Isle of Skye Day Tour: Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr & Fairy Pools
One day covers both Northern Skye's cliffs and the Fairy Pools' waterfalls.
This 12-hour guided tour departs Inverness and crosses into Isle of Skye to visit Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, and the Fairy Pools—the only scheduled tour combining both the northern highlights and the pools in a single day. Your experienced driver guide provides live commentary throughout, and you'll also pass Loch Ness, stop at Eilean Donan Castle for photos, and explore Portree harbour. A moderate level of fitness is required for the walk to the Fairy Pools (roughly 1.5 miles, 40 minutes round-trip on rough terrain). Pre-ordered lunch is available Monday to Friday; weekends allow you to pick up food in Portree.
12h
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Isle of Skye and Highlands
- Depart Inverness
- View Loch Ness shoreline
- Photo stop at Eilean Donan Castle
- Visit Portree harbour viewpoint
- Explore Portree shops and cafés
- Lunch break in Portree
- See Kilt Rock and waterfall
- View Old Man of Storr
- Walk to Fairy Pools
- Return via Highland glens
- View Urquhart Castle from above
- Drive back to Inverness
The Experience
How do you fit both the dramatic sea cliffs of Northern Skye and the mountain-backed pools into one day from Inverness? This tour threads them together by starting early and moving steadily through the Highlands. You leave Inverness with Loch Ness appearing almost immediately—your guide shares the stories behind the legend while the shoreline unfolds. The first real stop is Eilean Donan Castle, instantly recognizable from films; you'll have time to photograph it from the best vantage point before moving on. There's no entry to the castle itself, but the coastal setting and the moment itself carry the weight.
Portree comes next, a working harbour town where pastel-painted houses line the bay. You get 45 minutes to walk the harbourfront, duck into local cafés, or grab lunch—if you've pre-ordered it in the morning (Monday to Friday only), the driver collects it and delivers it to you on the coach, saving the time you'd spend queuing. From there, Kilt Rock appears: a sea cliff shaped like the folds of a kilt, with a 60-foot waterfall that sometimes blows backward up the cliff face when the wind picks up. The Old Man of Storr—a 50-metre pinnacle rising from the Trotternish Ridge—gets its own viewpoint stop on the way north; you'll recognize it from films like Macbeth and Prometheus.
The Fairy Pools are the day's physical centerpiece. The walk to the first pool is gently uphill for about 20 minutes (0.7 miles), with the most striking waterfall another 5 minutes on (0.9 miles total). Most people linger here, the Cuillin Mountains framing the clear water behind. The full out-and-back is roughly 1.5 miles and takes 40 minutes; rough terrain and a moderate fitness level are needed. On the return drive, your guide talks through the Highlands' history—the clearances that emptied once-thriving glens—as you thread through mountains and storybook valleys. The final stop is Urquhart Castle, perched on a peninsula in Loch Ness, a dramatic full stop before the drive back to Inverness.
What’s included
- Live commentary from your experienced driver guide.
- all taxes, fees and handling charges.
- seats assigned so groups and couples sit together.
Operated by WOW Scotland
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see both Skye's northern cliffs and the Fairy Pools without splitting the day into two trips—it's the only scheduled service that combines them, so you don't have to choose between Kilt Rock and the waterfalls.
