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Things to See & Do on Raasay

Things to Do & Places to See on the Isle of Raasay

You might want to spend all your time on the Isle of Raasay relaxing with a dram or a G&T admiring the magical views, but if you can tear your eyes away, this small but mighty island has a lot to offer.

Discover Raasay’s secret beaches and exciting wildlife, cycle around the island, or head to the outdoor centre for a kayak around the Inner Sound. Whether you are visiting for a day or staying a bit longer, here’s some fun activities (in no particular order):

Dùn Cana/Dun Caan

Dun Caan is the Isle of Raasay’s flat-topped peak that sits like a fort watching over the island as its stories unfold. Dùn means fort/fortress in Gaelic, and you will spot it in many other place names around Scotland.

With endless views overlooking Applecross on the mainland, and out west to the Cuillin on Skye, the Outer Hebrides and beyond, you won’t be disappointed.

There are various routes to reach the summit that is 432m above sea level. If you would like to take your car, there is a small parking area at the bottom of the main path.

Inverarish | Inbhir Arais

Inverarish is the main township on the Isle of Raasay, packed with inviting forest trails, fascinating history, and gorgeous views.

You can visit the Raasay Community Stores (& Post Office) for souvenirs and snacks aplenty, the Raasay Gallery, Raasay Studio, or indeed the ruins of an Iron Age broch, or the impressive remains of Raasay’s iron ore industry.

Calum’s Road & Brochel Castle

Calum’s Road epitomises the character of Raasay. Following the Highland Clearances, and until around the beginning of the 20th Century, many residents of Raasay lived in the north of the island, beyond Brochel Castle.

For years, locals petitioned Highland Council to build a road connecting Arnish in the north to the rest of the island, thus helping prevent further depopulation. Eventually, in the 1960s, Calum MacLeod began digging his own road so that his daughter could visit home more easily while away at school on Skye. He completed the road over the course of a decade with little more than a pick, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow, and you can still see the impressive scale of Calum’s endeavours today.

Brochel Castle

It’s not a holiday unless you visit a castle, is it? Brochel Castle, the seat of the MacLeods of Raasay until around the mid 17th Century, sits at the foot of Calum’s Road on the north-east of the island.

There is ample parking and footpaths that lead around the base of the castle and down to the shore, although the castle itself is now fenced off due to its state of disrepair.

Historical records show evidence of a ‘fair orchard’ and a ‘Chapel’ within the grounds of Brochel Castle, and an ‘opening in the wall from which hot water or stones could be thrown upon an invader’! The castle was allegedly destroyed by the Hanoverians after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, where the Raasay MacLeods supported Bonnie Prince Charlie/ Teàrlach Òg Stiùbhart, who spent two nights hiding out on the island in the aftermath of the battle.

A Tour Around Clachan

From the pier on the Isle of Raasay, you can spot the 19th century farm steading straight ahead and a fork in the road. Turning right from there, you will find the Larch Box selling tasty treats, teas and coffees, followed by the Silver Grasshopper shop, which sits right next to the distillery selling beautiful, locally designed Sterling silver jewellery.

Circuiting to the left of the steading, around the back of Raasay House, you can take in some of the island’s rich history, including the Raasay Walled garden and ruined 11th Century St Moluag’s chapel, a Scottish Missionary and contemporary of St Columba who evangelised the Picts of Scotland in the 6th century. Keep going to reach the Pictish stone and climb up onto Temptation Hill for fine views across the Sound of Raasay towards Skye, and discover Dùn Bhorghadail and Loch na Muilneadh (The Mill Loch) on the way. Follow this up with a visit to Camus Alba (North Bay) to spot seals and otters, and perhaps some tasty dinner at Raasay House Hotel.

Hallaig Walk

This stunningly beautiful walk, with views of the sun setting behind the Cuillin mountains, makes for an unforgettable experience.

Hallaig was Raasay’s largest township before the Highland Clearances when ninety-four families (more than double the population of Raasay today) were cleared from the island. The grassy footpath takes you from Fearns as far as the cairn commemorating Sorley MacLean’s poem, Hallaig, which evokes the poignant history of the Hallaig township once filled with MacLean’s ancestors.

Across the sea, views of Applecross and Torridon dominate the horizon and sea eagles and golden eagles are often spotted overhead. The path is gentle but becomes less defined after Hallaig wood, where you can continue on to explore the ruins of the Hallaig township.

Inver Bay | Bagh an Inbhire

Inver (Inbhir in Gaelic, meaning ‘river mouth’) is a beautiful secluded tranquil bay, accessed by a 30 minute walk through an ancient forest that winds down from the road at Glam on the west coast of the Isle of Raasay. One of Raasay’s best kept secrets, the queen and her family would visit Inver for a picnic every year while the Royal Yacht Britannia lay moored off the coast. With views of Skye’s Trotternish Ridge, Portree bay, and if you’re lucky, some dolphins, whales or porpoises, you will never want to leave.

Seaflower Skye Boat Trips

Our friends at the Seaflower Skye based in Portree offer wonderful boat tours to Raasay and Rona, or evening Prosecco tours around Portree Bay. Hearty seafood lunches and our Raasay spirits are served onboard their longer tours, where you can soak up the beautiful views of Rona harbour while listening to the many species of birds who nest there. A truly special experience.

