Global Adventure - Trek Scotland’s Isle of Skye via the Skye Trail

Itinerary Highlights: This adventure offers intense physical challenge, solitude, and an opportunity to soak in a visual feast of craggy peaks and coastlines, immense wedge-shaped cliff-edged ridges, and abundant marine wildlife as we traverse the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland.

After 2 nights in Fort William for exploring, waiting for any late luggage, going on a day hike, and enjoying a group welcome dinner, we’ll have a private bus transfer to the village of Broadford on the Isle of Skye.  We’ll begin our trek upon arrival, heading from the center of Broadford to the southern coastline and the haunting deserted villages of Suisnish and Boreraig – destroyed during the Highland Clearances – before finishing the day in Torrin.

Day 2 will be dedicated to tackling one of the Cuillin Munros – Blà Bheinn – which lies at the transition between the Red and Black Cuillin.  From the summit, we’ll have uninterrupted views of the Black Cuillin – a massif of 11 Munros and 16 other minor summits – to the west.

Our attention on Day 3 will be directed towards the sea.  Departing from Torrin, we’ll trek around the head of Loch Slapin and then hug the shoreline as we enjoy views of the Sleat peninsula and the Small Isles of Canna, Eigg, Muck, and Rum to the south.  We’ll finish the day by navigating a headland to reach Prince Charlie’s Cave before a final push to Elgol.

Heading out from Elgol, Day 4 begins on a narrow cliffside path as we make our way to the beautiful bay at Camasunary.  We’ll then traverse the dramatic Glen Sligachan, with gorgeous views of the Black Cuillin to our left and the Red Cuillin to our right.  We’ll finish our day in Sligachan, from which our private shuttle will transfer us (and our luggage) to the quaint village of Portree which will serve as our home for the rest of the adventure.

Departing Sligachan on Day 5, we’ll follow a narrow coastal path along the shores of Loch Sligachan and then transition to a quiet road that winds through the fine landscapes and small crofting settlements of The Braes.  From there, we’ll be rewarded with views over the Narrows of Raasay to The Isle of Raasay.  As we approach our destination – Portree – we’ll leave the road for an optional ascent of the stunning, wedge-shaped, cliff-edged Ben Tianavaig.

After a well-deserved rest day, Day 7 is another day focused on the sea.  Heading out of Portree along the shoreline, we’ll enjoy beautiful views of the harbour and then ascend to the clifftops watching over the sea.  We’ll spend the rest of the day traversing the rough, pathless moorland above these dramatic cliffs, with the Isle of Raasay, North Rona, and mainland Scotland viewable in the distance.  We’ll finish our day with views of The Storr, the highest summit on the Trotternish Ridge.

Day 8 is the most challenging, most remote, and most rewarding day of our adventure.  We’ll traverse the Trotternish Ridge, considered by many to be the most spectacular ridge walk in all of the United Kingdom.  14 miles, 4,900’ gain, 10 summits, 1 day.  Miles and miles of cliffs, pinnacles, needles, and ridge walking that can feel almost otherworldly.

We finish our trek on Day 9, making our way past The Quiraing and taking in views of imposing rock formations such as The Prison, The Needle, and The Table.  We then descend past Loch Langaig to the village of Flodigarry and a scenic coastal route to our journey’s end at the cliffs above Rubha Hunish.

After our private shuttle returns us to Portree, we’ll get cleaned up and enjoy a group celebratory dinner.  We’ll have a final night in Portree and then have a private bus transfer to the Fort William train station to return home or continue to other adventures.

A total of 12 days, this adventure includes 2 days for arrivals in Fort William, 9 days of trekking, and 1 day for departing Portree and transferring to the Fort William train station.

This trek is Very Strenuous / Challenging.  During our 9 days of trekking, we’ll cover 91 miles / 18,400’ gain, with a maximum elevation of 3,014’.  Our daily mileage will vary between 7.1 and 16.4 miles per day (with an average of 11.4 miles per day), and our elevation gain will range from 1,100’ to 4,900’ (with an average of 2,300’ per day).  Our route is entirely unmarked, off-trail / primitive boot path, and requires route-finding expertise.  We’ll encounter stream crossings, steep/rocky terrain, sections requiring extended steps up/down while using hands for stability, and areas of moderate exposure.

We’ll have a local mountain guide with us at all times.  We’ll have a private shuttle for luggage transfers, transfers between accommodations and trailheads, and transfers of participants who wish to skip trail segments.

