I will own up, it is several years since I visited Skye I have visited only 3 times, but it is an island that does hold some magic and marvellous memories for me so finding this category I will tell you about Skye and relive my experiences there.
First Skye is a Scottish island the largest of the Hebridian group of islands just of the west coast 230 miles north of Glasgow 510 miles from Birmingham. Skye is 50 miles long and only about 10 miles wide nowhere is more than 5 miles from the sea. Skye has about 1300 miles of coastline with rocky bays and majestic cliff faces and 11 sea lochs.
The south has quiet sandy bays and tiny white cottage villages. The soil in this area is the most fertile so this area of the Sleat peninsular is called the garden of Skye.
The Cullins Mountains rise majestically and can be seen welcoming you in the distance as the ferry comes in to
dock. Northeast Skye contains the old man of storr a stone pinnacle over 160 ft high. The largest town in this area is Portree the capital town of Skye, a fishing/ tourist port with a post office a co-op and a few tourist shops, a chemist and other small shops there is also a swimming pool here, cycle hire and pubs restaurants with evening entertainment. 20 miles north of Portree is the Quirang is a wild area of crumbling rock landscape. Northwest Skye has more rugged scenery, castles and lochs. You really need to get a book & map out of the library and research this island thoroughly before you decide which area to stay in.
There are hotels, bed and breakfast houses, self-catering cottages and campsites on the island. We stayed in a cottage on the north east coast in a good position for getting out and walking.
We left home and travelled north to fort William then along the west coast of Scotland to Mallaig and caught the car ferry across to Armadale. Now as an alternate to ferry it is possible to drive across on the road bridge at the Kyle of Lochalsh, Coaches are available to travel across the bridge. One day I should love to catch the train up the west coast of Scotland to Skye the scenery along the route is breathtaking.
I think I would still prefer to catch the ferry to the island rather than go over the bridge as it makes it more obvious you are going to an island. Watching the sea for Dolphins and the sky for seabirds makes this a great part of the holiday.
Obviously the main attractions of Skye are the scenery, wildlife and walking. Good walking boots and rainwear are essential. It does rain a lot on Skye.
On Skye you can abseil canoe, wind surf pony trek or go mountain biking, rock climbing or just gentle walks plenty of opportunity for all.
We were there when Sally was a small child just too heavy to carry far in a sling so we did not do as much walking as we might have done without a toddler. We did take turns though to go on walks as we went with friends and did not always do the same things together.
I remember the cottage we stayed in twice was attached to a farm with a cow that we regularly watched being milked with Sally.
The cottage had electric for cooking but it also had a peat oven which we could not resist using it was fun, not very practical but fun.
We did a massive shop before we got onto the island so only needed to use the local shop 2 miles away for milk and bread, there are a few small shops and some supermarkets in the larger towns. I do not think this is necessary now as there are more facilities on the island but It was easier to shop before the holiday as we went in a group of friends and we did not have to waste time food shopping when we were on holiday. I can not tell you about the pubs as we did not visit any preferring to take a bottle of wine to the bay near our cottage and spending the evening there sat chatting to our friends watching the sea.
Our holiday was spent simply enjoying the company of friends, the beauty of the countryside. We spotted many birds On Skye you might see a golden eagle they breed there, an Osprey sometimes visits, Merlin’s breed on Skye as do many other Falcons, Grey herons are quite common too. If you wish a complete list and details of the places to find them Skyebirds.com has details
I would recommend a holiday on Skye if you want to get away from it all, or if you wanted to go to a Gaelic folk festival I believe there is one in July. There are lots of local Art and crafts, silver jewellery, woollen knitwear and pottery for sale in the shops.
Do remember though when ever you go take…….. Rain wear. Thanks for reading I hope I have given you a taster of this magical misty isle
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Advantages: Scenery; wildlife; getting away from it all Disadvantages: Dreich if the weather closes in...
blackpuddinonnabike 20.11.2007 (20.11.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Isle of Skye (Scotland)
Advantages: beautiful scenery, peaceful, silent Disadvantages: Very dependent on the season and the weather. And the weather is often fickle with tourists.
Jul 21st, 2004
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