Isle Of Skye Golf Club

Located only a short distance from the ferry terminal in Sconser, the Isle of Skye Golf Club’s beautiful seaside course looks out seawards towards the Isle of Raasay and inland towards the Red Cuillin on Skye.

The course is open all year and welcome golfers of all ages and abilities.

Isle of Skye

If you eventually manage to run out of things to do on the Isle of Raasay, the island is also the perfect, secluded base from which to explore the neighbouring Isle of Skye. Remember to arrive with a full tank of fuel, or a fully charged electric car because the nearest charge points or filling stations are back in Broadford or Portree on Skye.

Isle of Raasay Distillery Reviews

  • We had a wonderful lunch of small plates and wandered around the store and took in the views before we started the tour and tasting. Emma, our guide, was amazing and did a fantastic job with providing information and making it a fun and interactive experience. The whisky and gin are excellent and it was a fun 1/2 day trip from Isle of Skye.

    05444
  • First of all, it’s a beautiful 20 minute boat ride from the Isle of Skye to the Isle of Raasay. Once on the island, it’s a short 10 minute walk up the hill to the distillery.

    The tasting room/bar is beautiful. The views are gorgeous! We tasted two whiskeys and one gin, which were pretty good. Then we took a half hour tour of the distillery, which was very interesting. All in all, it was an enjoyable day.

    yannis63
  • We came along on a quiet Sunday and were greeted for a quick lunch at their bar before the 2.45pm tour with Helen. Big credits for her as she mentioned starting working at the distillery 2 weeks ago and provided excellent insight on the range of spirits produced at Raasay.
    We are already thinking of coming back and stay overnight to discover more of the Island.
    Thank you for a truely memorable whisky experience.

    Shane S
  • Interesting and staff were friendly and enthusiastic. Lunch was very good as was the whisky. Who knew you should put 3 drops of spring water in to your drink to bring out the flavour.

    SAK59
  • Absolutely lovely tasting tour, great guide. The distillery is fabulous and food and drinks very well priced. Absolutely worth a hop to the island as you can walk to the distillery in 5 minutes from the ferry, however we took the car and made a day out of it. I imagine it’s a great place to come if it’s raining as you can do the tasting + lunch and drinks.

    ALTravelling
  • I loved the tour and the tasting. The guide and other staff were excellent, friendly and knowledgeable and the whiskies and gin were great. Very nice and modern shop, restaurant and tourist rooms with Lovely views over to Skye.

    John P
  • A very enjoyable experience.

    Our guide helped us really get into the nitty gritty of how the distillery works. He was very informative but didn’t complicate things for the novices like myself!

    The tasting was fun and we stayed for lunch after. We shared some small plates which were fantastic and it was rounded off with a cocktail.

    We obviously couldn’t leave without purchasing some of their whisky on the way out the door!

    Would recommend and we’ll definitely be returning!

    GrandTour741737
  • The beautiful island of Raasay was very welcoming. Our host was very talented in telling the stories of the distillery and the island. The tasting was very interesting. Thank you !

    Client 2
  • Beautiful location, super comfortable room, excellent food, sublime drinks. Loved the whole Raasay experience!
    John Bardwell
  • We visited Skye and decided on a last minute ferry ride over to the distillery. We looooved our tour and our time on the isle. We toured at a few other distilleries in Scotland, and Raasay blew the others out of the water. Our guide made it personal, fun, and educational. Not only is the whisky and gin delicious and unique, but the experience was the best! We arrived as strangers, and left as friends and HUGE fans. We appreciate the sustainability practices they use, how they try to keep every step as local as possible, and how they foster and add to the community on the isle of Raasay. Not many distilleries have positive impacts on the people and economy of an area, but Raasay definitely does. It feels like you’re walking into a family distillery, where everyone does their part, is in love with what they do, and the product they make. What a beautiful story Raasay has to tell, and they tell it well. We’re proud and honored to have been welcomed into it.
    Breezy B
  • Perfect was to spend my American husbands 50th with a tour of the distillery and then some tasty. Extremely friendly, knowledgeable staff that went above and beyond to ensure everyone had an amazing experience. The drink at the bar afterwards was like sitting on ur local as such a fun and chatting bar staff. Best whisky tour ever, as my very happy husband said. Also took a bottle home for my dad and he loved it.
    Lisa Kassar

Enjoy 10% off Your Tour Booking

Join our Slàinte Club today. Our members enjoy 10% off distillery tours booked online, £5 off their first online order over £50, and are always the first to find out about new releases and stories from the island.

Your Guide to Visiting the Isle of Raasay

We’ve curated a wide range of blogs, articles and guides all about getting the most out of your visit to the Isle of Raasay. From the best walks, most captivating views and our rich history, you’re guaranteed to find something that suits you.

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Distillery Tours

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Advanced booking recommended.

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Open 7 days a week 10am – 11pm

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Restaurant

Reservations are recommended for both lunch and dinner.

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The Isle of Raasay, an island rooted in centuries of illicit distilling, provides the ingredients for the perfect dram. Our lightly peated Isle of Raasay Single Malt is an expression of this magical place.

Our zesty, smooth and refreshing Isle of Raasay Gin combines an exciting selection of ten Raasay and traditional botanicals, including Raasay juniper, sweet orange peel, rhubarb root and our double distilled spirit.

Enjoy a warm island welcome at our award-winning visitor centre and whisky hotel, Borodale House. Discover our tour options and book today, or better still, wake up in the Isle of Raasay Distillery for an unforgettable experience!