There are options from many places along the route – the very remote Trotternish Ridge being an exception – for trekkers to exit via taxi or our private shuttle if required, allowing sections of the route to be skipped in case of bad weather, unsafe trail conditions, time constraints, or injury/illness/fitness.

Participants will carry their own daypacks containing their 10 essentials as well as the day’s snacks and lunch, while a private shuttle will transfer our luggage (toiletries, spare clothing, future days’ snacks, comfort items, etc.) from village to village.  Participants won’t need to bring or carry tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, fuel, or cookware.

Is this adventure right for you?  You enjoy the challenge of very strenuous, high-mileage/high-gain days.  You accept and embrace challenges such as weather, areas of moderate exposure, and steep/rocky terrain where you need to use your hands for balance.  You feel a sense of accomplishment as you enjoy a hot meal and a cold beverage after a long, hard day.  You’re able to roll with the punches and go with the flow; you accept and embrace the proverbial curve balls that will inevitably be thrown our way.  You’re willing to help/support others, and to put the team first.

Time of Year: We’ll be visiting in May, which is considered by many to be the best time of year to visit the Isle of Skye.  Days are long, temperatures are pleasantly mild, and rainfall is relatively low compared to other times of the year.  In fact, May offers the least cloud cover (clear or partly cloudy skies 45% of the time), the fewest days with rain (10), and the lowest rainfall (2.2”) of the year.  That said, the climate on the Isle of Skye is generally cool, rainy, and cloudy throughout the year.  We must also remember that cold temperatures, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning, and other foul weather can arise at any time.  Critically, we’ll be visiting before the typical start of midge season.

Weather: Expect daytime highs in the 50°F-60°F range, with no tree canopy on our route to protect us from the sun.  We can expect chilly nights in the 35°F-45°F range.  An average May on the Isle of Skye has 10 days with some precipitation and a total of 2.2” of rain.

Lodging:  2 nights in a hotel/B&B in Fort William, followed by 3 nights in a hotel/B&B in Broadford, followed by 6 nights in a hotel/B&B in Portree.  All accommodations will have restrooms and showers.  Our hotels and B&Bs will have double-occupancy private rooms.

Food: While staying in Fort William before our trek, breakfasts are included and our welcome dinner on May 18^th is included.  Participants are responsible for other meals while in Fort William (all meals on May 17^th, lunch on May 18^th).  During our trek, breakfasts are included (and will be supplied daily by our accommodations).  Participants are responsible for all other meals (lunches, snacks, dinners) during our trek.  We’ll be able to purchase lunches at many of our accommodations, as well as in towns before our trek (in Fort William) and during our trek (in Broadford on days 1-3 and Portree on days 4-9).  Dinners can be purchased at restaurants near our accommodations.  After our trek, our celebratory dinner on May 27^th is included and our breakfast on May 28^th is included.  Beverages other than water are not included before, during, or after our trek.

Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, but other special dietary preferences or requirements may be difficult to satisfy without the participant providing at least some of their own food at their own expense.

Provisions: Good shopping options are available both before our trek (in Fort William) and during our trek (in Broadford on days 1-3 and Portree on days 4-9).  Participants may want to arrive in Fort William with all toiletries required for the trek, as well as any special on-trail provisions that they prefer (e.g., favorite drink mixes/electrolytes, coffee flavorings/additives, peanut/almond butter, dehydrated hummus, or other specialty food items) that are unlikely to be available in the region.

Leader’s experience: Colin Chapman (colindchapman@gmail.com) is an active backpacking, snowshoeing, and winter camping instructor and trip leader with the Mountaineers.  Colin has led dozens of overnight backpacking and snowshoeing trips for the Mountaineers, including trips into areas – such as the Enchantments, Wyoming’s Wind River Range, Torres del Paine’s O Circuit, and Switzerland’s Jungfrau region – with extensive off-trail travel, challenging terrain, and adverse weather.  Colin has completed the Wonderland Trail (twice) and John Muir Trail, has Wilderness First Responder, AIARE 1, and AIARE Rescue certifications, and serves on the Nordic Patrol (part of National Ski Patrol) at Mount Rainier National Park.

Participant requirements:  Must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.

This outing is VERY STRENUOUS, much of the route is on RUGGED TERRAIN, and all of the route is either OFF TRAIL or PRIMITIVE BOOT PATH.  Participants must have experience and confidence trekking on steep, rocky terrain including ascents, descents, and traverses of steep scree/talus slopes, boulders, rock slabs, and narrow paths.  Some areas will have moderate exposure, and low-consequence snowfield crossings may be required.  We will find another route or turn around if conditions warrant the use of ice axes.  Steep ascents and descents on boulders and rock slabs will require the ability to take tall, extended steps up/down while using hands for stability.  All while carrying a daypack.

