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Edinburgh to Isle of Skye: The Ultimate Scotland Road Trip Route

Writer: Mischa Francis Velasco
Mischa Francis Velasco
4 hours ago
2 min read

If you're planning a trip from Edinburgh to Isle of Skye, you're in for one of the best road trips in Scotland. The route takes you from the historic streets of Edinburgh, through the Highlands, and all the way to the dramatic cliffs and castles of Skye, usually over 3 to 5 days depending on how many stops you want to make along the way.


Most people spend their first day exploring Edinburgh itself before hitting the road north, and there's no better way to do that than walking the Royal Mile, the street connecting the Palace of Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle, where most of the city's best stories live.



TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF EDINBURGH


Before you leave the city behind, take Edinburgh's Royal Mile Walking Tour, a self-guided audio tour that plays automatically as you walk from Holyrood to the castle.


You'll hear about:

  • A queen's secretary murdered in front of her

  • A legendary stool-throwing riot at St Giles' Cathedral

  • A poet who paid for a stranger's headstone out of his own pocket

  • The volcanic rock the entire Old Town is built on


It's the easiest way to see Edinburgh's highlights in one morning before your road trip north begins.





GETTING OUT OF EDINBURGH


The drive from Edinburgh to Skye typically runs through Stirling and into the Highlands, with most routes taking you past Loch Lomond or up through Glencoe, depending on which way you go. Give yourself a full day for the drive alone if you're not stopping, longer if you are.


WHERE TO STOP ALONG THE WAY


  • Stirling Castle, a smaller but less crowded alternative to Edinburgh Castle, with excellent Highland views

  • Glencoe, one of the most photographed valleys in Scotland, with short walks right off the main road

  • Eilean Donan Castle, the iconic castle on its own tidal island, usually the last major stop before Skye

  • Fort William, a good overnight break if you're splitting the drive into two days


WHAT TO DO ONCE YOU REACH SKYE


  • The Old Man of Storr, a dramatic rock formation reachable by a steep but short hike

  • The Quiraing, a otherworldly landscape of cliffs and hidden valleys

  • Portree, Skye's main town, with colorful harbor buildings and solid seafood


PLAN YOUR TRIP


Before you go, read our full Edinburgh travel guide for where to eat, where to stay, and what to see on the Royal Mile before you start the drive north. It covers everything you need to plan your first day in the city, so the rest of your road trip can just be about the open road.



 
 
 

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