'Out of this world' Isle of Skye named UK's most beautiful destination

12 April 2023 , 11:23

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The Isle of Skye in all its glory (Image: Getty Images)

A stunning and rugged Scottish island has been named Britain's most beautiful place.

The Isle of Skye in Scotland has topped a list of eye-catching places compiled by Big Seven Travel based on reader submissions and editorial judgement.

The island, which is the biggest in the Hebrides and one of the most accessible via the road bridge and iconic Glenelg-Skye turntable ferry, is blessed with natural beauty and wildlife.

Golden eagles can be regularly seen wheeling over its rolling hills and dramatic mountains while red deer gallivant through the heather and Atlantic salmon splash about.

'Out of this world' Isle of Skye named UK's most beautiful destination eiqrtiqhiddhprw

Skye is the biggest island in the Hebrides (Getty Images)

Skye's population centres on Portree, a town with about a quarter of the island's 10,000 population that is teeming with traditional Scottish pubs and a beautiful dock.

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Part of the island's charm is its size and, despite its increased popularity, how remote it can feel.

Walk or drive off the main tracks into the Cuillin mountains in the centre of the islands and you'll quickly feel as if the relative hustle and bustle of the more touristy areas are a million miles away.

The island is not too big to take in its most celebrated and beautiful spots in a weekend if you have a car and a tight itinerary.

Among them is Kilt Rock and the dramatic Mealt Waterfall which plunges down 60m into the Sound of Raasay, Sligachan Old Bridge and the supposedly beautifying waters which run beneath it, and the ruined but eye-catching Trumpan Church.

'Out of this world' Isle of Skye named UK's most beautiful destination

Portree's harbour is quite beautiful at sunset (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Arguably the two best known spots on Skye are the Fairy Pools and the Old Man of Storr.

The former are located on the River Brittle and backed by triangular peaked mountains which hang over the enchanting wild swimming spot that is said to be habited by magical creatures.

The Storr is the highest point of the Trotternish Ridge which was created by a massive landslip and rewards those who take on the well maintained path from the car park to the top with views of Raassay, Rona and the Scottish Mainland.

Visitors to the island tend to leave enriched by its natural beauty and wanting to return.

"The scenery here is both beautiful and remote," one person recently wrote on Tripadvisor.

Many make the pilgrimage to the Fairy Pools (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"There is so little evidence of human habitation in vast expanses of mountains and coast line. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes scenic tours."

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Another visitor added: "If there is one description that would justify this place the best, is that it is out of this world. The mountain scenery looks like that out of Lord of the Rings, and is majestically haunting."

Not everyone is a fan of the Isle of Skye however.

Among the complaints which get levelled at the rocky outcrop are the sometimes scary nature of its roads, which are often soaked by Scottish drizzle and require drivers to keep up with seemingly fearless locals.

"It was rather frightening -and I don't frighten all that easily, I'm not exactly a wilting lily," a different, unhappy visitor complained.

"You drive on "roads" that look like little more than country lanes with no houses, or any facilities if there were to be a problem with the car, for instance, and little or no cell service in many areas along these roads."