Our favourite things to see, do, eat and drink.
Raasay Distillery
Sorry Talisker, but this has to be the best whisky to come from the local area, in our humble opinion. The distillery is privately owned and is a huge success story for Raasay island. The distillery employs the majority of the working-age population and has stopped the declining population of the island. The distillery itself is stunning, and the whisky speaks for itself. If you’re not a Whisky drinker, they do a lovely Gin too!
You’ll need to take a short ferry from Sconsor to get to Rassay. Be sure to book your ferry and your tour in advance.
Neist Point
Its a must see while you’re in this part of the island. Stunning coastline, huge waterfalls, a lighthouse and dolphins - need we say more?! its also a great place to check out a nice sunset if you fancy a change of scenery from the house.
Walk an extra 100m along the clifftop path away from the carpark and you’ll probably have the place to yourself.
The Coral Beach
A stunning white coral beach with crystal clear waters. The road in can be very busy and parking is limited. Please be park responsibly. The beach is about a 20 minute walk from the carpark and if its a nice day remember to take your swimwear!
Sconser Scallops
Email him 48 hours in advance and David will go out and dive for your fresh scallops which you can collect from his house. They’re still living when you collect them (so you’ll need to be happy to shuck them) so you’ll never eat a fresher scallop in your life! You’ll pass his house on the way to check-in so pick some up when you’re passing if you can! They’ll come in a net so you’re best to take a cool box or big tupperware to protect your car from drips of sea water and keep the scallops cool.
Loch Bay
If you prefer your Scallops to be cooked for you, look no further.
Chef/Owner Michael cooks up his Skye “Fruits de Mer” tasting menu while his wife looks after service out front. Again space is limited and in high demand so plan ahead.
Lephin Cafe
A great wee cafe just 20 minutes walk from the house. Serving the great Birch coffee, roasted in Portree, and delicious home made cakes.
Birch Coffee
Gorgeous minimalist Scandi-vibes and great coffee. Whats not to like!? Be sure to check them out while you explore Portree.
Skye Weavers
Our super talented (and lovely) next door neighbours, Roger and Andrea are a must-visit. We have a few of their items in the house and they have so much more to see at their shop too. You’ll see their entire production process and even get a shot at helping weave some fabric too!
The Quiraing
A stunning landscape formed by a historic landslip and most definitely one of the most photographed areas of the island. There are plenty of walks around this area all accessible from the carpark. Or you can just jump out for a quick photo.
Chidakasha
Bet you didn’t expect to find a far-eastern influenced, vegetarian tea-house in the far corner of Skye! It’s a great wee spot where the owner tends to the vegetable and herb gardens through the day then cooks and serves for her guests in the evening. She has a passion for all things Tea and you’ll be treated to a tea pairing with each course.
Its located just across the glen from the house but make sure to call ahead as space is limited.
The Fairy Glen
A majestic area of really unique wee hills, again caused by historic landslips. It wont take you long to explore the small area and parking is very close by.
Glendale Craft Fair
Every Tuesday the local creative types gather in the village hall to sell their wares. The stall holders vary so it’s worth popping in, even if you’ve visited on a previous trip. It opens at 11am and wraps up about 4pm.
The Three Chimneys
The famous Three Chimneys is just a 5 minute drive from the house and is well worth a visit. Make sure to plan ahead as reservations are booked up well in advance.
Kinloch Lodge
Located on the Sleat Peninsula at the other end of the island, the MacDonald family and their team have been cooking up stunning food here for generations.
Gasta
The latest venture from the guys behind Skye Candles.
In 2022 they took over the closed-down arts centre in Portree, and have completely transformed it into an amazing multi-purpose space.
We cant get enough of the stone baked pizzas in Gasta and definitely recommend stopping in for lunch if you’re in town. There is also a nice forest walk right from the carpark if you want to make your pizza guilt-free.
They’ll soon be offering candle making workshops there too, so be sure to check in with them.
WildTrax
The only way to travel the through the Highlands is in a classic Land Rover. WildTrax offers 4x4 car hire for discerning travellers. They offer the iconic classics as well as modern top-of-the-line Land Rover vehicles that are ideal for exploring the stunning landscapes and rugged terrain of the Highlands.
The Old Man of Storr
Another stunning walk which will take about 1.5h to go up and down (round trip). The Old Man is probably the most famous scenery on Skye and the views back over to the mainland from the top are incredible.
The Fairy Pools
A stunning series of waterfalls and crystal clear natural pools. If you continue along past the pools there is a nice loop walk around the base of the hills and back to the carpark. Probably around 2.5 hours to complete the loop, or you can just jump out for a look and its a 10 minute walk from the car.
Another spot to take your swimming gear if you fancy a dip!
(note the Fairy Glen and Fairy Pools are not in the same location, despite the names)
Just a wee walk
There’s a nice wee loop walk from the house which will take you about an hour. Walk down the hill and continue straight through the village. 300m after the village take the road off to the right and walk along to the bay. continue along the same road to loop back up through Feriniquarrie, Glasphein and back to the house.
Dunvegan Castle
The castle is still to this day the main seat of the MacLeod clan who once owned most of Skye. They offer tours through the summer months but you can drive along anytime and see the castle from the outside.
The Old Inn
Think crackling fires, slate floors and great pub food. They have a big terrace overlooking the loch at the back which is a great spot on a sunny day. Its just across the road from the Talisker Distillery so is a great spot to go and sample a few drams after a tour.
Some businesses are seasonal and only open April to October, so please be sure to check opening times and availability before planning a trip.