There’s something deeply thought-provoking about standing on ancient rock and seeing the fossilised imprint of a creature that walked this earth over 170 million years ago. On the Isle of Skye—the home of Wine Guy on Skye, and perhaps one of Scotland’s most dramatically beautiful corners—these echoes of the past are etched into our very landscape. While the dinosaurs may be long gone, Skye remains a place where time seems to stretch and fold, where every step tells a story.
And let me tell you, those ancient dinosaurs? They knew how to pick a good watering hole.
Today, we humans have our own idea of a watering hole. Whether it’s a cozy pub, a distillery tucked down a coastal lane, or a windswept clifftop picnic with a bottle of something glorious, Skye has plenty of options for the thirsty explorer. In this blog, we’re going to take a walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs—literally—then veer off to my favourite modern-day watering holes, pairing each ancient site with wines that echo the soul of the land, the mystery of time, and the warmth of a good pour.
So grab a glass, my fellow wanderer, and let’s journey through Skye’s Jurassic past and vinous present.
1. Staffin Bay: Where Giants Roamed
It was 2002 when a series of massive, three-toed prints were discovered at Staffin Bay on the Trotternish Peninsula—prints belonging to a Megalosaurus-like creature, likely an early theropod. These 50 cm long tracks are embedded in the sedimentary rocks, visible when the tide is low and the sea retreats like a curtain revealing a prehistoric stage.
Standing there, you can almost imagine these giant lizards stalking through a lush lagoon, their feet pressing into the soft Jurassic mud.
Wine Pairing: Chablis
Why? Because Chablis, made from Chardonnay grapes grown in the Domaine de Claude Écuelle of Burgundy, France, carries its own fossilised memories—ancient marine fossils give the wine its mineral backbone. It’s a crisp, saline wine, echoing the sea spray at Staffin and the cool, ancient touch of those rocks.
Nearby Watering Hole:
Columba 1400 Café in Staffin is a solid pit stop for coffee and lunch, but if you’re looking for wine, pack a bottle and head down to the rocks at low tide. Respect the environment, watch the tide, and pour a glass while contemplating a world ruled by giants.
2. Brothers’ Point (Rubha nam Brathairean): A Jurassic Discovery
One of Skye’s most exciting finds came in 2018 when paleontologists revealed hundreds of dinosaur footprints at Brothers’ Point, near Staffin. These included tracks from both sauropods and theropods—a rare snapshot of diverse dinosaurs existing side by side. The muddy tidal flats of the time were like a busy highway, and the footprints are beautifully preserved.
The site is a little tricky to get to, but the payoff is immense: dramatic coastal views, geological wonder, and a sense of deep time that no museum could replicate.
Wine Pairing: Etna Rosso
Made on the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily, this wine—typically from Nerello Mascalese grapes—has an earthy minerality, vibrant red fruit, and a whisper of smoke. It’s a wine that speaks of geology, time, and transformation. Just like Brothers’ Point.
Nearby Watering Hole:
You’ll be thirsty after this one. Head back to The Flodigarry Hotel for a glass of something elegant. Their wine list is thoughtful, and if you ask nicely, they might even chill your Chablis or decant your Etna Rosso for you.
3. Duntulm: A Window into the Jurassic
Duntulm is known for its brooding ruined castle perched on a cliff, but just south of it lies a less-visited treasure trove of dinosaur trackways, mainly from sauropods. The area around Duntulm was once a tropical lagoon, and the fossilized prints show herds of these long-necked behemoths trudging through shallow waters.
Today, it’s a place of windswept solitude, where you can trace your fingers over a sauropod’s step and feel the awe settle in.
Wine Pairing: Aged Riesling (from Alsace or Clare Valley)
Riesling, especially when aged, develops petrol notes, minerality, and citrus complexity—much like the layered sensations of walking Skye’s northern coast. A mature Riesling is like the footprints: evidence of time and evolution. Choose a dry one with a backbone.
