Isle of Skye Volunteer Adventure
6 DAYS
Trip Info
from$809
from$809
This tour is available in March and October 2023, and March 2024
Immerse yourself in the magic of the Isle of Skye and spend a transformative volunteer holiday on the Sleat Peninsula. This adventure is the perfect balance of sightseeing and volunteering while making a positive impact on Scotland’s unique landscapes and local communities.
We have partnered with the Sleat Community Trust to help transform the forest of Tormore through tree planting, path building, and repair. It’s not all hard toil; after volunteering on the Isle of Skye each morning we will spend the afternoons exploring romantic castles, local whisky distilleries, and natural waterfalls. We even get the chance to learn some Scottish Gaelic and hear about all the myths, legends, and tales that form Scotland’s rich history.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tree planting & trail building
- Fairy Pools
- Isle of Skye
- Sleat Peninsula
- Torabhaig Distillery*
- Eilean Donan Castle*
*Entrance fees not included
The Tormore Forest Project involves activities that require a reasonable level of fitness. All work will take place outdoors, therefore sturdy waterproof footwear, and warm, comfortable clothing including waterproof jacket and trousers will be required.
The morning activity on each day would include one of the following:
- Step building on paths
- Boardwalk construction
- Bridge construction
- Brash & bracken clearing
- Path marking along the Carn Beag Track
- Tree planting in Tormore Forest
- Beach cleans
Some activities might have two groups operating at the same time.
All activities may be affected by the weather. The Beach cleaning will also need to take into account the tidal state.
INCLUSIONS
- Local Scottish Guide
- 5 Nights B&B Accommodation (Single Travellers will be allocated a twin room to share with another member of the group).
- Gaelic language workshop
- Transport in Mercedes Sprinter
EXPLORE MORE
- Eilean Donan Castle
- Torabhaig Distillery
Make Travel Matter Experiences
This tour includes two unique MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences: Our transformative volunteering project with the Sleat Communty Trust and our immersive visit to the Gaelic language college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Click here to find out more about what our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are and how they are chosen.
Carbon Neutral Tour
As of January 1st 2022, this tour will be carbon neutral. To help protect Scotland's nature, wildlife and community, we have developed a five-point Climate Action Plan to reduce our carbon emissions and support the transition towards a low carbon future. You can find out more about our carbon neutral tours here.
Select a date to book!
Available Full Limited Seats
"It was an incredible week and I can't recommend it enough. Our guide Duffy picked us up from Inverness and drove us over to Skye on the first day, stopping to show us the first incredible view of the week. We then visited the Sleat Community Forest on the Sleat Peninsula where we would spend each morning planting trees, widening paths and creating stepping stones with lots of help from Duncan who taught us all we needed. We got to know the local community, with many of them waving at us as we drove past by the end of the week!"
Itinerary
DAY 1: INVERNESS to PORTREE
We embark our journey to the Isle of Skye from Inverness and drive along the world-famous Loch Ness towards the west coast, where mountains give way to vast sea lochs. Crossing the Skye Bridge, we learn about the history and mythology of the Isle of Skye and enjoy the scenic drive down the Sleat Peninsula. We will don our wellies and waterproofs and meet the team who will explain the plan for the coming week – then it’s time to get our hands dirty! After our first day working in the Tormore Community Forest we head to Portree on the Isle of Skye, our home for the next few nights.
DAY 2: PORTREE
After a hearty Scottish breakfast, we drive down past the jagged Cuillin Mountain Range, hearing tales of Clan feuds and warfare, before getting stuck into a morning of tree planting and path repair. After lunch, we head south and take a walk along the magical Fairy Pools, a series of natural waterfalls sitting against the backdrop of the striking Cuillin mountains. A truly spellbinding sight to take in before returning to Portree in the early evening.
DAY 3: PORTREE
Our volunteer holiday resumes with another busy morning in the forest - a lovely boost for the soul! In the afternoon we immerse ourselves in the local culture and learn more about the founding language of Scotland at the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Our visit includes a tour, lecture, and Gaelic tutoring taster session. We’ll learn some basic phrases, introductions, the use of tree names in the Gaelic alphabet.
DAY 4: PORTREE
Our physical effort this morning is balanced with a laid-back afternoon exploring Sleat’s hidden beaches and rocky shorelines. A scenic walk to the southernmost point of Skye passes a stunning white sandy beach with turquoise waters, perfect for a spot of lunch. Continuing to the modern lighthouse we enjoy some fantastic views out to the small isles of Rum, Canna and Eigg. On the way home we’ll stop at some art galleries and local shops – the perfect opportunity to pick up a souvenir of your time on Skye.
DAY 5: PORTREE
Our morning volunteering on the Isle of Skye will be well-rewarded after lunch with a visit to the distillery at Torabhaig, the second ever licenced Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery on the Isle of Skye. You will have the opportunity to take a tour, learn the secrets to the “water of life” and make a toast to all the hard work and positive changes we have made – Slainte! This evening we will have the option of a group meal and sample more of Skye’s bountiful larder.
DAY 6: PORTREE to INVERNESS
We spend our final morning adding the finishing touches to our project before bidding farewell to our new friends on Skye and making the return journey over the Skye Bridge to view the iconic and truly romantic Eilean Donan Castle; used in the filming of Highlander and James Bond, The World is Not Enough. The last part of our adventure winds through the stunning Highland scenery, returning to Inverness in the late afternoon.
EXPLORE MORE
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan is recognised as one of the most iconic images of Scotland all over the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and iconic attractions in the Scottish Highlands.
Torabhaig Distillery
The Distillery at Torabhaig is the second ever licenced Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery on the Isle of Skye. Take a tour and learn Single Malt Scotch Whisky is inextricably linked to its place of origin, perhaps more so than any other product. The water, the land, the climate, all play a role in the character of the whisky. Simply put, you cannot just build a distillery anywhere.
Select a date to book!
Available Full Limited Seats
Departure
Inverness Bus Station
Stance no. 6
Margaret Street
Inverness
Departure Time
Please check-in from 08.15am for 08.30am departure.
Return Time
Tour returns approx 5.30pm Inverness.
Accommodation
3* Bed & Breakfast (B&B) / Guest House
Accommodation and a traditional Scottish cooked breakfast are included on a twin share basis. Single travellers will be allocated a twin room to share with another member of the group.
ACCESSIBILITY & FACILITIES
For more information, see our Accessibility Statement under ‘Essential Info’.