As well as a few added tips to help make planning your visit to the Isle of Skye as memorable as possible.
Let’s get stuck in ...
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Where is the best area to stay on the Isle of Skye?
I thought I’d take you through the most popular areas in Skye to stay.
The island is quite small, coming in at only 50 miles long and 25 miles wide. But despite its small size, there are quite a few options when it comes to areas to stay!
The best include ...
Portree
This is the “capital” of the Isle of Skye and is often a popular place to base yourself as you can easily access other parts of the island from here. Especially for guided day trips if you haven’t opted to rent a car for the duration of your stay (which we absolutely recommend you do!)
Broadford
This is another popular area in Skye, particularly because it has the largest supermarket on the island, and there are lots of great restaurants, coffee shops, and souvenir shops.
Naturally, this is therefore a great place to base yourself and you’ll find lots of B&Bs in this area!
Uig
This is a small town located in the northwest area of Skye island and it’s a great place to stay if you want to feel totally off-grid and remote.
You’ll find lots of great natural sights around here and a lot of awesome Airbnbs!
Armadale
Another popular area to stay on the Isle of Skye is Armadale which is located in the south of the Island and is home to the Armadale Castle and Gardens.
This is the closest point to the ferry, so a great base connecting you to Skye and the mainland of Scotland.
15 best places to stay on the Isle of Skye
For your peace of mind, all the properties listed below are Covid-friendly and have additional health measures in place to make sure the property is clean!
This beautiful bothy is a traditional black house with thick lime-washed stone walls.
It’s located in a serene and peaceful location and the build is over 100 years old.
It’s full of charm and complete with everything you need for a great stay, including a modern kitchen with a microwave, a fridge, and two electric hobs.
There’s also a cosy wood-burning fire to keep warm.
Just across from the bothy is a raised deck area with a wood-fired hot tub lit with fairy lights and there is also dining outside with a BBQ.
Located in Portree, this hotel in Skye has often voted the best place to stay on the Isle of Skye and it has consistently high ratings.
Set in 15 acres of beautiful private grounds, this property boasts amazing views over the Cuillin Mountain Range and Portree Bay.
The rooms are traditionally decorated and some come with views over the bay.
You’ll also find an award-winning restaurant on-site, and it’s won an award for its range of whiskies, meaning it’s the perfect place to sample “ a wee dram”.
This cute bothy oozes romance and is perfect for those in search of a little romance.
The renovation of this traditional bothy with upcycling traditional materials has resulted in a space that combines a unique mix of the old, the new, and the upcycled, wrapped in traditional Scottish vibes.
There’s a wood-burning fireplace to keep cosy in the evenings and a fully equipped kitchen. There’s even an outdoor dining area perfect for those relaxing evenings.
What’s really great about this Airbnb on the Isle of Skye is the fact it welcomes dogs!
4. The CowShed $$ - Best unique accommodation in Skye
These beautiful wooden pods are located on the hillside behind the main “Cowshed Boutique Bunkhouse” and boast fantastic views out to the bay and the beautiful surroundings Uig has to offer.
The sunsets here are epic and these small, but cute mini rooms are perfect for those on a smaller budget whilst staying on the Isle Of Skye.
Each pod is a self-contained unit with a wetroom, a small kitchen and there is a small dining area with chairs!
5. Skye Eyrie $$$ - Best self-catering accommodation on the Isle of Skye
Escape to Skye Eyrie, a unique, contemporary, self-catering holiday cottage.
This property offers 5-star luxury accommodation for up to 4 guests.
Only a short drive from Portree, nestled under the Trotternish Ridge, the hilltop location provides fantastic coastal views, and you’re in easy access to all of the best Skye attractions on offer. You’ll have a large, fully equipped kitchen, a wood-burning fire in the living area, and floor to ceiling windows to enjoy those epic views!
Located within large private grounds on the edge of a loch, the Skeabost Hotel is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding Scottish highlands and visiting the many brilliant attractions on offer.
The hotel rooms all include en suite bathrooms, tea-coffee making facilities, and more.
Rooms also include views over Loch Snizort or landscaped gardens.
The hotel actually has a salmon river with seasonal fishing rights.
