Isle of Skye - Tour from Portree for Cruise Ships

What's included in the price?

Adult £169, Child £129, includes pick up and drop off at the port of Portree  near The Pink House - we get you back around 1 hour prior to ship leaving. Includes entry to Dunvegan castle and gardens  

Tour timings

Depart at 9.30 or 10.00 if your ship docks later. Please meet your guide around 9.15.  Tour returns at least 1 hour before ship departure. The tour lasts from 6.5 hours but can be shortened to accommodate ship departure times. It can also leave later if your ship docks after 9.  We will have you back in plenty of time for your ship's departure.  Please do not be concerned as we will have you back on the ship before it sails.

For our cancellation policy see FAQs https://www.thistleexcursions.co.uk/FAQs

Modern Transportation

In an 8 seater minivan with driver-guide  

Where does the tour go? 
 

The Trotternish Peninsula

The Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye is often called the island’s geological wonderland — a dramatic sweep of cliffs, pinnacles, landslips, and coastal vistas that feel almost otherworldly. It’s the northernmost peninsula of Skye and a must-see for anyone visiting the island. Here are its standout wonders:

🌄 The Old Man of Storr

Perhaps the most iconic image of Skye: a jagged rock pinnacle rising out of sweeping green slopes.

Formed by an ancient landslip, it towers above the Sound of Raasay and is especially stunning at sunrise, when the rocks glow gold against the sea.

A relatively short but steep hike leads you right up to the base.

🏔 The Quiraing

A surreal landscape of dramatic cliffs, pinnacles, and hidden plateaus created by one of the largest landslips in Britain.

The Quiraing is still moving today, slowly shifting a few centimetres each year.

Famous features include The Needle (a tall spike), The Table (a secret plateau), and The Prison (a rocky peak resembling a fortress).

Walking here feels like stepping into a fantasy film set — and in fact, it often is.

Flora MacDonald's grave and nearby Black Houses at Kilmuir near Uig

•    She died in 1790 at Kingsburgh, Skye and was buried in the graveyard beside the old parish church at Kilmuir.  

    •    The cemetery is on the Trotternish peninsula, northwest Skye, near the Skye Museum of Island Life, just off the A855.  

    •    Her grave is marked by a large granite Celtic cross memorial (about 28 ft high) erected in 1880 after an earlier monument was destroyed.  

    •    She’s remembered there as the woman who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after Culloden, hence the inscription calling her the “Preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart.”  

    •    The burial ground sits on the site of a historic parish church and was traditionally used by MacDonald clan families.  

What they are?

Traditional Highland/Hebridean dwellings known as “black houses” (Gaelic: taighean dubha).

Built from thick stone walls, packed with earth and roofed with thatch weighted by ropes and stones.

Low profile to withstand Atlantic winds.

Why “black” houses?

Inside there was usually no chimney — peat smoke from the central fire filtered through the thatch.

Over time this coated the interior timbers and roof in soot → giving the “black” name.

How people lived

Humans and animals often shared the structure (separated inside) — practical for warmth and survival.

Earthen floors, box beds, very simple crofting life centred around peat fire, fishing, and subsistence farming.

They were still in use in parts of the Hebrides into the early 20th century — not medieval relics, which surprises visitors.

🌊 Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls 

Towering basalt cliffs striped like a pleated kilt plunge sheer into the sea.

From the viewpoint, you also see Mealt Falls, a waterfall that drops 60 metres straight into the ocean below — a rare sight in Scotland.

On a windy day, the water can be blown back upwards, creating a misty spray.

🏞 Lealt Gorge & Waterfall

A dramatic gorge with tumbling cascades and panoramic views over the coast.

The viewpoint looks down on the old Diatomite works, once used to extract silica from local lochs.

🐉 Dunvegan Castle and Gardens

Includes entry fee.  The windswept ruins of a once-powerful MacLeod clan stronghold with many fairy stories  

Perched precariously on a cliff edge, it commands spectacular sea views across to the Outer Hebrides.

Local tales speak of hauntings and tragic histories.

🌋 Trotternish Ridge

A 30-kilometre ridge of cliffs and escarpments formed by massive landslips.

It runs almost the full length of the peninsula and dominates the skyline.

From many points, you’ll see strange rock formations shaped by ancient volcanic activity and erosion.

🐬 Wildlife & Seascapes

The coastal waters around Trotternish are rich with seabirds, dolphins, and sometimes even whales.

The cliffs provide nesting grounds for fulmars, kittiwakes, and other seabirds. 

Portree - capital of Skye

Portree is the main town on the Isle of Skye, nestled around a picturesque harbour with colourful buildings and dramatic cliffs. It serves as the island’s cultural and economic hub, offering a variety of shops, restaurants, and accommodations. Surrounded by rugged hills and coastal scenery, Portree is a popular base for exploring Skye’s natural wonders. The town retains a charming, small-town feel while providing essential services for visitors and locals alike.

Original fairypools and bridge of Sligachan

The Fairy Pools are a series of crystal-clear pools on the Isle of Skye, located at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains near Glenbrittle. Fed by the River Brittle, hear the folklore surround these magical waters  

Talisker distillery (tasting if you wish)

Talisker Distillery sits on the shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye.

Founded in 1830 by brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill.

It’s the oldest working distillery on Skye and for many years the island’s only one.

Now part of the global drinks company Diageo, but still produces whisky using traditional methods.

The Whisky

Produces a single malt Scotch whisky known for its distinctive coastal character.

Famous tasting notes:👉 smoky peat👉 sea-salt / maritime influence👉 peppery finish (often described as a “chilli-catch”)

The flavour reflects the island environment — sea air, water source, and peat.