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.

There is evidence that the Isle of Skye has been inhabited since Mesolithic times. Isle of Skye history, as you can imagine, is therefore rich and varied with inhabitants dating back to the 7th century BC. Through the years the island has been home to many peoples and much activity for such a relatively small place.

Isle of Skye history is, for many, all about the Norse invasions. The island was ruled by the Vikings from the 9th century until the 13th century when the Treaty of Perth ended the wars between the Vikings and the Scots. This treaty ceded control of the island from the Norwegian forces to Scottish rulers. There is not a lot of evidence of this Viking rule on the island today but some clans can trace their descendants back to the Norwegian invaders.

Under initial Scottish rule much of the Isle of Skye history at this point was involved with a variety of clans, including the Clan MacLeod and the Clan MacDonald. These were warring factions and the island saw many disputes between the two families including the Battle of the Spoiling Dyke in the 1570s.

One of the most famous events in Isle of Skye history came in the 1700s during the Jacobite rebellion. The Scottish Prince, Charles Stuart, was rescued from under the noses of opposing Hanoverian soldiers by a local island woman, Flora MacDonald and secreted to safety via the Isle of Skye. This famous escape gave birth to the equally famous Scottish folk song — the Skye Boat Song.

From this point the ruling clans of the island were replaced in island rule by a series of estates. This period of Isle of Skye history can still be seen, however, in the castles and buildings that date back to this time including Dunvegan Castle, Armadale Castle, Knock Castle and Dunscaith Castle.

In the 18th century Isle of Skye history entered a darker phase as famine hit the island. The Highland Clearances that displaced people from the Highlands areas also had an effect on the island. This led to frequent skirmishes with the police and the armed forces and led to a significant dip in the island’s population which can still be seen today. In the early 1800s, for example, the island has over 20,000 inhabitants. By 2001 this number stood at just over 9,000.

People interested in learning more about Isle of Skye history might do well to take a visit to the island. Its population now mainly works in the tourism, agriculture, fishing and whisky distilling areas and this has become a popular holiday destination.

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.