Broadford is the second-largest settlement on Skye, spread along the shore of Broadford Bay on the southeastern coast of the island. It is not a pretty village in the picture-postcard sense, but it is a practical and well-located base for exploring southern Skye, the Sleat peninsula, and the spectacular road to Elgol.
The village has a Co-op supermarket, a petrol station, a bank, and several places to eat, which makes it useful in a part of the world where services can be thin on the ground. Cafe Sia on the main road serves good coffee and reliable lunches. The Claymore restaurant is a decent option for evening meals. The Skye Serpentarium, a small reptile sanctuary and exhibition, is a quirky rainy-day option and a favourite with children.
From Broadford, the single-track road to Elgol is one of the finest drives on Skye, ending at a viewpoint over Loch Scavaig and the Black Cuillin mountains that is almost absurdly dramatic. Boat trips from Elgol run into Loch Coruisk, a dark freshwater loch hemmed in by the Cuillin ridge. The Red Hills above Broadford itself offer easier walking than the Black Cuillin, with fine views over to the mainland. On a clear day you can see all the way to Knoydart and the mountains of Torridon from the summit of Beinn na Caillich.