There are no large cities, per se, located on Isle of Skye. Towns and villages are all relatively small in size; however, you will find all basic facilities and amenities available for an extremely enjoyable vacation.

Portree is Skye’s liveliest and largest town, it has a scenic harbor with amazing views of surrounding hills and lined with colorful and brightly painted houses. Its name, Portree, is a Gaelic for King’s Harbor, to commemorate James V, who arrived in 1540 to pacify nearby clans. The current population is approximately 2500 and 40% can speak Gaelic. There are several ways to get to Portree: from the Western Isles through Uig, the Mallaig to Armadale ferry; Skye Bridge; and the (seasonal) Kylerhea ferry. Buses are the only available public transport services. Portree has a few modern and comfortable B&Bs, yet most are bland and often lacking in character. In early August the annual Isle of Skye Highland Games is held.

Broadford (Gaelic: An T-Ath Leathann) is a service community village for nearby communities in Skye. This long and straggling village has a 24-hour gas station, a bank with ATM, a big co-op department store, a tourist office and small hospital. Three miles east of Broadford is the Ashaig airstrip, in May, it is the venue of the annual Skye Music Festival. You will find a lot of B&B around Broadford. The village has been expanding and evolving significantly in the past five years, with a number of new shops opening in this period.

Dunvegan (Gaelic: Dùn Bheagain) is the location of Dunvegan Castle and the seat of the Clan McLeod chief. The town has been expanding and evolving significantly in the past five years, with a number of new shops opening in this period. Dunvegan is now home to four medium sized B&B’s/hotels, a restaurant, a bakery, two general stores, a cobbler, tourist information, two gas stations, a fishing store, a gun shop, a vegetable and fruit ’shack’ and a cake shop. The town also has a recycling facility and other smaller facilities. It sits on the edge of the big ‘Loch Dunvegan’, while The School House is a famous restaurant for delicious dishes, made from freshly caught fished from the loch itself.

Dunvegan Castle is a place that is filled to the brim with mystery and beauty. In 1933, the 27th Chief was the first to invite the public in to enjoy its majestic beauty. The castle was most famous for being a Hebridean stronghold and has not seen a change of ownership for eight centuries. It is a castle that has been impounded by history and historic drama for many years.

The castle’s large, impressive halls hold some very pricey heirlooms and many of them even date back as far as medieval era. The gardens and landscape that surround the castle, matches the stone building with all the grandeur it has. It is nestled between rocky edges on one side and beautiful, bustling plantations on the other. The castle gardens have drawn many botanists and gardeners both near and far.

The gardens also boast of waterfalls and glades and walkway paths to sooth the wandering soul. There is even a formal round garden you can visit when you are there. Most of the land near the castle is moorland that is barren and lacks substance, but the gardens on and around the castle grounds are lush and full of life. Many plants and tree species take root and grow in a thriving atmosphere here around the castle and its grounds and you would swear that the soil has some special, magic qualities to it. There are many different Rhododendron bushes that you will find in the formal garden as well.

It was built on the rocky edge of the sea for protection. The castle consist of six main building parts to it and five of them are open to the public. The one that is not open to the public and is reserved for the owner and family. The castle has seen many years of additional building and restoration that has all added to the castles alluring pull. If you make a visit to Scotland, no trip would be complete without visiting the castle and partaking of its mystical grounds and glens. Once you visit Dunvegan Castle, you will never forget its magical and special presence. You will always remember its structured walls that have seen as many as ten different building periods and the hauntingly beautiful rooms and halls.

The Isle of Skye is found in Scotland in the areas northern Inner Herbides Islands. It is an area that is steeped rich in a history full of rulers and clans. It is a beautiful, calm and enchanting piece of land and is home to roughly 9,000 individuals. Fairies Glen is said to be the headquarters for all fairies and is a place that you should not miss if you are visiting. National Geographic has recently voted the island to be the fourth best island in the world.

The area also had many castles such as MacLeod and Dunvegan and should also be on your agenda for visiting should you come this way. The castles have gorgeous grounds and many gardens that encase the rocky cliff built castle. Fairies are said to protect the castle and it stands protected in where and how it was built. You can easily schedule a boat ride that takes you sightseeing around the island.

There is much for visitors and tourists to do while on their visit to the scenic Isle of Skye. From folk music, which is very much alive and part of this area, to horseback riding and may other things to fit each person who visits. The area and it’s town has been the backdrop for many well known Hollywood films and the area has many pubs for eating and partaking of fine wines, ale’s and spirits of such.

No trip will be complete if you fail to experience what this magical island has to offer. This secretive and intricate lacing of small villages and historical buildings are absolutely fascinating for the visitor who is out for adventure and history. Cullin ridge sloped gently into a sandy white shoreline and will be as unforgettable as it is breathtaking.

The wildlife is remarkable to experience while visiting there as well. Many gift stores and shopping are open for business and the Gaelic culture is very much alive to experience fully. A strong, proud, rebel-like heritage is found in the many sights and individuals that live here. The environment and cultural heritage of the island’s inhabitants have molded and shaped Gaelic life for many centuries here as well.

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.