Isle of Skye & Western Isles Route

There is something almost otherworldly about the Scottish islands, and this route captures that magic through a journey combining Skye with the Outer Hebrides. It’s a trip that requires ferry crossings and careful planning, but the rewards are landscapes and experiences found nowhere else in Britain.

Begin with Skye itself, reached either by the controversial bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh or the more romantic ferry from Mallaig. The island’s eastern Trotternish peninsula delivers the famous Quiraing and Old Man of Storr—geological formations so strange they’ve doubled as alien planets in Hollywood films. The western coast around Dunvegan reveals a gentler Skye, with the famous castle, coral beaches at Claigan, and the possibility of boat trips to see seals and sea eagles.

From Uig, the ferry crosses to the Outer Hebrides—either Harris and Lewis to the north or the Uists to the south. Lewis offers the Standing Stones of Callanish, which predate Stonehenge, while Harris is home to beaches so beautiful they regularly appear in ‘world’s best’ lists despite their subarctic latitude. The turquoise waters of Luskentyre genuinely rival the Caribbean, though the swimming temperatures tell a different story.

Motorhome infrastructure on the islands has improved dramatically, with designated overnight stops and service points now well-established. Single-track roads require patience and courtesy, but traffic volumes remain low outside peak summer weeks. Allow at least a week, book ferries in advance during summer, and embrace the possibility that weather will rearrange your plans. That flexibility is precisely why motorhome travel suits these islands so perfectly.