Is a Day Trip from Inverness to Isle of Skye Worth It?

A common mistake people make when planning their first trip to Isle of Skye is booking a day trip from Inverness.

Sure, maybe you are limited on time, maybe you just want to see the famous isle and then continue on your way.

But if you’re wanting to do it right the first time, you’ll definitely need more time.

Wondering just how much time do you need in Skye? Well, more than one day!

I’ve gotten to travel to Isle of Skye twice — once on a 2-day Isle of Skye tour and once on a 4-day self-driven vacation.

In this post I’m going to breakdown the pros and cons of a 1 day vs 2 day trip to Isle of Skye from Inverness.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a black coat, stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast, green, hilly landscape with winding paths and distant mountains under a cloudy sky. — Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye

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Should You Do a Day Trip to Isle of Skye? Is It Worth It?

I would say no. It’s not worth it.

Did I not like Isle of Skye? I’m NOT saying that visiting the Isle of Skye isn’t worth it because it ABSOLUTELY IS. I’m saying that trying to do and see Isle of Skye, departing from Inverness, in only ONE day is not worth it — because it’s simply not enough time to see it properly!

Do I not like group tours? I’m NOT saying that group tours are not worth it. I actually love group tours. I think they are a great way to get to know a new country and be guided by a local who can impart their knowledge to you. And honestly, it’s intimidating to try to drive yourself on the small Scottish country roads (especially if you’re not used to driving on the left). I’m very pro group tours.

author, a young woman, near the fairy pools in isle of skye — Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

A person in a black coat and hood stands on a gravel path next to a small stream, with grassy hills and mountains in the background under a cloudy sky. — Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

Well why isn’t it worth it then?

One day is not enough time. The issue with a group day trip to the Isle of Skye from Inverness is that you’ll spend most of the day on a bus, driving past things that you have no time to visit.

It takes 3 hours to drive to Isle of Skye from Inverness, EACH WAY. That’s 6 hours of driving, nearly half the day, GONE.

I know that not everyone has the time to spend 2-3 days in the Isle of Skye.

Even my first 2-day tour wasn’t quite enough for me. I did a lot, but I still returned to the Isle of Skye a few years later and spent even more time there — 4 days!

How Did My First 2-Day Tour of Isle of Skye Go?

Read my full, honest review of it here:

My Experience on the 2-Day Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness (Honest Review)

A person in a black coat crouches on rocks beside a flowing river, near an old stone bridge with three arches under a cloudy sky. — Sligachan Bridge, Isle of Skye

So, How Long of a Tour to Isle of Skye from Inverness?

Answer: 2 Days From Inverness

If you’re staying in and departing from Inverness, please do at least a 2-day tour to the Isle of Skye.

I personally feel like the one-day tour from Inverness does not see enough of the Isle of Skye.

Make the time to join the two-day tour.

View of Caisteal Maol and the water in Scotland — Caisteal Maol

Our tour guide and fellow tour mates taking some photos in the Scottish Highlands — Our Timberbush driver guide (Marita, left) and tour group in the Scottish Highlands

1 Day vs 2 Day Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness

Group Size

2 Day Tour: Smaller bus and less people. On the 2-day Isle of Skye tour from Inverness, the bus is a small 16-person van, and we only had 6 people on our tour.

1 Day Tour: Larger bus and lots of people. On the other hand, the 1-day Isle of Skye tour from Inverness had a huge bus (probably 48+ people) and was much more crowded.

Time

2 Day Tour: More time to see more places. The Isle of Skye is about 100 miles from Inverness, which is about a 3-hour drive. With 2 days, you can see more on your way to Portree, and then head back the next day after a morning in the Isle of Skye.

1 Day Tour: Less time spent outside the bus. The one-day tour barely reaches the Isle of Skye before having to turn back to Inverness.

Activities

2 Day Tour: Time for at least five main stops. You’ll see all of this:

Dunvegan Castle (2 hours, lunch stop)
Hector’s Highland Coos
Skyeskyns in Waternish
The Quiraing (45 minutes)
Old Man of Storr
Lealt Falls
Kilt Rock
Portree (overnight stay)
Fairy Pools (2 hours)
Sligachan
Manuela’s Wee Bakery
Eilean Donan Castle (with time to go INSIDE the castle)

1 Day Tour: Only time for one main stop. You’ll have lunch in Portree, and can choose to either go inside Eilean Donan or walk the Fairy Pools (depending on the tour you take) but all the other stops will be short, photo stops (drive bys, essentially).

A winding, rocky path leads through green and brown moorland towards dramatic, rugged hills under a cloudy sky. Two people walk in the distance, and a small sign stands beside the path. — The Quiraing, Isle of Skye

A woman walking on a path in a valley. — The Quiraing, Isle of Skye

What Isle of Skye Tour Did I Take?

My mom and I were part of the first group to experience Timberbush Tours’ brand-new, 2-day tour departing from Inverness, Isle of Skye, the Fairy Pools, and Highland Castles.

It had nearly everything we wanted to do and see on the Isle of Skye, all compacted into two days, all guided by a local driver.

