I do recommend it, and have only eaten there the once, for lunch, and it was fantastic. Yes, there is much more to see there - but there are other things in that area (scenery, MacLeod's tables, Skye Silver, Carbost folk museum) that would make a nice afternoon or morning jaunt combined with something else. I recommend it because it was the best meal I'd had in Scotland - and I had many lovely meals!

Trains are a hobby of the hubby, but I bet he can live with a round trip on the Jacobite steam train. My plan did look convoluted. It is good to hear that car rentals are not that difficult. Some of the other posts had me worried. We'll probably spring for a foodie meal or so, but mostly want good, fresh local food. Recommendations?

A few great (and affordable) places we've eaten in in the last year or so:-

<b>Portree, Skye</b>
Cafe Ariba (try the Talisker whisky flavoured lamb if it's on is wonderful): http://cafearriba.co.uk/

Harbour View Seafood Restaurant: http://www.harbourviewskye.co.uk/

<b>Trottenish Peninsula, Skye</b>
Flodigarry Hotel (local mussels out of this world) http://www.flodigarry.co.uk/

<b>Kyle of Lochalsh</b>
Kintail Lodge Hotel (amazing local seafood on the shores of Loch Duart) http://www.kintaillodgehotel.co.uk/

We now have a car reserved for the entire trip and a reservation at Old Pines for two nights. I'm about ready to make reservations for Skye, but I can tell that my husband is longing for Islay whisky and distillery tours. We only have two or three nights, which doesn't look like enough time for both islands. I suspect we'll have to save one for the next. If you had to choose one island to start with, which would you pick-Skye? Islay? Another?

OK - Islay is great but since you only have time for one island, it probably should be Skye. Your husband can visit Talisker. It isn't an Islay distillery, but one distillery is pretty much identical to every other one. So you can see the same distillery process as would happen on Islay.

Then most every pub will have a big selection of single malts so he can try all Islays he wants (as well as from other regions of course)

(OR - you could bag Skye all together and go to Islay instead :D )

Thank you, janisj. I think we'll take your advice and go to Skye first. We'll save Islay for another trip. With two more years of school after this one, we hope to see a lot of the country.

I always choose Islay. But it's horses for courses. I love teh place. And whilst one distillery may be similar to another (and some are very similar indeed), some of the Islay ones have so much distinctiveness that there truly is no substitute. Trust me; I've visited many.

What Islay lacks is the grandeur of Skye. And the bridge (lacking which is a good thing, IMO). But is has sooo much more.

Thank you everyone for the great advice. We picked Skye over Islay, as our son badly wants to visit Islay, and will not be traveling with us this time. Any suggestions for the best time to visit Islay? Might as well start planning. I will report after the trip.