Hike on the Isle of Skye in Scotland

April to September

6 days| 5 nights

Eco-score 4/5

What you will experience

Explore Skye’s most iconic landscapes, from the rugged peaks of the Cuillins to the cliffs of Neist Point and the spectacular scenery of Trotternish.

From the Glencoe Valley to Eilean Donan Castle, enjoy Scotland’s magnificent landscapes from the very first few kilometres of the journey to Skye.

Discover the island’s most beautiful routes with a guide who knows the area well and will take you off the beaten track so you can make the most of each mountain range.

Every evening, experience the warm atmosphere of Scottish villages, from a pub in Portree to dinner at the best spots chosen by your guide, and a night’s stay in Uig after the drive through Trotternish.

Itinerary

1
DAY1/ 6
- Accommodation·Auberge
  Where we'll be spending the night
We'll meet up at 6.30 pm in Edinburgh to get to know our guide and find out more about the itinerary over a lovely meal. If you arrive the day before, why not take the opportunity to explore the "Athens of the North" at your own pace!

2
DAY2/ 6
- Accommodation·Auberge
  Where we'll be spending the night
- D-·340m
  descent
- D+·340m
  Vertical ascent
- Activity time·3 hours’ actual walking time
  Time spent on sporting activities
- Distance·8km
  KM covered
We'll start the day by exploring Edinburgh and its incredible heritage. Depending on how much time we have, we'll head up to Arthur's Seat, a former volcano overlooking the Scottish capital, to enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the city and the coastline.

Later in the morning, we'll collect our car and set off for the Highlands and then the Isle of Skye. This long journey offers a true immersion in Scotland's most iconic landscapes.

In particular, we'll pass through the spectacular Glencoe Valley, the setting for a turbulent history and famous for its strikingly rugged mountains, before stopping off at the majestic Eilean Donan Castle, built on its own little island at the confluence of three lochs and now one of the country's most photographed landmarks.

At the end of the day, we finally reach Skye, where we enjoy our first dinner together before retiring for the night to rest up for the adventures ahead.
3
DAY3/ 6
- Accommodation·Auberge
  Where we'll be spending the night
- D-·1000m
  descent
- D+·1000m
  Vertical ascent
- Distance·16,5km
  KM covered
- Activity time·6.30 hours’ actual walking time
  Time spent on sporting activities
Today, we're setting off to explore the Cuillins, the two iconic mountain ranges in the south of the Isle of Skye. The Black Cuillins are particularly renowned for their steep peaks, which attract mountaineers from all over the world. We'll be tackling two of them (the Red Cuillins and the Black Cuillins), each offering stunning views of the island's landscape and the sea that surrounds it.

After this great warm-up, a short transfer of around 15 minutes will take us to Portree, the island's charming capital, recognisable by its small harbour lined with colourful houses. We'll be staying there for the next two nights before enjoying dinner at one of the best restaurants in the area, carefully selected by your guide.
4
DAY4/ 6
- Accommodation·Auberge
  Where we'll be spending the night
- D-·580m
  descent
- D+·580m
  Vertical ascent
- Activity time·3 hours 45 minutes of actual playing time
  Time spent on sporting activities
- Distance·9km
  KM covered
We'll start the day with a journey of about an hour westwards across the island to Neist Point. We'll set off early to enjoy the cliffs and observe the many seabirds that nest there, particularly the common guillemots. Once there, we'll follow the path leading to the very tip of this rocky headland, with the sea on either side.

In the afternoon, we'll head back to Portree for a second hike: we'll set off to climb Ben Tianavaig, a peak overlooking Portree Bay. From the summit, the view opens out over Portree, the sea and the island of Raasay, directly opposite. We'll then head back down for our final evening in Portree, enjoying a shared dinner at the hostel.
5
DAY5/ 6
- Accommodation·Auberge
  Where we'll be spending the night
- D-·750m
  descent
- D+·750m
  Vertical ascent
- Activity time·5.5 hours’ actual walking time
  Time spent on sporting activities
- Distance·13km
  KM covered
Here comes one of the most beautiful days of the trip. After a short transfer, we begin our walk across the spectacular Trotternish Peninsula, famous for its landscape shaped by massive landslides, which give it an almost surreal quality.

We set off early in the morning from the iconic Old Man of Storr, so as to enjoy this exceptional site in a more peaceful atmosphere. We then follow the long Trotternish ridge, taking in a succession of vertiginous cliffs, hanging valleys and astonishing rock formations.