The Timberbush group tour was, in short, incredible.

Read my full, honest review of it here: My Experience on the 2-Day Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness (Honest Review)

A woman in a black coat stands by a metal fence, looking at a Highland cow with long horns in a muddy, grassy enclosure on a rural farm. Hilly terrain and metal gates are visible in the background. — Hector’s Highland Coos, Isle of Skye

Which Isle of Skye Tour Should You Take?

I researched a lot of different tour companies when looking for the perfect tour to the Isle of Skye.

And the 2-day tour I took is honestly the best option from Inverness.

2 Day Tour From Inverness:

Timberbush Tours’ 2-Day Isle of Skye, the Fairy Pools, and Highland Castles Tour (the one I took)

1-Day Tour From Portree:

If you can only handle one day in a group tour, consider traveling and staying overnight in Portree, and taking a 1-day tour departing directly from the Isle of Skye:

Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools Day Tour

Author and author's mom on the bridge leading up to Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland — Eilean Donan Castle

A large stone castle with multiple towers and turrets stands on a grassy patch of land by the water, under a cloudy sky. — Eilean Donan Castle

Is a Group Trip Right for You?

There are many group tours to the Isle of Skye as it is a popular destination in the Scottish Highlands.

You may be wondering which would be the better experience — renting a car and exploring Isle of Skye on your own? or joining a group tour?

Reasons to Join a Group Tour

We opted to join a group tour for a few reasons:

Not used to driving on the left side. Personally, we are from the United States and used to driving on the right side of the road. We have yet to try driving on the left and just weren’t comfortable testing it out on our vacation.
Group tours give you a local’s perspective. We love hearing stories from local guides, and we feel like we learn so much on group tours.
Local guides know the roads better. The Isle of Skye is full of one-lane roads, some dirt, some gravel. Our driver guide navigated them like an expert. Much better than we could’ve done.

A narrow rural road winds through grassy hills under a partly cloudy sky, with sheep grazing on either side of the road and distant mountains in the background. — Isle of Skye

Downsides of Joining a Group Tour — and How to Overcome Them

Of course, there are downsides to joining a group tour, the main one being:

You don’t get to pick where you go or how long you stay somewhere. This is why I’d recommend researching several group tours and thoroughly reading through each itinerary so you know what you’re getting. Be sure that the tour is going to the places you want to see and staying long enough to experience it. If in doubt, email the company, so you won’t be disappointed when you show up.

Some group tours are just too crowded. The worst thing is getting stuck on a group tour with 50 people or more. So I’d recommend ensuring that the tours are small groups (less than 16 people). Many such tours exist, so be sure you’re booking the right one.

Tips for getting a less-crowded tour:

Book tours during off-season. We visited in April, the start of the tourist season, a shoulder month, and we never had a group tour with more than eight people on board.
Book multi-day tours. These tend to have less people, as well.

Group tours aren’t for everyone, but if you’re considering it, and you’ve landed on this post, I hope I can help you decide one way or the other.

Where to Stay in Portree

When booking your overnight group tour, you can often decide if you’d like to book your own accommodations or have the tour company book them for you. You typically save some money by booking your own.

Your hotel should be within a certain radius of central Portree, so the bus can easily pick you up and drop you off.

Recommended Hotels in Portree:

The famous colorful row of houses at Portree on the Isle of Skye — Portree

Where I Stayed: Cuillin Hills Hotel

I stayed at Cuillin Hills Hotel in Portree (which was within the radius for pick-up service), and I can’t say enough about how amazing my stay was.

It’s a beautiful hotel with outstanding customer service. It’s a bit of a splurge to stay here, but it’s worth it.

I had dinner and breakfast at Cuillin Hills Hotel, and both meals were incredible. Both times, we were lucky to get seated right in front of the window looking out to the bay. It was an incredible view of the famous colorful row of houses in Portree.

Dinner at Cuillin Hills Hotel: Dinner is exclusively for hotel guests 6:30-8 p.m., so if you’re a guest, you’re almost guaranteed a table during those times, but you do need to book in advance. Note that there’s a regular dinner menu and a separate vegetarian/vegan menu that you have to request.

Breakfast at Cuillin Hills Hotel: Breakfast is exclusive for guests and comes free with your stay, but be sure to wake up early to be there when it opens so you can get the best table (in front of the window). No booking is required. See the breakfast menu.

Front of Cuillin Hills Hotel, on the Isle of Skye — Cuillin Hills Hotel

Breakfast table near a window at Cuillin Hills Hotel, on the Isle of Skye — Cuillin Hills Hotel

What to Pack for a Trip to the Isle of Skye

Warm, waterproof wear

If you’re visiting the Scottish Highlands during its cold and rainy season (almost every month of the year besides a few weeks in summer), you should definitely bring a warm waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots.

This waterproof jacket and these waterproof boots I took with me to Scotland helped me explore no matter the weather. I even hiked to the Fairy Pools in near-hurricane-level winds in this jacket! Be prepared for rainy weather, and dress for it, so you don’t miss out.
Also consider bringing fleece-lined leggings — I loved this pair I packed!

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.