Scotland’s most famous island
The Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland is one of the country’s most popular destinations, renowned for its natural beauty, towering peaks and other mind-blowing scenery.
The biggest hub on the island is Portree, the largest town with about 2,500 residents. It is built around a natural harbour and is lined by rows of colourful houses.
At the north of the island, you’ll find the spectacular Trotternish Peninsula, which is where so many of the island’s natural wonders are located. As part of the Trotternish Ridge, there is the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. The Old Man of Storr is a rock pinnacle of 50m named because the outline resembles the profile of an old man. Quiraing is an ancient area formed by landslips. It is breathtaking and as there are view points by the road, you’ll want to stop the car to take some incredible photos. In the same area, you can admire the 90 metre Kilt Rock, which looks strikingly similar to a pleated kilt. It is in fact made of sea-weathered basalt columns.
Dating back to the prehistoric times, the islanders used to hold beliefs surrounding the existence of fairies. Originally thought to be evil, fairies were believed to live deep within the heather of the Fairy Glen. Although nowadays it’s little more than a colourful local legend, you can still visit the Fairy Glen and pools in the Trotternish Peninsula.
This area of Scotland is so other-worldly that it has been used in many films, such as Prometheus (2012). Trotternish is obviously popular amongst nature lovers and adventurers, including mountain bikers and hikers. Skye generally is popular with wildlife watchers as it is home to an abundant number of wildlife, including red deer, Scottish wildcats and varied birdlife.
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