Scotland could perhaps be seen as a bit of a cheapo option for a honeymoon, but we wanted tranquillity and romance after all the hectic wedding preparations. We started off in Edinburgh and then hired a car, but Inverness is the nearest airport to the island. You definitely need a car while you’re there – Skye sounds like a small place but it takes at least an hour to get from one end to the other. There are three ferries as well as the new bridge – to go ‘over the sea to Skye’ by the same route as Bonnie Prince Charlie, go by the Glenelg-Kylerhea ferry, which takes about five minutes. If you want dramatic, wild and romantic scenery, Skye is the place to be. The mountains are spectacular, particularly the famous Cuillins in the south, and everywhere you look there is a beautiful scene of craggy moorland or glistening lochs. Walking, cycling and pony trekking are the ideal ways of exploring and, for the latter, there are plenty of reputable centres around the island. There are loads of B & Bs but I can seriously recommend the Greshornish House Hotel which is situated in a very secluded lochside position in the north of the island. Along with the Flodigarry Hotel (former home of Flora McDonald), it is one of the more upmarket of the many places to stay but remains informal and very friendly. Dinner there is completely superb, especially the home grown mussels – this is lucky as there is nowhere else to eat within miles. Greshornish House has a website which will give you current prices, but we found them reasonable for the high standard of accomodation and food provided. Whilst I think Skye is wonderful, it has to be said that it is not for anyone who wants to go clubbing every night, and there are not many big tourist attractions (which could be a good or bad thing depending what you want). Dunvegan Castle is worth visiting and the Talisker Distillery is interesting for whisky fans. The remainder of Skye’s attractions are various craft shops and folk museums – be warned that some of these are indescribably poky. One so-called gallery contained about three pictures and was otherwise selling bobble hats. Many a sign for a craft shop takes you up some stony track to a deserted hovel with a couple of knitted dolls in the window. Skye Silver, however, is one that is certainly worth going out of your way for. The weather is always a big consideration in Scotland, and Skye well deserves is nickname ‘The Misty Isle’. The best time of year to go is probably May or June - when we went in May, the sun shone constantly, but it’s wise to go prepared for the worst. Personally though, I think if it had been pouring down I would have been quite happy sitting in the lounge at Greshornish supping malt whisky. While Skye is not necessarily ideal for those with young families to occupy, it does provide a wonderful retreat for couples, honeymooners and anyone wanting to get away from it all on their own. Don’t go if you’re looking for guaranteed sun, nightclubs or mega theme parks, but if you want beautiful scenery, seclusion, relaxation and romance, Skye is the place to find it.
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Advantages: beautiful scenery, peaceful, silent Disadvantages: Very dependent on the season and the weather. And the weather is often fickle with tourists.
Advantages: beautiful scenery, peaceful, silent Disadvantages: Very dependent on the season and the weather. And the weather is often fickle with tourists.
Jul 22nd, 2000
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