Marathon Expeditions

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The Isle of Skye - Hiking, History & Culture

Prepared with pleasure exclusively for Marathon Expeditions

Friday 6^th June – Tuesday 10^th June 2025

Number of Travellers: 9

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

Overview

The Isle of Skye – Hiking, History & Culture

For travel in June 2025 (after the running trip)

The run group finishes departs Inverness on Friday 6^th June to travel to Edinburgh, so this group will leave the run trip 1/2 day early, depart from Inverness and go to Skye on Friday 6th June in lieu of traveling to Edinburgh.

Trip Overview

This itinerary offers a mix of culture, history and unforgettable experiences on the remote and magical Isle of Skye.

Trek across salt-stung bluffs, along swathes of golden sand and among the stark, dark spires of the Quiraing. As you hike, learn about the island’s fascinating history. Visit ancient Iron Age brochs and hike out to lonely lighthouses. Discover the enchanting beauty of a place where folklore runs deep and Scottish culture is distilled to its most vivid.

The trip would start and finish in Inverness, accessible by air and mainline trains.

Itinerary Highlights

Explore the rugged, wild beauty of Skye on foot, learning about the history, heritage and culture of the island.
Take a boat trip into the heart of the Cuillin mountains and hike around a remote and lonely loch.
Enjoy exceptional Highland hospitality as you relax at our carefully chosen local accommodation.

Start / Finish – Inverness / Inverness

Inverness is easily accessible, connected by regular flights from various cities in the UK and Europe, as well-as some direct flights from the US. It’s also on the UK mainline rail network, with the sleeper train being an attractive option for the journey to/from destinations in the south of the UK. The airport is just 20 minutes from the city center and is connected by train, bus and taxi.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Friday 6^th June | Inverness to the Isle of Skye

Day 2 | Saturday 7^th June | Waternish Point and Dunveggan Castle

Day 3 | Sunday 8^th June | Explore the north of the Island - Trotternish Peninsula - The Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Brothers Point or Kilt rock

Day 4 | Monday 9^th June | The Cauldron of the Waters

Day 5 | Tuesday 10^th June | Eilean Donan and Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Friday 6^th June - Inverness to the Isle of Skye

Meet in Inverness this morning and then enjoy a scenic drive in a private vehicle west to the magical Isle of Skye.

Along the way, take in the spectacular views as you wind your way over Mam Ratigan Pass, following an old drover’s road to the tiny settlement of Glenelg where you catch the community-owned turntable ferry to Skye. Once ashore, we take a short transfer to the cosy accommodation.

Overnight: The Isle of Skye Guest House, Kyleakin, Skye

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Hike details: up to 3km/ 2 miles | approx. 2 hrs | 10 m/30 ft of ascent

Journey time: c. 2.5 to 3 hours from Inverness

Day 2 - Saturday 7^th June - Waternish Point and Dunveggan Castle

Our first trek of the trip is a coastal walk to a remote headland.

We hike out to a remote headland crowned by a lighthouse that overlooks the Minch and the Outer Hebrides. This salt-stung bluff is a beautiful, quiet place to spot whales and dolphins on a calm day, as well as enjoying stunning views of the dramatic sea cliffs of the distant Dunvegan Head.

We’ll have a picnic lunch at the ancient ruins of one of the best-preserved brochs on Skye, learning about the island’s history and hearing enchanting tales of faeries, selkies and kelpies.

In the afternoon we’ll visit Dunveggan Castle, a stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years.

Overnight: The Isle of Skye Guest House, Kyleakin, Skye

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hike details: up to 16 km/10 miles | approx. 6 hrs | 350 m/984 ft of ascent

Day 3 - Sunday 8^th June - Explore the north of the Island - Trotternish Peninsula - The Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Brothers Point or Kilt rock

Today we further explore the North of the island and trek on some of Skyes famous hills.

There are lots of great options for walking on Skye, like The Storr, a craggy peak with impressive views of the famous Old Man of Storr rock Spire, or the dramatic landscape of the Quiraing, a stark rock formation that rises from the rugged ground like great ruined battlements, or Rubha nam Brathairean, The Brothers Point.

In the afternoon we’ll walk along the coastline to a viewpoint overlooking Kilt rock, an ancient cliff face where in the winter months its waterfall is known to fall upwards!

Enjoy the incredible sweeping views of islands and mountains that stretch in every direction.

Overnight: The Isle of Skye Guest House, Kyleakin, Skye

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hike details: up to 10 km/8 miles | approx. 5 hrs | 200-700 m of ascent

Day 4 - Monday 9^th June - The Cauldron of the Waters

This morning, we wind our way South to Elgol – a tiny hamlet scattered along the western cliffs of the Strathaird Peninsula.

We take a small boat into the dramatic sea loch in the heart of the Black Cuillin mountains. Stepping off the boat at a remote jetty, we’ll enjoy a trek at Loch Coruisk, either circumnavigating the stunning loch, or perhaps venturing up the rocky peak of Sgurr na Stri for elevated views of the magnificent Black Cuillin range.

Overnight: The Isle of Skye Guest House, Kyleakin, Skye

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Hike details: up to 7 km/4 miles | approx. 4 hrs |500 m of ascent

Day 5 - Tuesday 10^th June - Eilean Donan and Depart

After breakfast, we begin our journey back towards Inverness.

Along the way we stop by the world renowned Eilean Donan, a dramatic castle perched on a small island. After a tour of the castle, we continue the journey onwards to Inverness, where the trip ends in the afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Hike details: up to 2 km/ 1 miles | approx. 1 hrs

Journey time: c. 2 hours 30 mins to Inverness

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More

4 nights accommodation in hotels on a double/twin share basis.
Breakfast each day (except Day 1)
Lunch each day
Evening meals on Day 1 and Day 4
The services of qualified and experienced WS guides from Day 1 to Day 5.
All private transfers throughout, starting and finishing in Inverness.
All guided activities and visits as mentioned in the itinerary, specifically:
- Day 2 – Dunveggan Castle
- Day 4 – Boat trip on Scavaig
- Day 5 – Eilean Donan castle
Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff, as well as local guides.
Trip design and delivery.
24/7 in-country trip support.