There was only one place to test our Adventure Bag. Time to relive the journey...
Even for the wilds of Scotland, the Isle of Skye stands out as being epic. From the folklore that shrouds her to the reminders that the Norse gods once ruled her, everything about this archipelago feels untameable -- just the way it should be. That’s what makes Skye a place for all those addicted to the drama and scale of Mother Nature - adventurers, explorers, mavericks.
With jagged mountains and glistening lochs, velvet moors, nerve-rattling sea cliffs and the mist-covered headlands of the Cuillin mountains, the ‘cloud island’ is the ultimate destination for anyone looking to rewild themselves. And with that in mind, here’s how to spend 48 hours on the Isle of Skye -- one of the world’s most prized locations.
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Where to Stay: On Top Of A Land Rover
There’s only one way to explore the epic nooks, crannies, lochs and landscapes of this dramatic island, and that’s in a Landrover that has been fully kitted out for an expedition, complete with roof top tent. Enter WildTrax. Sat in the driver’s seat of the world’s most iconic 4X4, on Toyo Open Country A/T tires, you’ll be able to push the limits as far back as you want, as you venture into the uncharted wilds of Skye, conquering every inch of tough and tricky terrain nature can throw at you.
Saturday morning: Old Man of Storr
Ask anyone that’s ever visited this island and they’ll tell you the same thing: you haven’t seen Skye if you haven’t seen the Old Man of Storr. As far as natural features go, he’s as iconic as they get. Jutting out of the Trotternish landscape like a finger pointing up at the stormy skies, this pot-bellied column of crumbling basalt is one of those natural features you can’t miss and shouldn’t miss.
Saturday lunch spot: Kilt Rock
When it comes to epic hikes with awesome vistas, you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere more impressive than Skye. They’re long, dramatic and littered with wildlife. But Kilt Rock is different. Barely 470 steps long, this hike is over before you even realised it started -- and yet this lightweight climb packs a heavyweight punch. Named after the vertical and horizontal stripes on its cliff face, this is one heck of a lunch spot. That said, there’s one place you’ll want to reach before you pull out your sandwiches, and that’s Mealt Falls -- a cascading waterfall that spills out of the cliff top, freefalling for more than 60 metres until it crashes into the Sound of Raasay below.
Saturday afternoon: Explore the Quiraing
Used in a thousand movies, this is one of those places you’ll recognise the moment you reach the Trotternish Ridge and catch a glimpse of this epic landscape. Formed by an ancient landslip, this enchanting area of Skye is home to a treasure chest of high cliffs, hidden plateaus and eerie spires of rock. As a walk, the ever-shifting Quiraing is a tricky 2-hour hike, but the evocative scenery makes every stride worth the battle as you take in nature’s awesome features, from The Needle to The Table and then onto The Prison.
Saturday night: Lookout Bothy, Rubha Hunish
You’d have to find somewhere pretty special if you’re going to clamber down from the roof of your go-anywhere, explore-everywhere, stop-at-nothing 4X4, but that’s exactly what this Lookout Bothy is -- special. Built on the northernmost tip of Skye, this small and rudimental hut was once a coastguard lookout used to keep ships steady through Little Minch. But arrive there now and you’ll find nothing more than a pair of binoculars, a few whale charts and some of the most staggering views of the North Sea. Of all the places to escape the wind and rain, this is up there with the best.
Sunrise on Sunday: Neist Point Lighthouse
If there’s ever a time to wake up at dawn’s crack, fling your adventure bag on the backseats and take a road trip to the west coast of Skye, this is it. As a viewpoint, the Neist Point lighthouse has been doing its thing since 1909, and that’s because the views are an absolute tonic for tired eyes. Kicking things off with an epic clifftop walk, this is the most westerly point of the island and the perfect place to spot sealife as you enjoy some breakfast. Dolphins, whales, basking sharks and porpoises. Gannets, black guillemots, razorbills and European shags. Like we said, if there’s ever a time for an early start, this is it.
Sunday lunch with a twist: Talisker Bay
Skye is spoilt for choice when you’re talking about beaches, but there’s no competition for a Sunday lunch spot. For the best buy now, eat later food you’ve ever eaten, you have to stop by the Oyster Shed and fill up on takeaway game, cheese, honey and oysters, and then stop by the Talisker whiskey distillery - the oldest of its kind on Skye - to pick up a little bottle of the good stuff before you head down to the beach to watch the wildlife. Pretty much every beach on Skye will have you pinching yourself, but Talisker Bay is on its own level.
Sunday Night: Camp Beneath Blà Bheinn
Before you head back to the mainland and chase the tarmac along the Bealach Na Ba Pass, you need to point your WildTrax Defender toward Camasunary for a night of Talisker whiskey beneath the stars. Hiding in a stunning bay, this place has one of most famous Munros on Skye as its backdrop: Blà Bheinn, the Blue-Black Mountain. From the chance to explore this wild corner of the island to ascending the Cuillin mountains to soaking up the starlit skies, this part of Skye has always attracted go-getters -- and you’ll see why as soon as you arrive.
See more about our Adventure Bag on Kickstarter.
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