The Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye

The Fairy Pools are a truly wonderful experience when you reach the Isle of Skye. These pools are free to visit anytime of the year. The pools are located in Glenbrittle which is overlooked by the Cuillin mountains. These are popular with walkers and the walk of around 2.5km from the car park is a lovely way to spend the day. The water is so clear, the air is exceptionally fresh and the way the icy water clears you head is remarkable. These pools can be extremely popular in the summer months so please park sensibly and if you cannot get parked perhaps come again at another time. We always say to our customers to be mindful of the locals and to other users around you.

 
The Neist Point lighthouse is one of the most known lighthouses in Scotland and it can be found near the town of Glendale. Whilst the walk down is easy enough it can get quite steep so be careful if your a bit infirm under foot or you have little ones. The walk back up is harder work. Here however you can choose to watch the sun rise or set and this is a truly wonderful spectacle to witness. Neist Lighthouse was built in 1900, at this point it was a manned lighthouse however it is now an automated system that no longer requires daily maintenance.

Kilt Rock is a 90 metre high wall of columns of basalt rock and sills that are often described as being like those of a plait in a kilt, hence the name. This site like the fairy pools can get busy however it is a one off experience that you will not forget. The noise of the water, the views and embracing the world around you makes for a rather special moment in time. The Kilt rock can be found on the Peninsula in the North of the Isle of Skye. There is a large car park here but again, park sensibly and ensure you get a guide back if you have to reverse anywhere. 

The Storr as described on its very own website as “ millions of years in the making”. Home - The Storr - Official Site On a clear day on the island The Storr can be seen for miles around and its a well known symbol of Scotland. This makes it even more special when you see it and take in its beauty with your own eyes. Created by a landslip, it is thoughts that the rock face and pinnacles were formed by dinosaurs walked the earth. Some believe in tales that the pinnacle is the thumb of a giant who is now under the ground. Whichever story you believe you could spend your time making up your own, engaging the childrens imagination and passing the time whilst you explore. 
Claigan coral beach is worth the walk. Or we think it is anyway, you will need a good few hours for this trip or if you are on the Island for a few days why not take your time and spend the day here. Claigan itself is about a 10 minute drive from Dunvegan Castle. You walk down a farm track to get to the beach and we have found it takes about 30minutes to get there and the same back if you have little legs or numerous buckets and spades! The beach is made from the crushed white coral like seaweed which gives the water a tropical impression. If your brave enough why not take a swim in the water, i would highly recommend a wetsuit and some water shoes however as it can be pretty chilly even when the sun is out. 

Talisker Distillery is an island single malt Scotch Whisky based in Carbost on the Isle of Skye. The distillery was founded in 1830 and is now owned by Diageo. Here they produce Whisky of 10, 18, 25, 30 and 35 years. The Distillery was initially run by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill in 1831. In 1880 the Distillery was rebuild and then extended in 1900. Talisker was acquired by Distillers Company in 1925 and is now part of Diageo. In 1948 a fire broke out in the store, no whisky was lost in this but grain and empty barrels were lost. The distillery was rebuilt again in 1960 after a stillhouse fire broke out and destroyed the distillery. Whisky here was distilled using a triple methods but in 1928 they changed to the more modern double distilling process. The barley used in making the whisky comes from the Muir Of Ord and it has an unusual feature of swan neck lye pipes. This means a loop in the pipes takes the vapour from the stills to the worm tubs which causes some of the alcohol to condense before it reaches the cooling stage. 

Dunvegan Castle is open daily from the 1st of April until the 15th October. The castle is steeped in history and if your interested in architecture then here will not disappoint. With what is believed to have over ten building periods ranging from 1200 to the 1800s it is a truly unique design. The tone here and the impact is the location on the edge of the water. Here you can touch base with the routes of the Isle and the people who lived and built this spectacle. 

Skye Museum of Island Life is quite literally like stepping back in time. It gives an insight into what live was like of the Isle of Skye over 100years ago. Its an eye opener as to how much our ways of life have changed. We loved seeing the thatched roofs which used to be a common sight 100 years ago as it could withstand the brutal weather often endured in these areas and gave shelter after a day outside.  It is unbelievable how people adapted to build houses particularly roofs and timber frames which were often adapted from timber washed ashore or from ship wreaks. We would highly recommend coming to visit this museum and it will grip every age. Steeping our children in the history of our country and reminding those who remember life as it used to be. 

Talisker Beach is another favourite of ours there is something so special about a day at the beach and i think for us its the simplicity of it. This is less of a walk and takes us around 25minutes each way give or take a snack stop along the way. This beach is surrounded by cliffs and sometimes if your lucky you may catch a surfer here to watch. On high tides all of the sand here is covered by the sea so just to be mindful of when the tides come in. There is a carpark however this is more of a large layby and can be full, sometimes we have found you need to park slightly further up the road than you would like however it makes for a bigger adventure for everyone. 
Jurassic Dinosaurs Footprints at An Corran, whilst many of the above may be familiar or heard of, this one was a surprise for us. Did you know that 15% of all mid Jurassic discoveries globally have been found on the Isle of Skye! This makes for the Isle being an important place for palaeontologists and those budding to be one. One of the best footprints to see is An Corran Beach near Staffin. Here there are three toed prints belonging to what we believe are ornithopods (or two legged herbivores). They were discoverd in 2001 by dog walkers, they are embedded in the sandstone rocks and are accessible at low tide. They can cover up with seaweed but it definitely makes for a different find and search than one on paper in a book of where’s Wally! There are also footprints to be found at Score Bay, Brothers Point and Duntulm Beach. We haven’t explored these but we have heard they are just as fun! 

Just a last few top tips! Pack Smidge for the midgies, honestly its worth the investment. Take appropriate footwear for exploring and shoes for the beaches. We have invested in a surfers bag which is effectively a bag with a pull cord for all your wet clothing to keep it in one place and contained until you can rinse everything off. There is nothing worse than sand being everywhere including your bed. And mostly, have fun, explore and be like the dinosaurs, leave nothing but footprints for those behind you.