Walking and cycling can begin as soon as you arrive at The Three Chimneys and The House Over-By with a stroll along the shore to Colbost’s tiny jetty, or along the road as far as the Skye Silver shop. If you are planning to bring your bicycle with you, a short cycle run over the hill to Glendale, or all the way to Galtrigill, is a quick way to restore your pedal power after a long drive. The single-track roads are not busy and with the usual care, are safe to walk and cycle along - or even for a morning jog for those who like an envigorating start to their day. Cycle Hire is available from Portree and Broadford, but not in nearby Dunvegan.

Take to the hills in this surrounding area, using pathways marked on the local Ordnance Survey map you may borrow for the day from reception. We also have a selection of books about walking on Skye, plus our own folder describing a number of walks in this part of the island. Our reception staff can also advise you where to walk or cycle, using their own local knowledge. There are some marvellous quiet, single-track roadways, clifftop paths, hidden glens, woodland ways and coastal stretches to explore, as well as steeper hillside climbs, including MacLeods Tables, the distinctive flat-topped hills nearby. If you are adventurous enough to tackle some of the Cuillin climbs, it is possible to arrange a personal mountain guide for a day, if this is done in advance. The Three Chimneys is half an hour’s drive from Sligachan, from where many of the mountain pathways begin.

Boat trips are another popular activity enjoyed by visitors. These vary from one end of the island to the other. Dunvegan Castle offers a small boat trip to see the seal colony. The Bella Jane boat trips from Elgol into Loch Coruisk are a never-to-be-forgotten experience. The glass-bottomed boat trips from Kyle of Lochalsh give a unique view of underwater life. Adventurous Sea.fari trips leave Armadale Pier in the south. MV Stardust leaves Portree Harbour with its passengers to watch and feed sea eagles, while entirely different scenery can be viewed from a cruise from Staffin Bay in the north. All of these offer a memorable opportunity to spot rare birds of prey, diving gannets, gulls of all kinds, puffins and other seabird colonies on the cliffs; view the mountains and amazing rock formations from the sea; watch whales, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks, otters and seals. There are trips to suit everyone.

A personal tour guide can be arranged for visitors to Skye who would prefer to be driven than to drive themselves. A running commentary describing everywhere en route can add a huge amount of interest, as the guide tells historic tales and relates local and cultural information, as appropriate, en route. Professional guides fluent in different languages are another option.

Water sports and outdoor activities of many kinds can be an exciting element of a visit to the Isle of Skye. Sailing, surfing, wind surfing, sea kayaking, canoeing and scuba diving are all exhilarating activities in the crystal clear waters around the island’s rugged coastline - a truly unique setting with magnificent backdrops, underwater scenery, sandy seashores, rocky outcrops and distant sunsets - all part of the experience. Expeditions and adventures of many kinds can be arranged through a small number of specialist centres for people of all ages and abilities. From abseiling to archery, rock climbing and ridge traverses, beachcombing or fossil-hunting, there are all sorts of things to do in the great outdoors of the Isle of Skye.

A round of golf is possible at Skye’s 9-hole golf course at Sconser. There is another 9-hole course within the grounds of Skeabost Hotel, near Portree. Both are within easy driving distance of The Three Chimneys.

Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy the chance to catch wild brown trout in hidden lochans in the hills, fish straight from the rocks in the open sea, or hope to hook a wild salmon in one of several rivers on the island. Tuition is available, tackle can be hired, ghillies can be arranged.

Pony trekking and horse riding can be arranged at one of a small number of centres within a few miles of Dunvegan.