The Isle of Skye is connected to Scotland’s northwest coast by a bridge and is easily accessible with one of the Ariescape Scottish motorhomes. It’s only 50 miles long and the largest of the Inner Hebrides, but what it packs into those 50 miles is truly outstanding. The hills, mountains, famous Fairy Pools, fishing villages, and mediaeval castles – our list could go on.
The only issue, if you want to call it that, is that it’s known for being cold and wet. We’re in September now, and the current forecast for the next week doesn’t see temperatures rise above 13 degrees. And as the rest of the year continues, that cold turns into wet and cold.
Not that we want to put you off visiting; it’s stunning at any point of the year. But if you are visiting the Isle of Skye when it’s known to be more rainy, we want to prepare you for what you can do.
Read on for our tips on what to do on a rainy day on the Isle of Skye.
Go Outside Anyway
Reports vary, but it’s estimated that the northwest coast, including the Isle of Skye, sees 265 wet days. Chances are, unless you’re visiting from April to September, it will rain. And even from April to September, it might rain then.
We say go outside anyway. Pack your hiking boots and your waterproof coat and trousers, and you can still enjoy the scenery. There are some stunning landscapes and landmarks to explore, but the most iconic has to be the Fairy Pools near the village of Carbost. If anything, we’d say they look better in the misty rain.
There’s also The Quiraing, a 6.8 km hike with stunning views throughout and walking routes to the famous site, The Old Man of Storr.
A little rain never hurt anyone.
Visit One of The Isle of Skye Distilleries
If it is raining hard and walking or hiking seems impossible, we’d recommend visiting the Talisker distillery. Located by Loch Harport and surrounded by the breathtaking Cuillin Hills, the Talisker Distillery is full of history, mystery, and excellent whisky.
A one-hour tour and tasting experience starts from £22 and includes 3 dram tastings of Talisker’s award-winning single malts. There’s also the option for the Talisker Cast Draw and Tasting Experience, with prices starting from £150, and the tour lasting 1.5 hours.
Dunvegan Castle
Visiting Dunvegan Castle is the perfect way to escape the rain. It’s open daily from April 1st to October 15th, when it closes for the winter, so time is actually running out to see this one.
But if you go to the Isle of Skye within the next few weeks, we highly recommend visiting the castle. The iconic building still contains some of the original building work from the 1200s to the 1850s, although areas of it have had to be restored. And, fun fact, the Clan MacLeod, who lives there, makes it the only Highland castle to have been continuously occupied by the same family for 800 years.
Skye Museum of Island Life
If you can’t experience island life from the outside, step back in time and visit the Skye Museum of Island Life. You get a truly unique experience and insight into what island life was like 100 years ago.
The museum is made up of multiple cottages for visitors to go into that have been designed to mimic what island life looked like all those years ago. There are six different cottages in total, each displaying rooms such as a traditional bedroom, kitchen, old barn, weaver’s cottage, and more.
It’s interesting to see how different life would have looked 100 years ago. Tickets cost £8 for adults, and children under 15 go in for free.
The Oyster Shed
The Oyster Shed in the village of Carbost is a unique experience. It’s famous for, as the name suggests, freshly caught oysters available for visitors to try or buy and take away. Because the Isle of Skye is an island, you can expect these oysters to be the freshest you’ve ever tasted.
Other seafood available includes:
- Smoked salmon
- Mussels
- Crab
- Scallop meat
- Smoked Scottish game
It’s essentially a unique seafood farm shop and kitchen, and we highly recommend going for lunch if you love seafood.
A rainy day isn’t so bad when you’re on the Isle of Skye. This stunning island has something for everyone, especially if you don’t mind getting a bit wet anyway. But for those extra rainy days where being outside is impossible, you’ll still find ways to enjoy your day.