It’s been exactly 10 years since I first visited the Scottish Isle of Skye.

We took the kids camping there for an autumn school holiday (also known as Tattie Holidays). It was the last year we still had four kids under our roof and I was determined to make the most of every family holiday we had together. We explored the Isle of Skye from top to bottom and east to west. We camped near the Cuillin Hills at night and visited the Fairy Pools, Talisker, the Old Man of Storr, and Neist Point Lighthouse on the far western shore of the island. Our favorite hike was the often photographed Quiraing.

Last summer we returned to the Isle of Skye with a group of friends and stayed in some of the many glamping cabins that have popped up on the isle since we lived in Scotland.

I had been warned by folks from Aberdeen that the island is somewhat overrun these days and we would struggle to find parking for our day hikes. It was much busier than I remembered it, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Taido and I gave early wake up calls so we started hiking before the masses on the days where we were headed to the overly instagrammed, honey pot areas. (I’m looking at you, Fairy Pools.)

But also, I spent time researching less popular hikes. In case we were overwhelmed by the crowds, I wanted to have at least one hike where we experienced the Isle of Skye as I remembered it on my first visit: a wild place full of remote hiking trails that you have all to yourself.

I recalled Skye as an island where you can hike for hours and only meet one or two other people on the way.

And I am happy to say that I found a part of Skye that still felt like the place in my memory.

Oronsay.

While part of our group went off to tour the Talisker Whisky Distillery, the rest of us headed to hike this new-to-me walk that crosses a tidal causeway from the small settlement of Ullinish to Oronsay Island.

I had been watching the tide times, because the causeway out to Oronsay is covered in water during high tide, but the stars aligned and we managed to get out there at just the right time.

For our whole week in Scotland, we had a mix of sun, fog, rain and mist each day. Almost all my pictures are full of moody clouds and brightly colored raincoats dotting the trails.

Unsurprisingly, we experienced a lot of the classic Scottish weather on our trip.

I expect fog and rain in Scotland, and indeed, in the UK. I think it’s part of what makes the blue skies feel so special.

We had already been hiking in the rain on this very day, but in the afternoon across the causeway on Oronsay Island, the sky cleared a bit and we had sunshine on our faces as we wandered the short three mile loop to Oronsay and back.

We stripped out of our jackets and down to our t-shirts for what I think was the only time all week.

From the cliff tops on Oronsay, you can see far out southwest into the inner seas of the Scottish Isles.

When we reached the highest point, we sat there in the grass for as long as we dared, just watching the water and the clouds.

But as the tide was on its way in, we soon headed back to cross the causeway while it was it was still uncovered by water.

On the walk back we stopped for a quick dip just off of the pebble causeway, our only swim all week, so I was so glad I jumped at the chance.

When we got back to our car, we drove to meet the rest of the group at Neist Point, where we hiked out to the lighthouse. The sun was long gone by then, but we still enjoyed our third short hike of the day, and we all had hardy appetites after our full day on the Isle of Skye, which was good because we ended the day with the 8-course chef’s choice meal at the Kitchen Table in The Three Chimneys. A Very Special Treat.

But I have to say, even with the gorgeous meal and several more stunning Scotland hikes in the days following, the hidden gem of Oronsay Island ended up being my favorite part of last summer’s trip to Scotland and a little reminder to me to always look for some new treasure at the edges of my trail maps.

You can find this trail on Alltrails if you’re looking to do it yourself. If you find yourself on the Isle of Skye, I highly recommend you check out Oronsay.

The post Oronsay: A Quiet Corner of the Isle of Skye (and my favorite hike + swim day) appeared first on Alison Chino.

How can you not want to go somewhere called The Fairy Pools? Right?

The Fairy Pools are essentially just a series of waterfalls and places where the water has gathered along this stream that runs at the foot of The Black Cuillin Mountains.

