Skye Trail Food Guide: Resupply, Cooking & Pub Stops
What to eat on the Skye Trail — wild camp cooking, Portree resupply, Sligachan pub lunches and food budget for 5–6 days on Skye.
Hiked by Lee
Self-guided
Last verified
On the Skye Trail you carry and cook most meals — but Portree pubs, Sligachan hotel lunches and Elgol campsite stops are morale-saving highlights. This guide covers resupply towns, wild camp cooking and food budget.
Also read: Cost guide · Itinerary · Complete Guide
How eating works
| Meal | Typical source on Skye |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Cook at camp or hostel / B&B |
| Lunch | Trail snacks + packed food |
| Dinner | Dehydrated camp meal OR pub / hostel town |
| Celebration | Fish & chips, whisky, beer |
No half-board huts — you're self-catering unless in town.
Resupply points
| Location | Day (Lee) | What to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Inverness | 0 | Last big shop if needed |
| Portree | 1 arrival / Day 3 return | Supermarket, gear shop, pubs |
| Sligachan | 4 | Hotel lunch, beers, energy drinks |
| Elgol | 5 | Campsite café — hot food recharge |
| Broadford | 5 finish | Fish & chips, hostel recovery |
Portree is the main stock-up hub — plan a proper shop on Day 3 if you started light.
Wild camp cooking
Kit: stove, pot, spork, lighter, small wash kit
Meals that work:
- Dehydrated trekking meals
- Pasta + sauce pouches
- Oats for breakfasts
- Trail mix, bars, chocolate
Lee's reality:
- Day 4 storm — skipped hot dinner, snacks in tent
- Day 2 ridge camp — quick hot drink + bite before wind sleep
- Too exhausted some nights for full cook — always carry snacks
Pub & hostel food highlights
| Stop | What Lee ate |
|---|---|
| Flodigarry hotel | Beer + whisky end of Day 1 |
| Portree | Pizza, beer, whisky sliders (Day 3 recovery) |
| Sligachan Hotel | Hearty lunch, beers, energy drinks (Day 4) |
| Broadford | Fish & chips celebration (Day 5) |
Budget £10–20 per pub meal — worth it after 27 km days.
Water on the trail
- Fill at hostels / campsites when you can
- Day 2 ridge — Lee ran low; long dry section
- Carry 2–3 L capacity on exposed days
- Streams in hills — treat if unsure; prefer known taps
Hot days underestimate water at your peril.
Emergency food rule
Always carry backup calories — bars, nuts, something sugary.
Skye doesn't care about your meal plan when you're exhausted in fog.
Daily food budget
| Style | £/day (approx.) |
|---|---|
| All self-cook | £8–12 |
| Mixed (Lee) | £12–20 |
| Pub every meal | £25–35 |
Week total: £40–60 self-cook · £80–120 mixed · £150+ comfort
See cost guide.
Food mistakes to avoid
- Under-packing snacks for 27 km ridge day
- No stove fuel — buy canister in Portree
- Skipping Portree resupply before long southern stages
- Cooking in midge swarm — eat inside tent or move on
- No hot food plan after storm nights — morale matters
Sample day (Day 4)
| Time | Food |
|---|---|
| Morning | Hostel / quick oats |
| Midday | Sligachan pub lunch + beers |
| Afternoon | Trail snacks |
| Evening | Snacks in tent (storm — skipped cook) |
Related planning
- Packing list — stove, fuel, water bottles
- Accommodation — hostel breakfast options
- Getting there — Inverness pre-shop
- Cost calculator
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How Hard Is the Skye Trail? Difficulty & Fitness Guide
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