Talisker Distillery at Carbost, producing the island’s distinctive peaty single malt whisky is a fascinating place to include in your tour of the island. It is the most northern distillery in the Whisky Coast tour www.whiskycoast.co.uk The trip to Carbost could include a drive to Glenbrittle when you feel that you can almost reach out and touch the mountain sides from the car. The beach at Glenbrittle is a great favourite and several of the Cuillin climbs begin near here. Another place to spend an afternoon, perhaps with a picnic basket when the weather is fine, is Talisker Bay, a beautiful stretch of sand with safe swimming.

Fine, black volcanic sand is characteristic of the Isle of Skye. There are smaller sandy beaches near The Three Chimneys at Orbost and in Glendale, where the mouth of the Hamera River flows out to sea. The remains of the Glendale watermill can be seen near here, where crofters once brought their grain, some by sea from as far away as Uist. The Glendale Toy Museum houses a fascinating private collection of toys and is a favourite place to browse for children – and adults – of all ages. There is a small Piping Museum at Borreraig and a curious beehive-shaped memorial to the MacKinnons, the official pipers to the Clan MacLeod.

The ruined village of Galtrigill at the end of the Borreraig road is a poignant reminder of the days of the Highland Clearances when many local people were forced off their land and condemned to tortuous voyages to far-off lands. The deserted village of Lorgill is similar and both places are part of beautiful walks in their respective areas within a short distance of The Three Chimneys. The Skye Black House next door to The Three Chimneys is typical of the thatched stone cottages the people had to abandon in the Highlands and Islands in the 1800s. With its earthen floor and peat fire stack in the middle of it, the smoke could only escape through a hole in the roof. With no windows to shed any more light inside, the peat smoke not only blackened the walls, but made for a murky, dark interior, so giving the blackhouses their name.

The walk to Neist Point Lighthouse has always attracted visitors to this, the most westerly edge of the island. The views are magnificent in every direction, dramatic whatever the weather. A winding path and many steps take walkers all the way to the foot of the cliff where the lighthouse, although unmanned these days, continues to beam its light to ships far out at sea. The rocks are a popular place for dolphin and whale-watching, as well a great spot for mackerel fishing. The cliffs in this part of the Isle of Skye are among the highest in Europe.

A visit to historic Dunvegan Castle, perhaps including a boat trip to see the seals basking on the rocks in Loch Dunvegan is another popular activity for visitors to the Isle of Skye. Driving beyond the castle, with its pretty gardens and wilder woodlands, the road winds its way as far as a freshwater lochan with a beautiful reed bed where there are sometimes swans to be seen. Leaving the car there, you can walk to the remains of one of Skye’s iron-age brochs, a fascinating reminder of how long these islands have been inhabited. The lochan is about halfway to where you can park and walk to the Coral Beaches. There are two bays, the second one wider than the first, with white sandy beaches full of tiny seashells. The sand is actually calcified seaweed, fine and soft. On a warm, sunny day, with the sea clam and blue at your feet, you could be on another continent!

Always expect the unexpected! Driving around the island there are a number of small museums, and historic sites depicting island life, or commemorating events. The Museum of the Isles is at Armadale Castle in Sleat at the south end, often referred to as the Garden of Skye. If reptiles take your fancy, you could visit the Skye Serpentarium at Broadford. The Aros Centre in Portree is also Skye’s theatre, conference centre and cinema facility. As well as having a permanent display of local art on site, there is the Sea Eagle Centre and a large gift shop that stocks Scottish books and music. The An Tuireann Arts Centre on the outskirts of the village has a very good coffee shop and stages various exhibitions throughout the year. There is a wonderful drive from here back to Struan on the west side of the island, from where it is easy to return to Colbost. The ‘hill road’ as it is known locally, has to be taken slowly being narrow and winding, with a deep gorge on one side in part, but it rewards travellers with magnificent views out to sea from high above Loch Bracadale. Golden eagles have been spotted here.

A visit to the peninsula of Waternish can begin at the Fairy Bridge and end at Trumpan Church, both important in the eventful, sometimes gory, history of the Clan MacLeod. More modern pursuits include a sheepskin tannery, a unique hand spun knitwear shop, plus original art and craftwork of various kinds. The oldest inn in Skye is one of the row of fishermen’s cottages that is Stein Village, overlooking Loch Bay. Back on the main road to Portree, the next place always recommended as somewhere special to visit is the working Edinbane Pottery.

Skye has a small brewery too, at Uig, where the car ferry crosses to the Outer Hebrides. The road climbs uphill from Uig and at the top, is signposted for Staffin via The Quiraing, a fantastic, hairpin drive through stunning rock formations unlike anywhere in the UK. The almost aerial views from the top (where the walk along the Trotternish Ridge begins) are stunning; across the sea towards Gairloch, the mountains of Torridon and Applecross on the mainland of Scotland. By Staffin there is a museum of fossils, ammonites and other amazing pre-historic remains of Skye’s very own dinosaur era. On the western side of this peninsula at Kilmuir is the Museum of Island Life, a collection of blackhouses, depicting the working life of islanders in days gone by. Nearby is the monument to Flora MacDonald, Skye’s most famous heroine who assisted Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape his enemies. The road back to Portree, the island’s capital, takes travellers past yet more fascinating geological sites, at Kilt Rock, its Waterfall, the high pinnacle of The Old Man of Storr, Lealt Gorge and the Storr Lochs. Portree is worth exploring too, with its picturesque harbour area, town square and interesting shops.