Scotland - Skye and Lochalsh Visitor Guide

56 Pages·2008·7.115 MB·English

Skye and
Lochalsh
Visitor Guide 2008
all the drama. all the romance. all the excitement.
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Contents
IT’S THE SMALL THINGS
THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
In Scotland the majority of visitor attractions are Welcome 4
independently assessed and rated by the Scottish
Tourist Board, the grading arm of VisitScotland. Out and About 6
Using a straightforward Quality Assurance one
Places to Visit 10
to five star system, according to the level of
customer care on offer, the focus is on the standard Tours and Cruises 16
of hospitality and service provided as well as
presentation, quality of services and standard of Tourist Information 25
facilities. Assessments are monitored and reviewed
every two years. The wide variety of attractions Car Hire 26
assessed include: visitor attractions, leisure centres,
Transport 26
arts venues, tourist shops, activity centres, gardens,
tours, castles, historic houses, museums, historic Area Maps 28
attractions, garden centres.
Events and Entertainment 30
ENVIRONMENTALLY Get Active 32
FRIENDLY
Take Home some Highland Inspiration 38
Establishments with a concern for the
A Highland Feast – Eating Out 46
environment who operate in an environmentally
friendly way are graded either… Days Away 53
Front cover:
Pony Trekking near the Cuillin mountains, Isle of Skye.
DISABLED ACCESS
Visitors with disabilities can satisfy themselves
that businesses match their requirements by
looking for the VisitScotland assessment:
Unassisted wheelchair access.
Assisted wheelchair access.
Access for visitors with mobility difficulties. This brochure is printed on recycled
content paper. VisitScotland is committed
to ensuring that our environment, upon
70%
which our tourism is so dependent, is
VisitScotland has published this guide in good faith to reflect safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
information submitted to it by the proprietors of the premises
listed who have paid for their entries to be included. Although
VisitScotland has taken reasonable steps to confirm the
Published by New Century Publishing Group,
information contained in the guide at the time of going to press,
New Century House, Stadium Road, Inverness IV1 1FF.
it cannot guarantee that the information published is and remains
accurate. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for any error or Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
misrepresentation contained in the guide and excludes all liability E-mail: [email protected]
for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the Cartography: Wendy Price, North Kessock.
information contained in the guide. VisitScotland also cannot Designed by Dynam, Inverness.
accept any liability for loss caused by the bankruptcy, or
Photography courtesy of Scottish Viewpoint, Edinburgh.
liquidation, or insolvency, or cessation of trade of any company,
firm or individual contained in this guide. Quality Assurance VisitScotland Highland
awards are correct as at November 2007. Peffery House, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire IV14 9HA.
Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
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Welcome
Failte
all the drama. all the romance. all the excitement.
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Skye and Lochalsh is a paradise for walkers
and water sports enthusiasts, and anyone who
wants to experience the Highlands at their most
majestic and atmospheric. The broad, glassy
waters of Loch Shiel are framed by the
spectacular slopes of the Five Sisters of Kintail,
while ancient Eilean Donan Castle stands guard
over the water at Dornie.
Cross the soaring arc of the Skye Bridge, with
its breathtaking views over the Minch and rocky
islets, and you’re on the Isle of Mists, soaked
in romance and myth. The island’s ragged
peninsulas offer different points of interest –
remote seclusion, clan history, mountaineering
on The Cuillin, Britain’s only real mountain
range, plus beachcombing, spectacular wildlife
and sea life, distinctive crafts, ancient
landscapes and castles.
Skye is also a stronghold of Gaelic culture,
with a dedicated college at the southern tip.
You’ll hear plenty of Gaelic songs and see
bilingual signs everywhere you go, especially
on the winding single-track roads that are such
a feature of exploring this fascinating place.
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1 Loch Alsh to Kyle of Lochalsh and the road bridge
over to the Isle of Skye.
2 Cycling on the Isle of Skye.
3 Loch Duich looking down on to Shiel Bridge and
up Glen Shiel.
