South Skye

Armadale Castle

Aird of Sleat

Kyleakin

South Skye

For our purposes, South Skye covers the whole island up to the shortest line between the ends of Loch Sligachan and Loch Harport.

Armadale, on Skye's southern Sleat Peninsula is the terminus for the ferry from from Mallaig. Armadale, and other settlements in the area have visitor accommodation plus an interesting range of craft and other shops. Beyond Armadale, a minor road takes you through Ardvasar as far as the beautiful crofting township of Aird of Sleat, two miles short of the Point of Sleat itself.

Just east of Armadale is the Clan Donald Centre. Here you find Armadale Castle Gardens and the ruin of Armadale Castle, together with the superb Museum of the Isles. North west of Armadale, a single track road winds its way to the scattered settlement of Tarskavaig. Further along the coast is Tokavaig, itself overlooked by the ruins of Dunscaith Castle and, with the neigbouring village of Ord, offering some of the best views to be had of the entire Cuillin range. A few miles further, and back on the main road, is the picturesque village of Isleornsay, once Skye's main fishing port and is now one of its most attractive villages.

In recent years the road from Armadale to Broadford, which was once single track all the way, has been upgraded to a high standard for almost all its length: and work is due to start on the remaining two miles in the near future.

Kyleakin, at Skye's eastern tip, was the main ferry port before the coming of the Skye Bridge in 1995. It is home to the Bright Water Visitor Centre, offering summer visits to Eilean Bàn, the island which was once home to the author and naturalist Gavin Maxwell and which now provides a footing for the new bridge.

Four miles down the coast from Kyleakin is Kylerhea, from where a ferry service operates to Glenelg on the mainland during summer months only. Here you'll also find seal trips operating to view the colony on Eilean Mhal.

The most significant settlement in South Skye is Broadford, the island's second largest village. Its mile long main street curves around a wide bay and boat trips leave from its pier. Broadford is also home to the unusual Skye Serpentarium, full of snakes, lizards and frogs and offering a fascinating insight into the lives of these creatures.

A side road from Broadford takes you by a scenic route to Elgol, passing en route the fascinating ruin of Cill Chriosd. From Elgol, the excellent Bella Jane Boat Trips take you into the heart of the Cuillin.

The A87 heads out from Broadford, hugging the coastline as it twists and turns en-route north towards Portree, offering up views out to the Isle of Scalpay. The island is part red-deer farm and part forestry plantation and boasts the peak of Mullach na Carn rising to 1298ft.

From the head of Loch Ainort travellers can choose to take the steep short cut across the pass to Loch Sligachan or the minor road which meanders round the coast. Both reach Sconser, departure point for ferries to the island of Raasay and home to a nine-hole golf course with spectacular views. A little further you come to Sligachan and its hotel, pretty much in the centre of Skye.

The majestic Cuillin mountains dominate the southern half of Skye. Surrounded by cascading water and expanses of rough terrain the area offers some of the most challenging climbing in Scotland. Access is by one of three routes: from the south on foot or by boat from Elgol, from the Sligachan Hotel at their northern end, or from Glen Brittle on their west side. View a 3200x600 pixel panorama of the Black Cuillin from the east here. The eastern Red Cuillin are formed of red-hued granite and have a rounded appearance. The more western Black Cuillin appear much more sinister, formed as they are from dark, coarse, jagged gabbro. There are few easy routes here and 11 Munros form the main ridge, with another, Bla Bheinn, as an outlier. These are mountains to take seriously, and most are for experienced mountaineers only.

From Sconser a road heads west to the village of Carbost, home to the Talisker Distillery and, in our view, one of the finest of single malt whiskies. A minor road leading from a junction just south of Carbost takes you to Glen Brittle and some superb views of the central Cuillin.