Isle of Skye Volunteer Adventure

We understand you might be curious about why this tour has a cost when it includes volunteering. This tour is very special to us, combining meaningful support for a respected Scottish charity with the beauty and adventure of sightseeing on the Isle of Skye.

We offer an experience that allows you to immerse yourself in the destination, engage in outdoor activities, and connect with the island and its community. By participating, you’re not only making a positive impact for future generations but also ensuring the sustainability of the tour itself.

The cost helps cover essential expenses such as transport, accommodation, meals, and the guidance of our knowledgeable local guides. This ensures a safe, comfortable, and enriching experience while contributing to the ongoing community projects on the Isle of Skye.

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 and are free of charge. The project is coordinated by the Sleat Community Trust, a 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 one of our passionate Highland Explorer guides 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

If you have any questions about the tour, feel free to reach out to us via email or give us a call!

Your 5-Day Isle of Skye Volunteer Adventure departs from the city centre in Inverness. For more details on your pick-up location, please visit our Departure Info page.

Yes, four nights twin-share bed & breakfast accommodation is included in the tour price. Solo travellers will be allocated to share with another member of the group.

Typically, on this tour you’ll stay at our deluxe B&B in Portree, The Skye Inn. Please note that accommodation may be subject to change.

Find more info on our Accommodation page.

Your accommodation comes with a freshly made breakfast each morning, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. However, lunch, dinner, and snacks are not included in the tour. The Isle of Skye boasts a great range of restaurants and cafes that we highly recommend you try out. This gives you the freedom to explore Scottish local food at your leisure, catering to your preferences and dietary needs.

We typically make a daily stop at Armadale Community Shop*, a small but mighty shop run by Sleat Community Trust. It's a fantastic place to stock up on lunch supplies, snacks, or a hot pie if you’re craving something warm. They were named Sustainability Champion at the Scottish Grocers Awards, and take pride in offering local produce, reducing food waste, and supporting the community through everything they do.

*On occasion, we may stop at an alternative store

Tormore Community Woodland
You’ll spend time in Tormore Forest, where work is led by Trustees from the Sleat Community Trust. The goal is to improve access and biodiversity in the woodland, which has long-term plans to become a welcoming space for both locals and visitors. Sleat is a beautiful part of Skye that doesn’t get as much footfall as the northern parts, so this project helps spread visitor interest more evenly across the island. Progress is tracked in twice-yearly community reports from the Trust that include contributions from our tour groups.

Spending with local businesses
The tour includes regular stops at local spots such as Torabhaig Distillery, Ardvasar Hall, and the Armadale Community Store. The store is run by the Sleat Community Trust and reinvests all income into local projects, staff development, and services like home deliveries for those who can’t get to the shop. Your spend there helps sustain jobs – especially for young people starting out in the workforce – and keeps resources flowing within the community.

Connecting with Gaelic culture
A visit to the Gaelic college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig introduces you to the language, stories, and place names that shape Skye’s identity. Even a basic introduction can deepen your connection to the places you visit, from understanding local signage to recognising the cultural significance of the landscape. Some past guests have even gone on to learn more through the college’s online courses or Gaelic apps like Duolingo.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are conscious travel experiences offered on our tours. They are chosen with great care based on the positive environmental or social impact they have on Scotland's communities and those who experience them.

This tour includes two MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences:

The Sleat Communty Trust Volunteer Experience
We are partnering with the Sleat Community Trust to help transform Tormore Forest and make it more accessible to the local residents and future visitors. The Sleat Community Trust is a recognised Scottish charity supporting sustainable economic, environmental and social development in the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.

Gaelic tutoring session at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Gaelic was spoken in most of Scotland until the 11th century, but a gradual decline in the language means that today, only 1.1% of the population is Gaelic speaking, making it an endangered language. The Gaelic tutoring session at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig offers us a way to support the revitalisation of the Gaelic language and culture. Here's what you can expect during your visit:

• A talk from the Library staff on the cultural and historical context of Gaelic, with the chance to explore some of the Special Collection.

• A guided tour of the College campus, covering the history of Gaelic in Sleat and the role of the College as the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.

• A Gaelic language taster session where you'll:

  • Learn a few basic Gaelic phrases.

  • Discover Gaelic words you may already recognise or that have similarities to English or Scots.

  • Explore key differences between Gaelic and English, including pronunciation, grammar, and orthography, as well as similarities with other European languages.

  • End the session by learning a Gaelic song; sing along whether you’re on the bus or working at Tormore!

Using our Make Travel Matter E-Assessment, travel experiences will be rated against a set of robust criteria, selected from the Global Indicator Framework for the Global Goals, to identify the ways in which they advance the 11 Global Goals that our sustainability strategy prioritises.

The tour offers a good 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.

While all working tools are available on-site, workwear and waterproofs are not provided. 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.

This tour truly shines for solo adventurers! You’ll be surrounded by a welcoming mix of couples, friends, and fellow solo travellers, creating a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people from diverse backgrounds.

Please note: Solo travellers may be paired with another guest for accommodation (twin-share room).

While our coaches don't offer onboard toilets, rest assured that our itineraries include regular comfort stops, allowing frequent access to restroom facilities.

Our guides are unable to assist with wheelchairs or provide physical assistance during boarding or disembarking from the coach. Passengers should be capable of boarding and disembarking independently using the access stairs or with the help of a traveling companion. Foldable wheelchairs can be stored in our onboard luggage storage during travel.

Please note that some stops on our tours may involve rough terrain or only be accessible by steps.

It's important to be aware that your accommodation may have limited accessibility for wheelchair users. More info can be found on our Accessibility page.

Yes! Our routes include stops where you can grab a snack or recharge with a drink. Occasionally, we pause at shops offering local souvenirs as well. For precise details about timing and stops, don't hesitate to inquire with your guide.

Our itinerary (in tab 2, 'Itinerary & Departure') provides a helpful outline of what to expect on the day. We refrain from providing additional details beyond what's outlined there, as factors like weather, traffic, and the preferences of our driver guides may lead to slight deviations. We also believe that part of the excitement comes from the unexpected surprises along the way! Rest assured, your journey through Scotland will be unlike any other.

If you need to cancel your tour, you will need to inform us in writing by sending an email to info@highlandexplorertours.com. You can find our cancellation and refunds policy in section 3 in our Terms and Conditions.

Feel free to visit our general Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common queries, or reach out to us directly via our Contact Us page.