I love Scotland! Next to Colorado it is my happy place despite my ex being from there and still…read morethere. Scotland's not a jackass. This loch like pretty much every other one in Scotland has outrageous views and perspectives. The trails around and up to Ben Nevis and the other peaks can be waked or driven to (for most). The gondola ride up to Ben Nevis was out of this world! I didn't get to do the geo-tour but that is high on my list of "have to do that".

This is probably the highlight of the last two times our family has come to Skye. Even though it's…read morea 90-minute drive from Portree where we normally stay, it's completely worth it to take the boat trip over to Loch Coruisk. The people running the trip are knowledgeable, friendly, and local to the area for generations. They'll tell you a bit about the natural surroundings and local lore without being too, too kitschy, which is nice. The boat trip always gives you the chance to sea seals and we saw harbor porpoises on both the way out and the way back the most recent time. The previous trip a few years ago, we saw sea eagles as well. Once you get to the loch, they let you off and let you explore for about 90 minutes. The loch is stunning and one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. It's really special. It's very hard to get to without backpacking or taking the boat, so it's also somewhat quiet given how gorgeous it is. I'd suggest trying to stay longer than the 90 minutes if you can, but you need to make sure to figure out what boat to come back on. We wound up having to choose between 2 hours and 4.5 hours, when we really would have liked to have stayed 3-3.5 hours because the boat we wanted to take back was full. The 2 hours was nice, but still not quite long enough.

Fantastic trip! We had beautiful weather the day we took our excursion, which included a 40? minute…read moreride out to Lock Coruisk where we were able to spend an hour hiking around the loch sightseeing. It was a lovely spot, we passed many seals and saw dolphins as well! I've heard on occasion you can even spot a whale or eagles, but it's a pot luck on any given day. The staff were very kind and excellent communicators from the beginning of the trip through the end and made us feel right at home. On the way back, they provided us with some hot tea and shortbread, which was a lovely touch! They even let my son steer the boat on the way back. We hope to be back in the future to see more of this lovely spot!

If you're a Harry Potter fan, this is a must. You don't sit in closed private compartments but…read moreit's a relaxing ride to Mallaig. There you can find a cute little shop called Haggard Alley for all things Harry Potter. Not only do you go over the famous viaduct but you'll also pass the island where scenes were filmed and Dumbledore's grave. A very relaxing day trip.

Worth it. Totally worth it. Especially true if you're a Harry Potter fan as I am, but even if not,…read morethe scenery alone is majestic. There's plenty of info out there on how to book, routes, etc, so I won't go into that here. Tips I'll share: 1) book early - don't even think about trying to arrange this the night before. 2) don't do first class - while it's more comfy and usually our type of travel, we booked on one of the cars toward the back. That way you can see and video/snap pics of the front of the train as it goes over the viaduct. Makes you think lightening struck your forehead. 3) sit on the left side - if you're in the car facing to the front of the train, make sure your seat is on the left side. A much better view of the train going over the viaduct. 4) drink a beer or wine - even if it's 9:30 in the morning, which it was for us, have a brewskie...you're on vacation. 5) eat fast in Mallaig - don't spend a lot of time choosing restaurants. Pick a place the night before. When you arrive at Mallaig, run your happy bum to the restaurant you chose, order (and don't even try to get starters first then mains) and eat. You can take pics afterwards. Restaurants there are small, get slammed with each Twain's arrival, plus the local tourists who come by car. Hope this helps!

This was my first bothy experience. My friend told me all about it before we headed out to it. It's…read morebasically a giant cabin or hostel out in the middle of the wilderness and its FREE. This one held about 14 people in a giant bunk bed that covered the entire back wall. The bothy also came with a kitchen area that you can cook in. It is located right off of the coast of the Isle of Skye. The ocean is literally 40 yards away. We backpacked about three miles from the parking area which is on a one lane road. While you are hiking out, you will be traveling through the pasture, so be sure to close the gates so the little sheep don't get out and keep your dog on a leash. There is a decent about of elevation gain and loss to get out here, so be sure to pack light or be prepared to get tired. The grass in this region is typical of what you will find in the highlands. I don't know much about it, but it's super wet. Once you get to the top of the hill looking down towards a lake, you will see several bothy's, but only one is open, which is the bothy on the left. Be sure to respect other people you see and leave the house to the right alone. They are very close to shutting the bothy down due to people not respecting the land. So don't be "that guy" and ruin it for others. As this is a shared space, be prepared to share sleeping space with other people. I was pretty nervous for this as my first hostel experience was a little strange, but I got super lucky! My friend and I met some people from Belgium, and Germany and all got along great. We shared stories, food, and all showed each other respect to make the day go by well. Be sure to share the same respect for others and the land, by clicking on this link below and following the rules of the bothy. http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/usingabothy.asp

