The Isle of Skye is one of the rawest and most mystical places in Europe — a Scottish island where sharp mountain ridges disappear into the clouds, waterfalls plunge straight into the ocean and cliffs drop dramatically into the dark blue Atlantic. The landscape feels almost theatrical: vast moorlands, basalt rock formations, castles perched on cliffs and narrow roads winding through green valleys.
This is a land made for lovers of nature and hiking — full of unexpected views, dramatic light and a constant dialogue between sea, wind and stone. The Isle of Skye captivates not only with its terrain but also with its atmosphere — a sense of distance from the world that follows you almost everywhere.
Below you will find the most characteristic landscapes and places that create the wild face of the Isle of Skye.
Scotland comes alive at night! Because of a flight delay and a wrong turn, I found myself admiring the full moon over misty moorlands, ravens, hares, roe deer, majestic stags and other creatures. Pure magic… This is how I arrived at an old Victorian building from the mid-1800s, now a guest house, and in the morning went to see the famous lake.
📍 Loch Ness – the dark lake of Scottish legends and a selfie with Nessie 😉
Loch Ness is one of the most mysterious lakes in Europe — long, narrow and extremely deep, surrounded by steep slopes and castle ruins. The water is dark, almost black, and frequent mists and sudden weather changes only intensify the aura of mystery. For decades it has fuelled imaginations with stories of the mythical monster Nessie, but even without legends the place is deeply impressive — raw, silent and full of melancholic Scottish mood.
I got up early to see the famous lake. We took photos and drone footage, walked along the shore, when suddenly the water began to foam and ripple — we saw a dark shape, like the back of a giant seal… I know it’s hard to take seriously, but we did capture photos and drone footage! If it had been a boat, it would have left a long wake, so maybe it was a huge fish, some strange current, or perhaps Nessie herself 🙂
📍 Inverness area
📍 Eilean Donan Castle – the icon of the Scottish Highlands
On the way to the Isle of Skye, this is a must-stop. Eilean Donan is one of the most recognisable castles in Scotland — a stone fortress on a small island at the meeting point of three sea lochs. Surrounded by water, mountains and often wrapped in mist, it looks like it was taken straight out of a Celtic legend. Here you truly feel the wild spirit of the Highlands.
Isle of Skye
📍 Fairy Pools
📍 Neist Point
📍 Loch Eyre – guest house
📍 The Old Man of Storr
A beautiful, iconic place with sharp rock pinnacles.
📍 Kilt Rock Waterfall
It is also worth seeing Kilt Rock nearby, although it is difficult to photograph because it is more visible from the water. If you have a drone and the wind is calm, you can get epic shots.
📍 Quiraing
You can hike the loop here — I read it takes about 2 hours and is easy, but it took us over 2.5 hours and the return along the cliffs was unsettling… Before climbing up we saw a dead sheep, there was no clear trail, wind and rain were raging, everything was mud… Without our trail app I would probably have run away 😉
📍 Fairy Glen
This place is truly beautiful — you really feel light and joyful, as if in a fairy world…
📍 Portree
A tiny charming town where you can find accommodation in lovely old hotels.
Beyond the Isle of Skye
📍 Glenfinnan Viaduct
Here you can see the Hogwarts Express if you come at the right time and day. This place was made famous by the Harry Potter films.
📍 The Old Ballachulish Hotel
Very atmospheric — you can order their own gin and sit in an old armchair in the lodge. My room was in the attic, reached by creaking stairs, with pigeons walking on the roof — I admit it felt like a scene from a thriller 😉
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Walks through an old quarry, across moorlands and into a magical forest:
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📍 Walk to the “Hill of the Sun” and “The Signal Rock”
📍 Glencoe
The Glencoe area is exceptionally lush and green. In Scotland you can even buy a tiny piece of land (as small as one square foot) and receive a Lady / Lord title with a certificate 🙂
📍 Glen Etive – the “Skyfall” road of James Bond
Glen Etive is one of the most cinematic roads in Scotland, made famous by the Skyfall scene where James Bond drives through endless Scottish valleys. The narrow ribbon of asphalt winds between rugged mountains, peat bogs and streams flowing down from heather-covered hills. With no buildings around, silence and vast open space, it is one of those places where you truly feel the wildness of the Highlands — exactly as in the iconic film frame.
Scotland is simply beautiful…
Malvina Dunder 
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