Best Time to Visit Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is the second-largest island in Scotland and, for many visitors, the highlight of a Highland trip. It's also a place where timing makes a huge difference. Visit on the wrong week and you'll queue for car parks and fight the midges. Get it right and you'll have long light evenings, quieter roads and the Cuillin clear of cloud. This guide goes through Skye month by month and explains how to get there from Edinburgh or Glasgow.

The short answer: when is the best time to visit Skye?

May, June and September are the best months for most people.

• May and early June: long days, often some of the driest weather of the year, and fewer midges than later in summer.
• September: the summer crowds have gone, the light is softer, and the weather is often settled.
• July and August: the warmest months, but also the busiest, with full car parks and accommodation booked out months ahead.
• October to March: quiet and atmospheric, with short days, more rain and wind, and some accommodation and cafes closed.

Skye month by month

Months	Weather and light	Crowds	Good for
January to February	Cold, wet, very short days	Very quiet	Moody photography, empty roads
March to April	Lengthening days, snow still on the hills	Quiet	Early-season walking, fewer visitors
May	Long days, often dry	Moderate	Walking, photography, the best all-round month
June	Longest days, midges start	Busy	Late-evening light, wildlife
July to August	Warmest, midges at their worst	Very busy	School holidays, boat trips
September	Settled weather, autumn colour starts	Moderate	Walking, photography, quieter roads
October	Wetter, shorter days	Quiet	Autumn colours, storm watching
November to December	Dark, wet, windy	Very quiet	Cosy stays, very few visitors

Weather on Skye changes quickly in any month. Pack waterproofs even in July.

What about the midges?

Highland midges are tiny biting insects that are at their worst from late May to early September, especially on still, damp days, at dawn and dusk. A breeze keeps them away. Bring a proper repellent and a head net if you're walking in summer. They're a nuisance, not a reason to stay away.

Where to go on Skye

• The Old Man of Storr: the famous rock pinnacle north of Portree. The walk up takes about an hour and the car park fills early.
• The Quiraing: a dramatic landslip landscape on the Trotternish peninsula, with a walking loop and views over to the mainland.
• The Fairy Pools: clear pools and waterfalls below the Cuillin, a short walk from the car park near Glenbrittle.
• Neist Point: the lighthouse on the far west tip of Skye, one of the best places on the island at sunset.
• Portree: the island's main town, with its colourful harbour front.
• Dunvegan Castle: home of the MacLeod clan chiefs, with gardens and seal-watching boat trips.

To see the busiest spots without the crowds, arrive before 9am or late in the afternoon. The Storr and the Fairy Pools are much calmer then.

How to get to Skye from Edinburgh or Glasgow

Skye is linked to the mainland by the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, so you don't need a ferry (although the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale is a lovely alternative).

• From Edinburgh: about 5 to 6 hours by car to Portree, usually via Stirling, Glencoe, Fort William and the road past Eilean Donan Castle.
• From Glasgow: about 5 hours, via Loch Lomond, Glencoe and Fort William.
• From Inverness: about 2 hours 30 minutes.

That's a long drive, but it passes some of the best scenery in Scotland, so it's worth breaking up. Glencoe, Fort William and Eilean Donan all make good stops.

Should you take a private driver to Skye?

Skye's roads are narrow, and many are single-track with passing places. After a long drive from the Central Belt, a lot of visitors find it's more relaxing to let someone else drive, especially for a first trip. A private driver also means:

• no hunting for parking at the Storr or the Fairy Pools
• everyone in the car gets to see the views
• you can have a whisky at the Talisker distillery
• flexible stops for photos along the way

We run private transfers and multi-day trips to Skye from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness in vehicles from saloons to eight-seat vans, with 16-seat minibuses on request. Fares are fixed and quoted up front.

What it costs: private day tours from Edinburgh start from £400 for eight hours and £500 for ten hours in a saloon, for the whole car. Skye is a two or three day trip from Edinburgh, so we quote it based on the days, miles and vehicle you need.

Planning a trip north? See our private tours, the Edinburgh to Fort William scenic journey and our Isle of Skye page, or get a fixed quote.