This ferry is one of only two ways to go to or from the Isle of Skye. The other way is driving via…read morethe Skye Bridge 20 miles to the north. Sometimes, weather can interfere with the ferry schedule and that can turn into quite a hassle for travelers. This ferry is fairly large and departs from the Armadale Ferry terminal. It can accommodate several big coach buses and we drove right on to it. There is comfortable seating both inside and outside and a coffee/snack shop onboard. I was told the fares are very reasonable and subsidized by the government. The fare for our 55 person coach bus for example was 160 GBP or $216 and I guess that is very reasonable. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the mainland and it is an enjoyable and scenic ride. I've personally never been on a ferry that was configured for both autos and buses. Apparently there are much bigger ferries out there, but this one was interesting enough.

This is an excellent Visitor Centre located just above the harbor to the side of the main part of…read morethe city of Portree. It is very easy to find and a short walk up the hill. They have maps and information of all sorts and will help you book a tour should you need. They also have free wifi and a couple of benches outside to sit and get your email.

The Bright Water Visitor Centre is also known as the Gavin Maxwell Museum. The main offices of the…read moreVisitor Centre can be found on the pier in Kyleakin and there you can find out all that the visitor centre has to offer. The place I am reviewing is the nature reserve which can be seen below the Skye Bridge. There, you will see the original cottage where Gavin Maxwell (who wrote Ring of Bright Water)lived. This has been updated but kept as close as possible to the original. Obviously, Otters feature a lot on the island but there is a wealth of wildlife to be spotted by the keen naturalist. Tours and wildlife hide visits canbe booked at the Visitor Centre in Kyleakin and these are accessible for wheelchair users also. The guided tours are Monday to Friday from 2pm and you can take your place in the wildlife hide between 11am and 3pm on Mondays, Tuedays and Thursdays during the summer months. The actress Virgina McKenna is a regular visitor to the centre because of her work with the Eilean Ban Trust. I've been on a few of the wildlife walks and spent a couple of hours in the hide and I can tell you it's the most facinating and peaceful way to spend a day. The cottage is also available for holiday rental and sleeps up to 4 people and costs from £250 to £450 a week. I haven't stayed there myself but I hear it's a wonderful experience.

Reviews described Glenbrittle as one of the most beautiful and best campsites in the British Isles,…read moreand, true to their word, in the sunshine, it was indeed pretty spectacular. The Black Cuillin Hills loom ominously and magnificently on one side, Glenbrittle beach lies directly ahead of the campsite and to the rear are wildlife-filled pine forests and the famous Fairy Pools. At only £5pp a night, with access to toilets, showers, the site shop, water sources, and a spacious field filled with cheeky rabbits during the night, Glenbrittle was a wonderful place to be. The location of the site is the key to its success, but also its only downfall. Being at the end of a valley means Glenbrittle stands in the centre of a huge wind tunnel, and when the gales pick up, so does your tent! Ours survived one night in 40mph gales but might not have lasted much longer. Some others didn't fair so well... An energetic 2/3hr walk will take you half way up to the Sgurr Alasdair (The Cuillin's highest point at 992m), and to its mysterious little Lochan and waterfall. A short drive away you will find Skye's tasty Taslisker Distillery and the little town of Portree. I would recommend this site to anybody!

Easily the best campsite I've ever been to…read more If there were an, ERM, app...that designed campsites based on personalities and preferences...Glenbrittle would probably pop up as my *dream match*. 90%+ compatibility! Meant to be, Glenbrittle and me! The Isle of Skye is gorgeous, so the campsite already has the surrounding beauty going for it. Otherwise, though, here are the key components that speak to me: - hot showers - fantastic coffee (a barrista on-site who makes delectable flat whites? Nothing says "camping is ok" after a chilly windy night than AM flat whites to warm the body and soul) - BREAD BAKED TO ORDER! BREAD BAKED TO ORDER YOU GUYS! Take that flat white, and level up with a loaf of seeded sunflower bread and a 1/4 lb. of butter. Sit by Glenbrittle beach and revel in how amazing caffeine, hot carbs and salted fat can be in combination. Yelp note: no phone service or wifi, which might cause immediate anxiety but - trust - is relaxing as soon as you settle into it.

We were looking for lodging in Portree for our trip to Isle of the Skye and everything was booked,…read moreso I found the Sky Picture House which was a little further from some of the big sights, but it turned out for the best because we had a great experience. The B&B is located right on the a loch and has absolutely amazing views! The property is beautifully maintained and the rooms are very nice. The breakfast was great and the porridge was the best we had on our entire trip through the UK! Overall I'm actually glad we ended up staying here instead of Portree, it was much nicer and really a pleasant surprise.