10 Incredible Photography Locations on the Isle of Skye
…That will leave you speechless
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This enchanting island is located off the rugged west coast of Scotland, and is a haven for nature lovers, adventure enthusiasts, history buffs and photographers alike. The Isle of Skye is truly one of my favorite places in the world, which explains why I keep going back over and over again!
With its dramatic landscapes, misty mountains, scenic coastal cliffs and hidden waterfalls, Skye is such an epic travel destination, especially for photography. In this blog post, I want to take you on a journey to 10 amazing photography locations on the Isle of Skye that will definitely take your breath away!
Getting To & Around the Isle of Skye
To fully experience the island with its gorgeous remote hikes, scenic overlooks and cultural experiences, you’re going to need to rent a car. The most common option is to rent a vehicle from Edinburgh or Glasgow upon arriving in Scotland, and driving up to the isle as a portion of your trip through the highlands.
Crunched for time? Fly into Inverness and rent a car there. It’s only a 2 hour drive to the Isle of Skye from Inverness, versus roughly 4.5 from Glasgow or Edinburgh.
For a car rental: Use RentalCars.com to book your rental from Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness
For the adventurous: rent a Land Rover Defender camper in Inverness
Other Ways to Experience the Island
Book a tour! There are so many fantastic tour options that will allow you to experience the magic of Skye without driving there on your own. Many of these tours leave from the three main hubs listed above: Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.
You can opt for a day tour only, or a multi-day adventure. Here are a few top tour recommendations to fit any preference and timeline:
The Best Photography Locations on the Isle of Skye
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan is one of the most recognizable (and most photographed) castles in Scotland. Located en route to the Isle of Skye, it’s surrounded by mountains on a small island at the meeting point of three sea lochs. This 13th century castle looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale!
There is an admission fee of £11.00 to access the castle. Pro tip: you can capture some epic photos from across the water without going through the visitor center and paying for admission.
Old Man of Storr
The Old Man of Storr is a gorgeous natural rock formation - essentially a massive pinnacle of rocks standing high above the coastline. To reach the actual stones does require a hike, which is roughly 3 miles round trip. There are multiple photo opportunities along the trail, so it’s best not to rush through it!
Since this is a very popular trail, try to hike it leading up to sunrise for less crowds and the best lighting. Keep your camera readily accessible during the entire hike with this backpack strap mount.
Full trail information can be found here.
Kilt Rock
Kilt Rock is a perfect, and very literal, name for the rocky sea cliff that resembles a pleated kilt off the east side of the island. This coastal cliffside is also home to Mealt Falls, a waterfall that dramatically plunges off the side of the landscape and into the ocean below.
You can shoot from the Kilt Rock viewpoint towards the falls, and on many occasions, I’ve seen rainbows arching over the scene. Have your wide angle lens ready (this is my go-to zoom lens for all travel, or an even wider option) for this spot in order to capture the entire falls - it’s a very long drop down to the ocean!
Quiraing
The Quiraing is a sprawling landscape in the northern section of Skye, featuring gorgeous rock formations, cliffs, and grassy slopes. I always feel as though I’ve stepped back into dinosaur times when exploring the Quiraing - it’s wild and remote. Fun fact: this part of Skye is actually called the Jurassic coast for the fossils and dinosaur footprints that have been discovered.
Sunrise is the best time of day to capture the Quiraing, as the light rises up over the ocean beyond the hills.
Pro tip: drive the road into the Quiraing from the west side (Uig side), not the east side. That way, you won’t have to drive up the narrow, winding section of road with (potentially) head-on traffic.
Neist Point Lighthouse
Neist Point Lighthouse is located at the most westerly tip of Skye, perched on a rugged cliffside overlooking the ocean. For the most iconic view of the lighthouse and cliffs from a distance, you’ll need to walk the path heading northwest from the parking lot. This is also the perfect place to capture unbelievable sunsets and dramatic skies, when the weather cooperates!
