Isle of Skye Day Tour: Fairy Pools & Old Man of Storr

Eight hours hitting the landmarks most visitors miss on Skye

A day tour from Portree across the Isle of Skye with a dedicated guide and driver, visiting Fairy Pools, Kilt Rock, Quiraing, Old Man of Storr and An Corran Beach over eight hours. The guide focuses on storytelling and interaction while the driver handles the route, letting you absorb the landscape instead of navigating it. Bottled water and snacks are included. The pace suits moderate fitness, and children over six are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Fairy Pools1h 30m
2. Kilt Rock20m
3. Quiraing20m
4. The Old Man of Storr10m

Explore Isle of Skye highlights

• Visit Fairy Pools early
• See Sligachan Bridge and Cuillin Ridge
• Lunch stop in Portree
• Meet Highland Cows
• View Lealt Falls
• Stop at Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
• Hunt dinosaur footprints at An Corran Beach
• Walk part of the Quiraing
• View Old Man of Storr

The experience

The tour leaves Portree early to reach Fairy Pools before the crowds arrive. The walk from the car park takes 15 to 20 minutes uphill to the first of the crystal-clear rock pools, which are fed by waterfalls running down from the Black Cuillin Mountains. You'll have around 90 minutes to explore the pools and walk further up the path if you want to. If the uphill walk doesn't suit you, the driver takes you to an alternative location nearby. After that comes Sligachan bridge, where you can wash your face in the water or photograph the Cuillin Mountain Ridge looming behind.

Lunch happens in Portree around noon, timed to beat the midday rush. The guide recommends where to eat. The afternoon swings through the east coast stops: Highland Cows and their calves up close, Lealt Falls dropping into a gorge with coastal views beyond, then Kilt Rock, a 90-metre cliff that resembles a pleated kilt, with Mealt Falls spilling down it. An Corran Beach comes next, where you hunt for dinosaur footprints timed to the tide. The Quiraing, a landscape shaped by landslips over 15,000 years, gives you time to walk the path while the guide explains the geology and folklore. The day ends at Old Man of Storr, a rock pinnacle visible for miles, where you stop at a viewpoint to learn the stories behind it.

A separate guide and driver means the guide stays focused on you and the landscape instead of managing the road. The eight-hour day is intensive but built around moderate walking. It's not suitable for people with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns, and you'll need at least moderate fitness. Children over six are welcome. Bottled water and snacks travel with you.

What’s included

• A guide who stays with the group to tell stories and answer questions while a separate driver handles the route.
• bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
• stops at Fairy Pools, Sligachan bridge, Lealt Falls, Kilt Rock, An Corran Beach, Quiraing and Old Man of Storr.

Before you book

Days and timesThursdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tartan Trailblazer Tours

Is this one for you?This is a shared small-group tour with a dedicated guide, so you get storytelling and local knowledge without driving yourself or managing the itinerary. It suits anyone who wants to see the major landmarks in one day but prefers not to navigate the roads or research where to stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What's the walk like at Fairy Pools?

The initial walk from the car park to the first pool is uphill and takes 15 to 20 minutes at moderate intensity. More pools sit further up the path if you want to explore them. If the uphill walk isn't for you, the driver takes you to an alternative stop instead.

How much time do you get at each stop?

Fairy Pools gets around 90 minutes to explore the pools and walk the path. Most other stops are shorter viewing or photo moments. Lunch in Portree is timed for around noon so you can eat before the crowds arrive.

What are the dinosaur footprints at An Corran Beach?

An Corran Beach is timed with the tide to give you the best chance of spotting dinosaur footprints in the rock. The guide hunts for them with you during the stop.

What's included in the price?

Bottled water and snacks are included throughout the day. Your guide provides commentary and stories at each stop. Lunch in Portree is not included, though the guide recommends places to eat.