You can walk for a long time up the stream and every few feet is another little spot to stop and watch the water run over the rocks and through the golden fields that stretch through the valley.

We took our picnic lunch to the Fairy Pools and climbed down to sit near the water.

We had the most amazing weather while we were on the Isle of Skye in October, so we spent every possible minute outside.

We had been warned that the weather can be dreadful, so we were prepared, but we were treated to nonstop gorgeous golden light instead of grey mists.

Skye actually means clouds or mist in Gaelic so we were super fortunate. We hear that usually the Isle of Skye is true to its name and covered in clouds.

But I think these Fairy Pools would be magical in any weather. I would love to see them on a misty day too.

The kids had loads of fun with this walk. Cole and Ben climbed up the stream from down by the water while the rest of us walked the trail along the side. They both ended up wet but there were no complaints.

Our three nights on the Isle of Skye went by way too fast. Hopefully we’ll be back soon!

The post A Walk to the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye {Scotland} (39/48) appeared first on Alison Chino.

The Quiraing was probably our favorite walk on the Isle of Skye.

Located on the northernmost bit of the Trotternish ridge, the Quiraing on a clear day has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

We did the circuit option which is about 7km and from which you get views of the Scottish mainland and the Outer Hebrides.

Autumn (and winter) light in Scotland is golden all day long if the sun is shining. The sun stays low and the shadows long for the whole day.

We tried to stay in the sun as much as possible because it’s chilly in the shadows.

Since we had already walked to The Storr that morning, the afternoon stretched out a little long for our littlest guy especially when we were climbing over the top of the ridge, but he made it up. Then once we were on the other side, he was running down.

You can tell from Mary Polly’s clothes that even though it was a sunny October day by the sea, we were still bundled up.

We met a few sheep along the way, of course.

If you want to go to The Quiraing Isle of Skye, here’s a more detailed description of the walk, including where to park.

Stay tuned because tomorrow are the Fairy Pools!

The post A Walk to the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye {Scotland} (38/48) appeared first on Alison Chino.

Y’all I can’t believe it but we are winding down #48walks. I still have LOADS of walks to share before Christmas so I’m going to crank them out this week because I am all ready to move on to the next project.

2015 will SO involve walking and I can’t wait to tell you all about that.

BUT FIRST! I need to finish up #48walks.

SO,

Enjoy a couple weeks of this space being packed with walks. I hope it will inspire you to get outside!

The first three will be the GLORIOUS walks we took while camping on the dreamy + magical + all other fairylike cliches Isle of Skye.

We’ve been hearing about Skye since before we ever moved to Scotland.

Oh you must get to Skye. The Western Isles are like a different world from Aberdeenshire.

And you know what, what people say is true.

We arrived in the almost dark and set up our tents in a field across from a small pub + inn.

It was suuuuper cold, but the next morning when we woke up, it was all blue sky and beautiful.

We grabbed coffee and pastries before heading to The Storr, a place we have LONG wanted to see.

When you first start walking up to The Storr (and The Old Man of Storr), the rocks just look like they are all part of one ridge.

The views back over the water and south down the Isle of Skye are, of course, pretty fantabulous.

As you get closer to the ridge, the rocks start to separate and distinguish themselves. Some of them even look like people.

But one really stands out. The Storr.

It’s hard to tell just how big it is from photos, but here’s one of Taido at the base of it and then one looking up the side.

Just beyond The Storr, is this other iconic bit, The Old Man of Storr.

Classic Scotland.

Only with blue sky instead of the foggy photos I usually see of these rocks.

It was a cold, crisp October day, but we were delighted with the sunshine.

We stayed at The Storr for about half an hour before heading back down to have a picnic lunch and then we were off that afternoon to the Quiraing, another walk on the Isle of Skye that I will show you tomorrow.

Until then, you can check out all the other walks from this year so far!

The post A Walk to the Old Man of Storr {Isle of Skye} 37/48 appeared first on Alison Chino.