Traveler reviews
Compare the 13 similar options
Isle of Skye Day Tour: Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr & Fairy Pools★ 4.96 (1,353)12hEN£ 109
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle tour from InvernessLeave Inverness early for a 12-hour loop through Skye's most dramatic peaks and coastlines, stopping at Quiraing, Old Man of Storr★ 4.88 (907)12hEN£ 72View ›
Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle from InvernessCoach and boat combo: 1-hour Loch Ness cruise, Urquhart Castle ruins, expert guide and refreshments included. 3.5 hours total from Inverness Bus Station.★ 4.65 (736)3h 30mEN£ 57View ›
Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train: 3 Days from InvernessThree-day tour from Inverness with Jacobite Steam Train, Eilean Donan Castle, Old Man of Storr and Fairy Pools. Includes driver-guide, accommodation and train ticket.★ 4.98 (200)3dEN£ 559View ›
Loch Ness: 50-Minute Cruise & Urquhart Castle Views50-minute Loch Ness cruise from Inverness with Urquhart Castle views and onboard sonar. Small groups, free Wi-Fi, departs Clansman Harbour 20 minutes from town.★ 4.44 (1,275)50mEN£ 25View ›
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle Tour Private GuidePrivate tour of Isle of Skye from Inverness with a Blue Badge guide, visiting Eilean Donan Castle, the Old Man of Storr, Quiraing and Kilt Rock.★ 5.00 (2)11h–12hEN · PT£ 900per groupView ›
Loch Ness & Caledonian Canal Cruise with Urquhart Castle ViewsFeel the wind on Loch Ness, glide past Urquhart Castle, and hear local stories on a 2-hour Caledonian Canal cruise from Dochgarroch—includes live commentary onboard.★ 4.76 (1,371)2hEN£ 34View ›
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle Day Tour from InvernessFull-day Isle of Skye tour from Inverness with Eilean Donan Castle, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock & Loch Ness. Small group, local guide, lunch in Portree included.★ 4.93 (2,367)12hEN£ 72View ›
Isle of Skye & Fairy Pools Day Tour from InvernessFull-day Isle of Skye tour from Inverness with Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Fairy Pools walk and lunch in Portree. Air-conditioned transport, expert driver-guide included.★ 4.68 (595)12hEN£ 79View ›
Isle of Skye & Fairy Pools 2-Day Tour from InvernessFeel the wild Highlands on a small group Isle of Skye tour from Inverness, with Fairy Pools walk, Highland castles, and overnight in Portree. Includes guide & transport.★ 4.82 (300)2dEN£ 152View ›
Isle of Skye Day Trip from Inverness: Eilean Donan & Storr HikeFeel the wild Highlands on a private Isle of Skye day trip from Inverness, with Eilean Donan Castle, Old Man of Storr hike, and a Highlander guide in a kilt.★ 5.00 (95)12hEN£ 547View ›
Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle day tour from InvernessTen hours crossing the Highlands to Skye's rock pinnacles, castle ruins and distillery, with a driver-guide, bottled water and hotel pickup included★ 5.00 (9)10h–11hEN£ 770per groupView ›
Loch Ness Outlander Sites Tour: Inverness Small GroupFive to seven hours exploring Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns from Inverness with a local guide★ 4.96 (217)5h–7hEN£ 136View › 
Top questions
How long is the walk to the Fairy Pools, and what's the terrain like?
The walk to the first pool takes around 20 minutes uphill (0.7 miles), with the most impressive waterfall another 5 minutes further (0.9 miles total). The out-and-back walk is roughly 1.5 miles and 40 minutes, and some of it crosses rough terrain, so a moderate level of fitness is needed.
Can I get lunch during this tour?
On Monday to Friday tours, you can pre-order a takeaway lunch at the start, and the driver will collect and deliver it to you in Portree, saving you time away from sightseeing. On weekend tours, you can pick up food in Portree during your 45-minute stop there.
Do we go inside Eilean Donan Castle?
No, there's no entry to the castle itself. You'll stop at the best vantage point to photograph it and admire its coastal setting, but the stop is for viewing and photos only.
What is the Old Man of Storr, and will I recognize it?
The Old Man of Storr is a striking 50-metre rock pinnacle rising from the Trotternish Ridge. You'll see it from a loch-side viewpoint, and you may recognize it from films including Macbeth, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman, and The BFG.
What should I bring for this tour?
Warm clothes, hiking boots, and a waterproof jacket are recommended. The day is 12 hours long with significant time on the coach and a walk on rough terrain, so comfort and weather protection matter.
Are children allowed on this tour?
Children are welcome from age 6 onwards. Children under six are not recommended due to the tour's 12-hour duration and the amount of time spent on the coach.
Isle of Skye Day Tour: Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr & Fairy Pools
12h · EN
from £ 109 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.961,353 reviews
