You can visit Armadale Castle through a wonderful drive along the Sleat peninsula (pronounced: slate). Sleat is occasionally referred to as the garden of Skye, and offers an enjoyable trip with scenic sea views.

The Armadale estate covers 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares). It is traditionally owned by the clan Macdonald or Donald, also referred to as the Lords of Isles, however, it is now held in trust. The Armadale Castle, museum and gardens are an excellent tour package with a very affordable admission price.

Access to the Museum, with a unique display of MacDonald and Skye artifacts is included and make sure to visit the beautiful serene garden to walk about with a wide variety of different plants and trees, all thriving thanks to the warm Gulf Stream.

The Armadale castle itself can be a bit of a disappointment. It is a just small shell inside a relatively modern complex. The long distance photographs make it appear bigger than it really is and a visitor can spend perhaps the entire 5 minutes to take it all in, get bored and then turn around. One needs to keep in mind the history lying in the ruins. It is not open for public and now its sole function is just a ‘folly’ in the garden.

The visitor’s center offers a well organized and informative walkthrough on the importance and history of the MacDonald Clan. Even if you don’t have any family relation to the MacDonald clan, you will still find the entire exhibit captivating and you can spend a good hour or two in it.

You can visit any of the three small shops (one beside the restaurant, one at the entry and one at the museum). The first two are accessible without paying any entrance fees.

Visitors can go to a restaurant called as the Stables, offering a unique atmosphere and very nicely prepared dishes at reasonable prices and an acceptable service standard. To sum it up, you will find nothing wrong in the Stables. Main courses mostly came in at approximately £7-10 and are of excellent quality.

Aros Experience can be found on the southern edge of Portree (Phone: 613649; Viewfield Rd; Open: 9 AM – 5.30 PM). It combines book and gift shop, visitor center, theater and cinema. There is a large parking area in the Center, so drivers may take their car or bus to the front entrance allowing passengers to enter the building quickly, especially during rainy days.

In Aros Experience, you can buy souvenirs and gifts, while listening to the haunting tunes of Gaelic music, you’ll find an interesting range of Skye’s unique gifts. You might even commission your own Skye jewelry during your visit.

The 150-seat restaurant offers daily specials meals written on black boards and a range of snacks. Over the years they have established a reputation for delicious food at affordable prices. The restaurant may provide a catering service for groups however you need to pre-book. The catering service can be performed at any time that suits the group’s schedule. Once booked, they will guarantee that adequate space is reserved for the group in the restaurant. Often groups can order special dishes prior to arriving and the restaurant staffs can make suggestions according to your budget. Alternatively, the visiting group can choose from the current menu which changes each day.

Kids are welcome and they have provided small playing areas, one indoors and during sunny and clear days you can choose out-door playing area. Customers can dine outside, bask under the warm sunlight and revel the scenery of Portree Bay.

The visitor center (adult: £3; child: £2) offers fascinating views through live CCTV images on nearby heron and sea eagle nests. Groups can take advantage of their concession rates for this exhibition. It allows groups to view to the live nest-cam images with the help of RSPB officers. In this center, you can also get a wide-screen view on Skye’s amazing scenery; the aerial shots of Cuillin are worth the wait. The center is a perfect retreat during rainy and foggy days.

In the Isle of Skye Tartan, they offer a Kilt Hire service to cater all kinds of occasions and family photographs. For £40, you will get Kilt, sporran, jacket, shoes, belt & buckle, bowtie, flashes, and Sgian dubh.

The 130th Skye Highland Games was held on Wednesday 8 August 2007 at The Lump, Portree. The Piping Competitions began a day earlier, on Tuesday 7th August. The Sailing Race were held on Saturday 4th August.

The Games are one of the highlights of the Skye calendar and are enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year as well as the local population who come from all corners of the island, and beyond, to witness or to participate in this authentic expression of Highland tradition and culture.

Although the Skye Games in their present form were inaugurated in 1877, the tradition which they represent goes back hundreds of years before that, with clan celebrations that included fiercely-constested feats of strength and endurace, together with piping and other forms of entertainment similar to those that can be enjoyed at the games today.

A day at the Skye Highland Games is guaranteed to live long in your memory.

The Isle of Skye is rich in history and Gaelic culture. Inhabited since the Mesolithic era there are plenty of Isle of Sky attractions to suit visitors of all ages. This is, for example, one of the most beautiful areas of natural beauty in the region. Walkers, climbers and nature lovers alike will enjoy the varied scenery, wild coastline and beautiful beaches.

There are many Isle of Skye attractions that will please history buffs into the bargain. The island has been home to many peoples over the years including the Vikings and Scottish clan leaders. It is therefore full of things to see and do from a historical perspective.

Popular Isle of Skye attractions include:

* Castles — there are many different castles on the island. Some are in ruins whilst others have survived the years relatively intact and give visitors an interesting snapshot of island life through the ages. Notable castles here include Dunvegan Castle, home of the famous MacLeod clan and the ruins of Caisteal Maol and Knock Castle. The ruins of Armadale castle are also home to some impressive gardens and the Museum of the Isles.

* Museums — there are a number of museums that are worth a visit if you are searching for Isle of Skye attractions to suit you. In addition to the Museum of the Isles at Armadale visitors may also enjoy a visit to The Aros Experience near Portree. This museum has an interesting exhibition about the history of the island. Ellishader’s fossil museum is a must for any dinosaur buffs and kids and adults alike will enjoy a trip to Glendale’s Toy Museum.

* Trips — there are many different organised and recommended trips that you may want to take around the island. Isle of Skye attractions here include trips on a Glass Bottomed Boat and Llama trekking around the island. Skye is also famous for its whisky and the Talkisker Whisky Distillery allows visitors to take a tour and learn more about how this famous drink is made.