Nearby Watering Hole:
The nearby Duntulm Sea View Café (seasonal) offers tea and cakes, but for a glass of wine, you’re better off bringing your own. Try a chilled English Bacchus up there, paired with smoked mackerel on oatcakes. If the dinosaurs could smell, they’d be jealous.
4. Elgol: The Jurassic Coastline and Wine by the Loch
Though better known for its stunning views of the Cuillin Ridge, Elgol and the surrounding cliffs are geologically rich, showcasing layers of Jurassic sedimentary rock. Fossils abound, and while dinosaur footprints are rarer here, you’ll find ammonites, fossilised wood, and even shark teeth if you look closely.
This place screams for a picnic. Take the boat trip across Loch Scavaig, walk along the coast, and then settle in for wine with a view.
Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir (Burgundy style from the Banks of the River Thames!)
Pinot Noir thrives in cool climates and is a wine of elegance, subtlety, and complexity. Much like Elgol itself—beautiful, remote, and demanding of your full attention. Its soft tannins and bright red fruit make it perfect for a wild picnic with cheese, smoked meats, and sea air. We enjoy our Brightwell Vineyard Pinot Noir while thinking all things dino!
Nearby Watering Hole:
There’s not much in Elgol itself, but you must stop at Coruisk House—an outstanding restaurant with a wine list that includes natural, biodynamic, and rare wines from Europe and beyond. Book ahead, and ask for their current Pinot Noir obsession. They’ll likely wax poetically while pouring.
5. The Wine Guy’s Favourite Jurassic Picnic
Let’s be honest—some of the best wine experiences y happen when you’re perched on a boulder, wrapped in a jumper, clutching a plastic glass, looking out over the Atlantic as golden light streams across the peat bogs.
Here’s my go-to Jurassic-themed picnic:
- Wine: Chateaux de Berne Cab Sab for warmth and body.
- Cheese: Isle of Mull cheddar or Clava Brie
- Charcuterie: Hebridean salami, wild venison
- Bread: Something seeded and hearty
- Sweet: Tablet, obviously from Donnie’s Tablet on Waternish
Set this up near An Corran or Lealt Falls, and you’ve got yourself the wine-dino picnic of dreams.
Reflections in Rock and Glass
It’s easy to get swept away by the romance of Skye. The towering Cuillin, the silver lochs, the wind whispering through moor and glen. But it’s beneath our feet where some of the island’s most extraordinary stories are told—in fossilised footsteps and ancient rock layers.
The dinosaurs didn’t drink wine (tragic, really), but they knew how to find the best watering holes. They gathered where the land met the sea, where fresh water met salty tides, and where life thrived in abundance.
We do much the same.
Skye is a place of both deep time and immediate pleasure. So, the next time you find yourself tracing a theropod’s path or scrambling along a fossil-laced shore, bring a bottle of something worthy. Something that speaks to time, place, and awe.
Because whether it’s 170 million years ago or just this afternoon, there’s always a good reason to raise a glass.
A Few Practical Notes for Wine-Soaked Dinophiles:
- Tide Times Matter: Most dinosaur sites are only visible at low tide. Plan ahead, and don’t get caught by the sea.
- Bring Proper Glassware (or not): Plastic glasses are my go-to for beach sipping. Sturdy, reusable, and stylish enough to make a sauropod blush…. dont leave litter and be like the Dinosaurs – leave only footprints
- Respect the Sites: Don’t walk on or damage the fossils. Photograph, admire, then move on with your wine and wonder intact.
- Stock Up before you go Dino-searching: Pre-order your wine from www.wineguyonskye.com – we can deliver for FREE across our catchment area in NW Skye but also deliver anywhere else at a modest delivery charge.
- Keep It Local: Try Skye’s own Torabhaig Distillery or Misty Isle Distillery if wine isn’t your only liquid love. Their whisky and gins have their own terroir story worth exploring.
From ancient reptiles to aged Rieslings, Skye tells stories that ripple through time. So lace up your boots, fill your flask, and let the land (and the wine) lead the way.
Slàinte, and may your footsteps echo those of the giants.