There is an on-site restaurant, and a large bar offering a wide range of drinks.
The Billiard Room, which was once the chapel of the original country house, is another place to unwind with a drink.
This family-run hotel was a 17th-century hunting lodge.
It’s situated at the foot of a long private drive up Kinloch Hill on the shoreline of Loch Na Dal. Located in the south of Skye, with an array of quiet surroundings and natural beauty, it’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of life.
Rooms include an en-suite bathroom, TV, and L'Occitane toiletries.
At the treatment room, guests can enjoy facials, massages, salt scrubs, and reflexology.
There’s an award-winning restaurant, and cookery workshops with the head chef can be undertaken by arrangement.
Wilderness adventures with Kinloch's own guide offer fishing, foraging, stalking, and wild walks.
Having stayed in this property myself, I can safely say it’s the most unique accommodation on the Isle of Skye. Technically it’s just off the Isle of Skye because when you stay here, you’re actually staying on your own private island that has its very own lighthouse and lighthouse cottage.
This cottage is packed with everything you need for a comfortable stay, and it’s beautifully designed throughout.
There’s a cosy log-burning fire (wood included), an outdoor fire pit, and BBQ for use, and the property is packed with games and activities to keep you entertained.
This warm and cosy shepherd’s hut offers a unique place to stay on the Isle of Skye.
Due to its elevated position, it offers beautiful views and has everything you need for a quiet stay.
This shepherd’s hut includes a toilet, shower, double bed, small electric cooker, and microwave. There’s even a small wood burning stove to keep warm (and the logs are included!).
You’ve got your own designated space around the hut offering a lot of privacy. And you’re minutes away from the local beach.
Special features:
Wood burning stove
Shepherds hut accommodation
Free to walk the local fields (And feed the chickens!)
14. Milovaig House $$$ - Best luxury Airbnb on the Isle of Skye
This newly renovated (in a nordic style) 19th-century crofters house is perched on the breathtaking coastline of the Isle of Skye.
Remote and cosy, this stylish house is perfect for family and friends.
There’s a sunroom that offers the opportunity to spot dolphins and whales, and if you’re lucky and the season is right, you may even see the Northern Lights.
There’s even a Swedish log-fired hot tub which is the perfect place to relax in the evenings with a glass of wine.
Before I leave you, I thought I’d quickly mention some of the great things to do on the Isle of Skye, in case you’re in need of some inspiration.
Hike the Old Man of Storr
This is one of the most beautiful places to visit on the Isle of Skye and the views here are truly epic.
The Old Man of Storr is known for its quirky rock formations, and it’s a hike that is accessible for pretty much all fitness levels.
I suggest you visit in the morning or evening before sunset for fewer crowds. This is a free activity unless you are road tripping Scotland, then you’ll need to pay for parking!
Visit the magical Fairy Glen
This is actually my personal favorite attraction on the Isle of Skye, just because it truly does feel like a mystical area.
It almost pops out of nowhere and the landscape changes and suddenly you think you’ve seen a leprechaun!
This unique landscape is due to a landslide, and there’s a small “hill” which is called Castle Ewan and offers great views of the surrounding area.
This is another popular hiking area on the Isle of Skye, but the drive to it is pretty epic too.
Even if you don’t want to hike the full thing, you can park up and walk a couple of hundred meters to the information sign, and from there you can see the dramatic landscape that surrounds you!
Visit Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
It’s called Kilt Rock because it apparently looks like a kilt .. very Scottish, right!?
But I couldn’t see it myself, though there is also a pretty cool waterfall here (which is worth flying a drone too if you have one).
But, what I really like about here is the history of the dinosaurs!
They found dinosaur prints here and there’s a little information center letting you know all about the history of dinosaurs in the area.
So there you have it, my guide on the best places to stay on the Isle of Skye, I hope you’ve found this guide useful and hopefully, it will help you with planning your epic isle of Skye itinerary.
As the type 1 diabetic half of Dream Big, Travel Far, I'm passionate about encouraging fellow type 1's to travel the world and not let their diabetes hold them back. I'm proud to now be a full-time digital nomad. Meaning I live my life working and travelling all over the world and am here to help you achieve your dreams as well in any way I can.