It's difficult to pinpoint what makes the Isle of Skye the best known of Scotland's islands, but scenic beauty, age-old folklore and spectacular west coast sunsets all have something to do with it. Adding to Skye's enticing charm is its romantic associations with Bonnie Prince Charlie, as the place where he fled in 1746 from a pursuing English army. Today visitors to the 'Misty Isle' can perform a much less rushed escape and successfully shrug off the strains of mainland life on a coach trip, to the tune of the fresh Skye breeze.
Naturally, walking is a popular pastime here and is a fitting manner in which to appreciate the Isle's dramatic volcanic peaks, Cuillins Mountains, valleys, burns, tiny villages and historic Peninsulas. The Island has two main visitor attractions by way of Dunvegan Castle and Aros. The former is Skye's landmark and has been the seat of the Macleod clan Chiefs for 800 years, affording priceless clan heirlooms from the acclaimed Speckled Bagpipes and sacred 'Fairy Flag' to Jacobite relics and magnificent gardens.
- Trace the fleeting footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie and visit Prince Charlie's Cave near Elgol, the very place where the Prince hid before his transfer to France. Don't leave without watching a sunset in Elgol itself, one of the best you'll ever see.