Breakfast munched, coffee slurped and route planned, I set off to the next stop which was the newly-opened Raasay Distillery.

Still, if you’re of reasonable fitness I guarantee you’ll enjoy the ride and the views across the water to Skye are nothing short of breathtaking. Join a whisky distillery tour and learn our innovative whisky making process and philosophy. As you pass the all-important copper pot stills, you will catch sight of the incredible view across to The Isle of Skye, arguably the best from any Scottish distillery. As an alternative option, Raasay House organizes RIB tours out to Rona with expert guides leading the way which might be preferable to kayaking solo. Raasay House is a much bigger place than you’d expect to find on such a small island and it’s surprisingly luxurious, with a very nice dining room, friendly staff, and delicious food.The Isle of Raasay Distillery welcomes visitors from around the globe with any level of whisky knowledge, from the curious to the connoisseur. Enjoy a guided whisky tasting tour through the distillery and into the tasting room, where you’ll be offered a complementary dram of Isle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky or Isle of Raasay Gin. There are no other points of interest to comment about this part of Raasay, but 3.5 miles past Clachan you’ll find a parking area that allows access to the summit of the island’s highest point at Dun Caan.

The lower coastal road on the west side of the island is relatively flat and offers stunning views of Skye. The only negative I have about cycling on Raasay is that it’s a surprisingly hilly island and unless you’re travelling along the lower coastal road you’ll find yourself puffing away up steep inclines for the majority of the journey.Exploring Calum’s Road: Visit Calum’s Road, a testament to one man’s determination. Calum Macleod built this 1.5-mile road by hand over the course of a decade. Walk along the road and admire the scenery while appreciating the amount of hard work that went into creating this extraordinary strip of tarmac. There’s a narrow 3-mile beach on the southern edge of Raasay that offers a lovely walk with views of Skye, Scalpay, and the Applecross Peninsula. To get to it, take the road south from the ferry terminal past the distillery and follow it around the coastline for 3 miles (keeping the sea on your right-hand side). The start of the beach has a couple of parking spaces on the grass on either side of the road.

If you’re staying for longer, I recommend continuing past Calum’s Road and walking along the footpath that ends at the far north of Raasay near the Taigh Thormoid Dhuibh bothy. The views along this route are spectacular. Tourist InformationIn fact, the landscape is so varied that Raasay has become something of a Mecca for geologists worldwide and it has been said that the island is one of the most geologically diverse on the planet.

That’s a real shame as this is a small island that punches well above its weight when it comes to scenery, and it’s the best place to view the dramatic Cuillin mountains on Skye and the rugged Torridon Hills on the mainland. Just before the start of Calum’s Road lies Brochel Castle, a ruined fort that was built in the late 15th century. Sadly, due to its dilapidated condition it’s not possible to climb onto the ruins, but visitors can instead view the picturesque bay which is home to a number of grey seals. When it comes to accommodation in Scotland, there's a fantastic choice of amazing stays from luxury hotels to glamping getaways. If you’re visiting the Isle of Raasay for an afternoon I suggest either of two itineraries. The first is to walk north and climb Dun Caan, and the second is to cycle to Calum’s Road and Brochel Castle. Tours in French and German are available with prior notice. Our tours are perfectly timed with the ferry, so you can easily plan your journey to and from the island. Book your whisky distillery touronline. Getting to the Isle of RaasayCombine a visit to Raasay House with a tour of Raasay Distillery which is just over 1/3 of a mile away – perfect for sampling a few drams without having to drive. Visiting Tips