eye on their Facebook page. The Old School Restaurant in Dunvegan is also a firm favourite. Simple local fare done exceptionally well is the order of the day. A little further afield is the Edinbane Inn but one of our favourites for good, local, wholesome food. Keep an eye of their FB page for information on when local musicians will be playing. Portree has numerous eateries but very popular is The Cuillin Hills Hotel, particularly for an exceptionally good value Sunday roast lunch and afternoon tea – we can definitely recommend it! As Skye can be very busy, it is always recommended to book a table for dinner and definitely for the likes of Edinbane Lodge, Lochbay and Three Chimney’s which can fill up weeks in advance.

There are many fantastic galleries and studios to visit around the Island. Local painters, craftmakers, ceramics and pottery, photographers, printmakers and weavers. Don’t forget to bring your own camera as Skye is a photographer’s dream, the changing light on the Cuillins, the sunsets, the dramatic scenery are all a wonder to behold.

Get off the beaten track with Skye Ghillie for fishing, foraging, deer stalking or a wild walk. Try your hand at kayaking, canoeing, climbing and abseiling, mountain boarding, hill walking, crating and archery with Whitewave Outdoor Centre. If target sports are more your cup of tea then A.C.E Target Sports can help you hone your skills in Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifle Shooting, Clay Target Shooting and Airsoft. The Isle of Skye – rugged, beautiful, and an angler’s paradise. The Portree Angling Association has access to 8 rivers and streams and 21 hill lochs including the famous Storr Lochs – so get your permits and set off for a day fishing.

Just outside Dunvegan village sits the majestic Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. Home to the Chief of Clan Macleod it’s full of Clan and local history. The gardens are wonderful and you can even take a boat trip out to see the local seal colony. To the north of the Island, on the Trotternish peninsula is the Museum of Island Life and the Dinosaur Museum. The scenery on the north coast is dramatic and the reason why so much filming is carried out there. The list of iconic places to visit on the Isle of Skye is extensive but some of our favourites include the Fairy Glen, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing.

There are many boat trips available on Skye, each one offering a different type of experience and opportunity to see wildlife. From Waternish, about 20 minutes away, you can take a boat to the archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest part of the British Isles and home to north-west Europe’s largest seabird colony. From Portree, the Seaflower Skye offers luxury sea tours to explore the stunning coastline of Skye from the water. We would also recommend a boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk – simply stunning. We remember one such outing when the boat was escorted by about 20 dolphins for part of the way. Just magical!

Getting married? Eloping? You can get married anywhere in Scotland, whether it be on top of a mountain or down by a river – there are so many options. We can advise on suitable locations, venues, catering, beauticians, hairdressers, florists etc… Just ask us. We’d love to help your dream come true.

Skye has so many walks for all abilities and plenty of places still to explore where you will hardly meet a soul. For routes and guidance Walkhighlands has a lot of information. To mention a couple of walks in the vicinity, hike to the Maidens or the Macleod’s Tables. For those wishing a stroll on a nice evening, there is a the Roag looped walk down to the shore. There are many hikes of varying degrees of ability to choose from nearby and further afield and books at the property will help you to plan your day. One of our favourites is to walk to the Maidens via Orbost. This is a day out for walkers but well worth the vista. A walk to Neist Point Lighthouse, the most westerly tip of the island is very popular and a little less strenuous – well until you have to climb back up the steps to the car park! One of our own personal favourites, if the weather is favourable, are the Coral Beaches, which are past the Dunvegan Castle at Claigan. This is a very gentle walk and if its very hot then you can go for a swim in the clear waters. They say the waters are slightly warmer there due to the Gulf stream! If the weather is not so kind, its an ideal day to visit the many artists’ studios around the island. Diana Mackie studios in Borreraig or Pamela Budge at Croft Studios in Dunvegan. There is also Skye Weavers where you can watch them make the tweeds, scarves etc powered by bicycle pedal. An absolute must is a visit to Skyeskyns at their working premises at Waternish, where you can go on a tour of the tannery and see how it all works from sheep to the finished product. They also have a lovely coffee and cake stop at the Yurt which has the best homebaking. There is also a smaller shop in Portree. As can be seen from the use of sheepskin in Captain’s Rest, it is one of my favourite shopping places! More detailed information will be in welcome pack in property – so please look out for that on your arrival.

Locally you can take the short ferry crossing from Sconser to the Isle of Raasay. There is so much to see and do, including walking, Raasay Distillery and plenty of wildlife. Further afield you can take the ferry and visit the Outer Hebrides. Remember to visit the authentic Harris Tweed shops and take a stroll along some of Uist’s famous beaches. During the summer, why not plan a day trip. 

The island is not known for its great public transport infrastructure but there are many tours that you can book yourself on or hire your personal driver for the day or part day. Some companies to choose from include Go Skye, Gus’s Taxis, Portree Taxis. These three companies are locally based with knowledgeable drivers who will be able to show you around the island and entrance you with their stories.