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Isle of Skye - Suggested Driving Tours
Favourite Routes
There are so many wonderful places to visit on Skye that I’d
be hard pressed to recommend one location over another, it would be
like choosing which colour of sunset is best! That said, here are three
driving routes that my family and I have especially enjoyed.
Route One – Staffin to Uig
Drive north through Staffin and take the minor road signposted to Uig
and The Quiraing. The road twists and turns to the foot of the Trotternish
Ridge, then climbs through several switchbacks to the top of the ridge.
There are several places to pull over and admire the view back to the
Quiraing, which has got to be one of the most spectacular on Skye. If
you fancy a walk, there is a signposted trail where the road emerges
at the top of the plateau which will take you into th Quiraing, to the
base of the jagged finger of stone known as The Needle. Back in your
car, carry on towards Uig. The landscape is open, with a couple of small
waterfalls appearing to the south, and to the north, the heather moors
stretching away towards the sea. At the western end of the road the
River Rha to the south suddenly deepens to form sharp-sided gorge, then
the ferry port of Uig comes suddenly into view. Follow the road down
to Uig, or, if you have time, turn north and drive up to Kilmuir, where
Flora MacDonald is buried, and Duntulm, where the ancient castle stands
above a sheer cliff.
Route Two – Sleat Circular route
This circular route takes in the heart of the Sleat peninsula. Start
at the lovely port of Isleornsay, and take the A851 south. The first
right is signposted Ord; follow this winding road through a lovely forested
area, along the banks of the Ord River, to emerge at the sandy beach
near the village of Ord. The road then skirts the shore of past the
ruins of Dunscaith Castle, then climbs to give to lovely views over
Tarskavaig. The way then crosses back across the Sleat peninsula, running
past the lovely inland lake of Loch Dhughaill, ringed by low hills,
and eventually comes to the eastern coast of the Sleat once more. Travel
north on the A851 as it follows the shore, and you will pass another
ruined castle, Castle Knock, at Teangue.
 Route
Three - Broadford to Elgol
This route is quite straightforward. From Broadford, take the B8083,
signposted to Elgol. The road passes an old Iron Age dun, then the ruined
church at Cill Criosd, then skirts the edges of Loch Cill Chriosd. If
you are lucky, you will see the sunlight shining through the reed-beds
on the southern end of the loch. The road then loops north around the
end of Loch Slapin, then climbs to ross the spine of the Strathaird
peninsula before it finally reaches the fishing port of Elgol. From
Elgol you can take a boat trip to Loch Coruisk, in the heart of the
Cuillin Hills, or simply watch the sun set on the Cuillins from Elgol
beach.
See also: Favourite Family Walks
Isle of Skye
Introduction to Skye - Getting
There - Favourite Drives - Favourite
Walks - Photo Gallery
Regions of
Skye
Broadford & Strathaird - Cuillin
Hills - Portree & Minginish
- Sleat - Trotternish
- Waternish & Dunvegan
Accommodation
Self catering - Bed
and Breakfasts - Hotels
Isle of Skye Maps
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