Isle of Skye Volunteer Adventure
6 DAYS
Trip Info
from$809
from$809
This tour is available in October 2023, and March 2024. Later departure dates TBC.
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*
*Optional, pay locally
INCLUSIONS
- Passionate Local 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
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Tormore Forest is a community-owned forest on the beautiful Sleat peninsula of the Isle of Skye; with spellbinding views to the Scottish mainland and small isles. The forest contains the remains of historical settlements that have great potential to be used by the residents and visitors to the island - but the community needs more helping hands to make the forest more accessible.
By helping to create a new fascinating site of interest you support the development of a wonderful local-driven project. Being a part of this will tremendously benefit the local community and natural habitats for years to come.
The Tormore Forest Project involves activities that require a reasonable level of fitness. 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. Beach cleanings will also need to take into account the tidal state.
WHAT TO BRING?
To make the most out of your time on the Isle of Skye and stay comfortable and safe during the volunteering activities, it is essential that you bring with you the following:
- Pair of wellies
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Working gloves
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm clothing
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We pride ourselves in offering an experience that strikes a balance between supporting a recognised Scottish charity and sightseeing on the Isle of Skye. We believe that it gives our passengers an easily accessed but genuine opportunity to explore the destination while being active outdoors, connecting with the island and its community, and make a positive impact for generations to come.
The tour price is substantially lower than our other tours and covers being guided by one of our fantastic local tour guides, a 5-night stay at our very own B&B The Skye Inn, with a full range of freshly cooked breakfast options each morning, as well as a tutoring session at the Gaelic college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – an experience that our passengers loved last year.
The tour is divided into two parts:
- The volunteering activities in Tormore Forest - free of charge: These take place during the morning hours each day. The project is coordinated by the Sleat Community Trust, a recognised local charity that supports the sustainable economic, environmental and social development in the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
- Exploring and sightseeing on Isle of Skye – reflected in tour price: After our morning of volunteering, we have time in the afternoon to experience the richness of Isle of Skye – nature, culture, local cuisine, and all-round island hospitality. The trip is fully guided by a professional local driver guide who has been trained by us to ensure a safe, comfortable, and inclusive journey throughout. The guided exploring and activities form an essential part of the service we offer and is reflected in the tour price.
Like for any of our trips in Scotland, there are basic costs involved in running a guided tour. Some of these include:
- Transport and fuel cost
- Vehicle maintenance
- Insurances
- Staff wages (driver guide, catering, housekeeping, reservations, operations, etc)
- Accommodation
- Heating and electricity
- Food
Your tour includes:
- Passionate Local Guide
- 6 days exploring Isle of Skye on a climate controlled 16-seater Mercedes-Benz mini coach
- 5 nights B&B accommodation at the Deluxe B&B The Skye Inn*
- Full Scottish breakfast**
- Exclusive Gaelic language workshop at the Gaelic school Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
*Single travellers will be allocated a twin room to share with another member of the group
** gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available
The tour offers a balanced split between some physical work in the morning and time to explore the island in the afternoon; therefore, a reasonable degree of physical fitness is 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. Beach cleanings will also need to take into account the tidal state.
The tour departs on the following dates:
October 23rd 2023
March 18th 2024
Come and join us!
This tour departs from Inverness. Please refer to our departure info page for the exact address of your pick up point.
To make the most out of your time on the Isle of Skye and stay comfortable and safe during the volunteering activities, it is essential that you bring with you the following:
- Pair of wellies
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Working gloves
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm clothing
It's always good to bring a change of waterproofs with you.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experiences are our very own, unique and conscious travel experiences that we are committed to including on our tours.
They are authentic, engaging, and aim to have a positive environmental and social impact on Scotland for one generation and the next.
This tour includes two unique MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences: Our transformative volunteering project with the Sleat Community 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.
Predictably unpredictable. The Highlands wouldn’t be so green, and the lochs so magnificent, if it didn’t rain occasionally. Scotland has a worse reputation than it deserves in terms of weather, but you should come prepared for a bit of everything. Wet weather gear, sun cream, t-shirts and jumpers are all recommended.
The fact that this tour operates in March and October means that it's the perfect weather to be outdoors. Plus, there won't be any midges!
A range of cooked and fresh breakfast options are included in this tour and will be provided at your accommodation.
Lunch and dinner are not included in the tour, but you have the option of a discounted dinner that is freshly prepared for your group each day.
We make lunch stops at different places throughout the week that offer you a variety of meal options to buy.
Rooms are on a twin share basis. Solo travellers will be allocated a twin room to share with another member of the group.
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 (pay locally)
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 (pay locally)
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
Departure Point
19 Union St,
Inverness*
IV1 1QA
*Across from the entrance to the Victorian Market
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’.