Throughout this crossing, panoramic views open up on both sides of the island, taking in the sea, cliffs and mountains, in a typically wild Scottish setting. We finish our hike by heading to the village of Uig, where a well-deserved restful evening awaits us. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight stay in Uig.
6
DAY6/ 6
- On the programme·Return journey and a visit to Eilean Donan Castle
  Activity of the day
It's time to leave the Isle of Skye and head back to Edinburgh. Most of the day will be spent travelling, with a journey of around 6½ hours between the island and the Scottish capital. On the way, we'll stop off at Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most famous castles, situated on an islet at the confluence of three lochs.

We'll then continue our journey to Edinburgh, where we'll arrive in the middle of the afternoon. The tour ends here, but you're free to extend your adventure in Scotland: your guide will be happy to recommend some itineraries and top tips for exploring Edinburgh or travelling on to Glasgow.

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The guides who will lead your adventure

Julien

Mountain leader (AMM)

French

English

Julien has had an unusual career: an engineer and doctor of mathematics who became an actor for 15 years, he finally swapped the stage for the trails. Now a qualified mountain guide, he combines a passion for the great outdoors with a love of words, sometimes with an impromptu reading along the way. Based in the Massif Central, he also guides in Scotland, a country he knows well and is particularly fond of.

Find out more about Julien

What's included in the price

Included

Guiding: You will be guided by a qualified mountain guide who knows Scotland inside out and has a particular fondness for it.

Accommodation: You’ll be staying in comfortable hostels every night, in shared rooms (dormitories).

Meals: All meals are included from Day 1 (evening) to Day 6 (morning). In the evenings, you’ll have the choice between meals prepared together as a group (Days 2 and 4) and local restaurants (Days 1, 3 and 5).

Car hire for the various transfers mentioned in the itinerary.

Not included

Transport to the meeting point.

Any personal expenses (snacks, drinks, etc.)

Everything that is not included in "what is included".

What level to expect?

Level 2

Participants must be at least 18 years old

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This trip is for regular hikers who want to explore the finest trails on the Isle of Skye, with the comfort of a hostel every night and a light pack on your back.

You're at the right level if:

You can walk between 8 and 16.5 km a day, with 340 to 1,000 m of ascent
A big day of 16.5 km and 1,000 m of ascent doesn't put you off (day 3, in the Cuillins)
You're happy to hike 4 days in a row (days 2 to 5), averaging 11.5 km and 670 m of ascent a day
You're comfortable carrying a small daypack (water, lunch, warm layers): your suitcase stays in the car
You're drawn to hiking in the heart of Scotland's wild nature
You want varied hikes without carrying all your gear, and a comfortable hostel at the end of each day

Take the level quiz

Getting there

Start · 18h30

Edimburg

End · 11h00

Edimburg

Transport

By train

Want to avoid traffic jams and travel with peace of mind? The train is your ally. You can reach Edinburgh by train (around 10 hours of travel):

Departure station > London St Pancras Intl (Eurostar)
London St Pancras Intl > London King's Cross (5-minute walk)
London King's Cross > Edinburgh Waverley (direct train, around 4.5 hours)

You'll arrive in Edinburgh, the meeting point for your expedition.

By plane

Fly to Edinburgh, with possible stopovers:

Departure airport > Edinburgh Airport

You'll arrive in Edinburgh, the meeting point for your expedition.

How to register

Step 1

Choose your departure date and number of participants

Step 2

Book online by paying a deposit or the full amount directly. It is also possible to book by telephone by calling +32 460 25 61 85 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

If the minimum number of participants is reached, departure is confirmed!
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will give you a full refund.

Departure is confirmed 15 days in advance for adventures lasting more than 4 days. Departure is confirmed 7 days prior for adventures lasting less than 4 days.

Step 3

In the case of a deposit, the remaining amount will be debited from your account before departure.

Your reviews

The opinions of our participants who have placed their trust in us

5.0/ 5 · based on 2 reviews

Ju H.

Très belle expérience avec un super guide.

Denise H.

Guide très agréable, à l écoute des désirs et des aptitudes des participants. Refuge, accueil très sympathique, repas de qualité et très savoureux. Belle experience. Merci

Marie F.

Absolument ravie d’être passée par Wildhartt pour ma première expérience de trek/bivouak ! Notre guide Thomas était top, l’organisation parfaite (matériel, repas, logistique) La création du groupe Whatsapp en amont du départ est un vrai + Hâte de réserver ma prochaine aventure !

Christophe R.