Fairy Glen
Tucked away into the northern tip of Skye, the Fairy Glen is a super enchanting location featuring moss-covered hills, twisting trees and tiny lochs that look like they’re straight out of a storybook.
Personally, I love capturing the Fairy Glen at sunset as the sky turns various shades of pink and orange, casting a warm glow over this otherwise vibrant green setting. The 24-70mm lens is perfect for capturing all of the magic in this area.
Sligachan
Sligachan is one of the very best locations to capture the panoramic views of the Cuillin Mountains. It’s also extremely easy to access, being right off the main highway on the east coast of the island.
Make sure to venture out to the iconic Sligachan Old Bridge for a photo op! From here, the views over the Cuillins with the river and stone bridge make for a super enchanting setting.
Fairy Pools
Nestled in the Cuillin Mountains, these crystal-clear pools and waterfalls are actually named for their mythical origins (of which the stories vary). You will need to take a short hike to reach the Fairy Pools, but recent improvements to the trail - mainly adding foot bridges over large stream crossings - make it a super easy journey.
The hike will take you through some of the most stunning, remote countryside on Skye with panoramic views of the moody Cuillins. Photography at Fairy Pools, especially during sunset, is beyond magical.
This area is prone to even moodier weather than the rest of the isle, so it’s a good idea to bring a waterproof camera cover or keep your gear stored in a weather-resistant gear bag.
Dunvegan Castle
For the history lovers - Dunvegan Castle is the only castle in the Scottish Highlands to have been continuously occupied by the same family. For 800 years! The castle and its gardens provide a super charming and quintessentially Scottish backdrop for a photo op, in stark contrast to the rest of Skye’s remote, rugged and sprawling landscape.
Portree
Portree is a charming little town (and the capital of Skye) with brightly colorful buildings, boats moored in the scenic harbor, and plenty of photo opportunities. From here, you can always opt to take a boat trip and capture epic views of Skye's coastline.
Pro tip: one of the best viewpoints of the town is looking straight across the harbor, over to the most colorful street along the water. Click here for the exact spot on Google Maps.
While you’re in town, don’t forget to grab a coffee at Birch, some local gifts from ÒR Skye, and definitely a fresh seafood meal. The last time I visited Skye, we ate at Cuchullin Restaurant and their fresh scallops dish was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Afterwards, pop into a pub if you have some spare time!
Other Isle of Skye Photography Locations
Coral Beach
Talisker Bay
Lealt Falls
Dunscaith Castle ruins
Duntulm Castle ruins
Loch Coruisk via Misty Isle Boat Trips
The Brother's Point hike
Rubha Hunish hike
Recommended Camera Gear:
Isle of Skye is a paradise for photographers, offering a super diverse range of scenery - making it a must-visit destination for anyone who appreciates stunning landscapes.
Scotland as a whole, however, is notorious for having wildly unpredictable weather. That being said, I have personally experienced a ton of gorgeous weather while visiting! It’s obviously luck of the draw, so come prepared for all types of weather.
In this list, I’m recommending my go-to travel camera equipment in addition to some weather-specific accessories that you should have in your pack:
Canon R6 - my main camera body
WANDRD Prvke camera bag, which is weather resistant! (lite or 31L bag, depending on gear)
Peak Design Capture Camera Clip for attaching camera to hiking daypack strap
Tiffen UV Protection Filters for all lenses
Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD to back up all images
Other Isle of Skye Packing Essentials:
It's truly impossible to pick just ten favorite locations on this gorgeous island, so don’t stop after these ten! There is so much to explore.
However, these ten incredible photography locations are the perfect starting point for your first visit to the Isle of Skye, and are 100% guaranteed to take your breath away. Every time I visit, it feels like a dream all over again.
So grab your cameras, pack your bags, and venture out to the Isle of Skye for an unforgettable travel photography experience. Hope to see you there!
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