Participants must be in excellent physical condition and demonstrate their ability to do 11.4 miles / 2,300’ gain on multiple consecutive days on rugged terrain with a daypack.  Participants must also have the endurance, experience, willingness, and flexibility to deal with extended periods of significant mileage, substantial elevation gain/loss, challenging terrain, and inclement weather (cold temperatures, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning).  Participants must understand that route adjustments could be required in the event of unanticipated weather, terrain, or participant conditions.

A positive, go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punches attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well in group settings under demanding conditions is required.

Potential participants must read, understand and agree with the leader’s Goals, Expectations, and Style for the trip (link).  If these principles don’t match yours then this trip will not be a good fit for you.  In signing the Trip Agreement, you acknowledge that you understand and accept these principles and agree to support them during the trip.

Participants will be screened based on application responses, conversations with past Mountaineers leaders and other respected colleagues, the leader’s past direct experience with the applicant, and the leader’s impressions from in-depth conversations with the applicant. 

NOTE: Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide!  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe.  You are responsible for your own safety and that of your fellow travelers.  At any time, if weather, tide, terrain, or other conditions become dangerous, we will exit early or find a safer, alternate route.

It is a core philosophy that Mountaineers take care of each other.  As part of this ethic, we strongly encourage all participants before the trip to be up to date on the relevant vaccinations and boosters required for your age group for respiratory viruses including Covid-19, and to take precautions before the trip including avoiding indoor crowds and gatherings the week prior to the trip that carry a risk of bringing illness to the group, and masking during all transport to the adventure.  During the trip we ask every participant to:

• proactively communicate any symptoms of covid or respiratory illness to your trip leader as soon as they appear; mask when with others in the group; and work with the leader to isolate as much as possible
• carry 4 self-tests and test yourself proactively if you begin to experience any symptoms that could indicate a covid infection
• isolate in the case of any positive test or if you exhibit any contagious respiratory virus symptoms, until fever is gone without medication and contagious symptoms have declined significantly.

See our latest Global Adventures Respiratory Illness/Covid Prevention Policy at this link.

Each participant will be required to hold emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation insurance sufficient to get them home in case of an illness or injury during the trek.   We also recommend trip cancellation/interruption insurance to allow you to recover your non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel before or during the trip due to an illness or injury.   (Insurance will be at your own expense.)  Details on travel insurance, what to get and how to get it will be communicated by the trip leader as soon as you join the roster.

Trip Price Detail: $4800.  Price includes all lodging, all breakfasts, welcome dinner in Fort William, celebratory dinner in Portree, 1 local mountain guide throughout the trek, a private shuttle throughout the trek, and private bus transfers from Fort William to the Isle of Skye and from the Isle of Skye to the Fort William train station.  Price does not include transportation between home and Fort William (~$1680), lunches, snacks, and dinners during the trek (~$760), beverages other than water, guide tips (~$400), or emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation insurance (~$75-$350).

Registration: Please complete and submit the application form at the button below, after which the trip leader may get back to you with additional questions.  If you receive the trip leader’s approval to join the roster, please pay the 50% deposit to reserve your place on the roster.  Approval to join the roster will not necessarily be a function of your date of application; it will also reflect your experience and fitness.  A place on the roster can only be held with payment of the deposit.  Registration will close as soon as the roster fills.  The balance of the trip payment will be due in late 2025.  As soon as you have registered, you’ll be asked to also complete online Trip Agreement and Liability Release forms.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel 180 or more days before the May 17th arrival date, you may receive a refund less a $1000 cancellation fee and any other non-refundable expenses incurred up to that time.  And if you cancel less than 180 days before the May 17th arrival date, no refund is available.  NOTE: the cancellation fees above may be waived other than a minimum $100 admin fee if someone can be found to take your place on the trip.

APPLICATION FORM

Arrive in Fort William, Scotland anytime on Sunday May 17^th, 2026.  Depart from Fort William, Scotland the late morning of Thursday May 28^th to return home or continue to other adventures.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation between home and Fort William before and after the adventure.  Frequent bus + train service connects the airport in Glasgow (GLA) to Fort William – travel time of 5 hours – for approximately $90 each way.  Multiple airlines offer daily service between Seattle (SEA) and Glasgow (GLA) – approximately $1500 round-trip.