Nous avons participé cet été à cette randonnée itinérante de 5 jours avec des ânes en famille, avec nos deux enfants de 8 et 11 ans, et nous en gardons un très beau souvenir. Un grand merci à notre accompagnateur, Romain, qui a parfaitement géré le séjour du début à la fin, y compris lors des moments plus compliqués. Il est très présent et prend en charge une grande partie des aspects pratiques, ce qui est particulièrement appréciable. Il faut cependant garder à l'esprit qu'il reste tout de même un certain nombre de choses à gérer en tant que participant, notamment lorsqu'on voyage avec des enfants. Le matériel fourni pour les ânes était parfaitement adapté et nous a permis de profiter pleinement de l'expérience. Quant au parcours, il était tout simplement magnifique, avec des paysages variés et superbes. Nous avons particulièrement apprécié le premier bivouac, qui se trouvait dans un cadre splendide, ainsi que la nuit en auberge dont le confort a été très apprécié après deux étapes fatigantes. Concernant les points plus mitigés, nous avons trouvé que le début du parcours était sensiblement plus difficile et technique que ce à quoi nous nous attendions au regard du niveau annoncé pour le séjour. La conduite des ânes demande un temps d'adaptation, et la combinaison de cette découverte avec des étapes de randonnée déjà exigeantes a rendu les deux premiers jours assez sportifs. Heureusement, Romain a su s'adapter à la situation en modifiant intelligemment l'itinéraire afin d'alléger la troisième journée. Cette adaptation nous a permis de récupérer et de profiter pleinement de la suite du séjour. Malgré cette réserve sur le niveau de difficulté du début du parcours, nous recommandons cette expérience pour la qualité de l'encadrement, la beauté des paysages et l'originalité de l'aventure avec les ânes.

Laetitia L.

Une randonnée magnifique, dépaysante, avec des paysages variés à couper le souffle. Grâce à Raphaël, nous avons pu voyager autant dans cet espace magnifique que dans le temps, grâce à ses explications sur la géologie de cet environnement.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do you need to take with you?

Once you've registered, we'll send you a personalised roadbook for your trip, containing a full list of equipment. Don't worry, you'll only need to take the essentials with you: waterproof jacket, hiking trousers, shorts, fleeces, cap, etc.

Will we have to carry our rucksack on the hikes?

Only a small daypack. We travel by car throughout the trip, so your suitcase stays in the vehicle and each morning you set off with a light rucksack holding what you need for the day (water, lunch, waterproof jacket, a warm layer). It's really comfortable: you enjoy the trails without carrying all your gear.

How comfortable is the accommodation?

You'll stay in a comfortable hostel every night, in a dormitory with bunk beds. Blankets and pillows are provided, and each hostel has bathrooms with showers. Here's where we sleep: Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh (night 1), Skye Backpackers (night 2), Portree Hostel for two nights in a row (nights 3 and 4), then a hostel in Uig (night 5).

Are instalment payment options available?

Yes, that's right! At checkout, you can choose the Alma option to pay for your booking in 2x, 3x or 4x. All you have to do is select Alma at checkout and follow the instructions. It's simple, fast and secure.

Can I privatise this expedition for my group?

Yes, all our expeditions can be privatised for a group already formed, on the dates of your choice.

To make your request, go to the expedition that interests you and click on "Privatise the expedition". We'll take care of the rest!

What kind of people usually join Wildhartt expeditions ?

You don’t need to be a top athlete or adventure expert to feel at home. Most Wildhartt participants are between 25 and 60 years old, with a balanced mix of women and men.

Many join solo or in small groups of two or three. They often live in cities and are looking for a meaningful break — some time to reconnect with nature, slow down, and enjoy something real.

They usually have a regular movement practice (hiking, running, yoga...), but not with a competitive mindset. They’re in good shape, but don’t necessarily have technical skills. What brings them together is a shared desire to disconnect, observe, learn, and experience nature in a more grounded, accessible way.

If that speaks to you, you'll feel right at home. The group spirit is kind and open, and the pace adapts to everyone.

What happens if the weather is bad?

At Wildhartt, nature is our playground, rain or shine. Rain, snow or wind: our guides adapt the itinerary, activities and accommodation to guarantee you the best possible experience.
Unless safety is at stake (storm, avalanche, flood...).

In this exceptional case, we can cancel an expedition, at least one week before departure.
If this happens:
→ You can postpone your adventure at no cost,
→ Or receive a full refund.

What does the price of a Wildhartt adventure include?

At Wildhartt, transparency is essential. The price of your expedition reflects a clear breakdown of costs:

30% for our guides, the mainstays of every adventure.
35% for accommodation and meals, essential for your comfort.
10% for equipment and transport, to guarantee safety and fluidity.
24% for organisation and logistics, from first contact to the end of the expedition.
1% for the rewilding of Europe, a concrete commitment to give back to nature what it gives us.

Our priority: to offer you a quality experience, with complete clarity.

Do you have any questions? Contact us.

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