Isle of Skye: fifty shades of green.

We flew to Inverness via Schiphol, a small and therefore practical airport. From there it is about a 2.5-hour drive to Skye. Along the way we stopped at Loch Ness, where you secretly find yourself looking for Nessie after all. Then at Eilean Donan Castle, perhaps one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

Across the bridge you drive onto Skye, where the landscape becomes even greener and wilder. Our first walk was to the Fairy Pools, crystal-clear pools and little waterfalls with the dark mountains in the background. We stayed in Skeabost, further north, a wonderfully quiet spot with a view of the water and sheep as neighbours.

The very next day it was time for one of the (or perhaps the) highlights: the Quiraing hike, a loop of about 7 km, good for 2 to 3 hours of walking. It feels like walking through a film set, with whimsical rocks and deep valleys. The Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock are not to be missed either: a bit of an effort, but rewarded with magnificent panoramas.

Amid all that green there is also a lively heart: Portree, with its colourful houses, fishing boats and cosy restaurants. Here you taste fish that was taken from the sea that very day and – if you like – you can end your day with a good glass of whisky from one of the nearby distilleries.

Other recommendations: the dazzling white Coral Beach, the rugged cliffs and lighthouse of Neist Point (a bit like Iceland, but softer) and Dunvegan Castle with its gardens.

For us it was a short escape: after four days we headed back to Inverness with mud on our hiking boots, salt in our hair and a head full of green. It was just long enough to truly unwind, short enough to fit into a busy life.

You dream it, I arrange it

Is this your kind of escape and would you like a shorter or longer escape to the Isle of Skye and other parts of Scotland mapped out for you? I'm happy to think along with you and create a route entirely made to measure.