Isle of Skye day trip from Glasgow: Fairy Pools & Old Man of Storr

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Free cancellation

1/15

Duration3d

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk to the Fairy Pools, climb to the Quiraing, stand at the Old Man of Storr

You travel through five of Scotland's most photographed landscapes — Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fairy Pools, Old Man of Storr and Quiraing — with a driver-guide handling the route and commentary. Two nights' accommodation on Isle of Skye and the mainland are included, along with all transport and entry to major stops. An optional Loch Ness cruise is available on day three. Plan for a full three days of travel and walking at a steady pace — that's what fits this much ground into one trip.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Glasgow to Isle of Skye journey

Stop at Luss village
Cross Rannoch Moor to Glencoe
Visit Glencoe Visitor Centre for lunch
Pass through Fort William
Stop at Glenfinnan Viaduct viewpoint
Photo stop at Five Sisters of Kintail
Cross Skye Bridge to Isle of Skye
Arrive at overnight accommodation

Day 2 — Exploring Isle of Skye highlights

Explore Isle of Skye landscapes
Stop at Sligachan Old Bridge
Walk to Fairy Pools
Free time in Portree town
Visit Fairy Glen
Stop at Quiraing viewpoint
View Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Photo stop at Old Man of Storr
Return to accommodation

Day 3 — Return from Skye to Glasgow

Cross Skye Bridge to mainland
Visit Eilean Donan Castle viewpoints
Free time in Fort Augustus village
Optional Loch Ness cruise
Refreshment break in Perthshire
Travel via Edinburgh to Glasgow

The Experience

So you've got three days in Scotland and you're wondering if you can actually fit the Highlands and Isle of Skye into one trip without losing your mind on the drive. Turns out you can — this tour handles all the routing and stops, which means you're not hunting for parking at Glencoe or trying to time the Skye Bridge crossing. Day one moves through Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and Glenfinnan Viaduct (yes, the Harry Potter bridge), then crosses onto Skye for the night. The driver-guide talks you through the Glencoe Massacre and the Jacobite history as you go, so it's not just scenery — there's actual story woven in.

Day two is the full Skye experience. You're hitting the Fairy Pools (the walk is uneven ground, but the pools are genuinely that clear and blue), the Quiraing with its dramatic cliffs and pinnacles, the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock with Mealt Falls dropping off the edge, and Fairy Glen tucked into the hills. Portree, the main town, gives you a proper lunch break where you can walk the waterfront and grab something to eat at your own pace. The driver shapes the route around the weather — Skye changes fast, so flexibility matters more than a rigid schedule.

Day three brings you back through the mainland Highlands. Eilean Donan Castle sits on an island where three lochs meet and is one of those landmarks you've probably seen in a film without knowing it. Fort Augustus sits at the southern tip of Loch Ness, and there's an optional boat cruise on the loch if you want it, or you can just walk the Caledonian Canal and watch the locks work. The drive south takes you through Perthshire before dropping into Edinburgh and then Glasgow. The whole thing is sixteen people maximum in an air-conditioned coach, so it doesn't feel like a cattle run.

One thing worth knowing: this is a full three days of moving and stopping, not a relaxed meander. You're covering serious ground — Loch Lomond to Skye is roughly 240 miles, and day two on Skye packs in eight major stops. If you're the type who wants to linger in one place for hours, this isn't it. But if you want to see the actual breadth of what makes the Scottish Highlands famous in one go, without arranging your own transport or worrying about which viewpoint to skip, this does the work for you.

What’s included

Your three days include transport in a comfortable air-conditioned coach with onboard air purification, the services of a Discover Scotland driver-guide with live commentary throughout, and two nights' accommodation on Isle of Skye and the mainland.
The tour covers all major stops — Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fairy Pools, Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Fairy Glen, Portree, Eilean Donan Castle, Fort Augustus and Loch Ness.
You have free time in Portree and Fort Augustus to buy lunch and explore at your own pace.
An optional Loch Ness cruise is available on day three.
Entry fees to attractions and meals are not included in the tour price.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Discover Scotland Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Glasgow or Edinburgh who want to see the Highlands and Isle of Skye in one trip without arranging their own transport or planning stops — the fixed itinerary and driver-guide handle all the routing. Expect three full days of travel and walking at a steady pace; that's what makes fitting this much ground possible.