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Out
and About
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Lochalsh Sleat and Southern Skye
If your ultimate destination is Skye, the If you sail to Skye from Mallaig, you’ll land
temptation might be to hurry on through, but at Armadale ferry point at the very southern
linger a while and you’ll find that this area has tip of the island. Here, rocky beaches and
just as much to offer as its more famous sister. dense pine forests frame the busy harbour,
Lochalsh is a busy little town with attractive which hosts several cafes and shops,
woodland walks to enjoy and wonderful views
including outposts for original clothing
over the Inner Sound.
specialists Skye Batiks and Ragamuffin.
South of Eilean Donan Castle, a brilliant visitor Just along the road leading out into the
site with its recreated 1930s kitchens, battle- island, you’ll find plenty of attractive hotels
scarred history, inventive gift shop and stunning and other accommodation.
views over Loch Shiel, is the road to Glenelg,
The Gulf Stream flows round this area,
(spot the palindrome). This pretty lochside
creating a unique sub-tropical flora collection
village comes complete with stunning mountain
– palm trees, a mass of wild flowers, splendid
backdrop, and a tiny ferry plying the short
woodlands and gorse thickets cover the soft
crossing to Skye; the service was mentioned
contours and bathe the landscape in lush
in Martin Martin’s journal of 1695!
colours. The mild climate also offers a haven
Conservation village Plockton is well worth a
for rare mammals and birds, including otter
visit, as is Stromeferry. Then there’s Loch Duich
and the diminutive pine marten.
to explore, where divers and exotic ducks drift
on the sheltered water, and stunning hill walking Don’t miss the beautiful sandy bay at
country. Experienced walkers can strike out for Tarskavaig, and be sure to take the scenic
the Five Sisters or the Falls of Glomach and route via Tokavaig and Ord towards
enjoy rich scenic rewards. Everywhere you go, Broadford. En route, you’ll pass Isleornsay,
there’s the prospect of spotting red deer, golden a key port during the herring hey-day, and
eagles and rare owls. the place where, a century before, Flora
Macdonald sailed away to the Tower of
London for her part in rescuing the fugitive
Bonnie Prince Charlie after his defeat
at Culloden.
Culture vultures can indulge their passion
for clan history at The Clan Macdonald Centre,
a grand country house set in wonderful
parkland grounds with magnificent trees.
Just along the road is Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the
3 recently founded Gaelic language college.
1 Eilean Donan Castle, near Kyle of Lochalsh..
2 Plockton on the south side of Loch Carron.
3 Fishing boats moored at the harbour, Portree,
Isle of Skye.
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OUT AND ABOUT
Broadford and Portree Trotternish and Isle of Raasay
Broadford, the busy seafront village overlooking The Old Man of Storr, Mealt Falls and the
the Isle of Raasay, offers lots of visitor facilities Quiraing are the most famous of the strange
and attractions. geological contortions, waterfalls and cliffs
that characterise this wild and beautiful region.
Just outside it, you’ll see a sign for the Kylerhea
otter sanctuary and Glenelg ferry. This narrow This is – or was – dinosaur country, and there
road runs alongside a deep gorge to reveal is accumulating evidence of giant herbivorous
stunning views of the mountains of Lochalsh sauropods and tiny carnivorous theropods
before a steep descent to the tiny jetty. walking the land long before man. Echoes of
a more recent past are found in the crofting
Broadford Bay offers relaxing sea views
communities at Staffin and Flodigarry, and
across to Raasay and beyond to the
ancient Duntulm Castle, an old Macleod and
Applecross Peninsula. You can book a sea
Macdonald stronghold, lies at the northern tip.
fishing excursion or watch the huge variety
of sea birds wheeling in the sky and pottering On the far coast, the busy Uig ferry point takes
in the shallows. passengers to the distant shores of the Western
Isles, and is also home to shops and the Skye
From Broadford, the road to the island capital,
Brewery. If you want to up the remote scale, the
Portree, passes through stunning mountain and
Isle of Raasay, just 14 miles long and four miles
loch scenery, taking in waterfalls and the hills
wide, offers tranquil retreat, pretty woodland
of Straithaird. At Sconser, you can board the
walks, deserted beaches and a past that goes
ferry for Raasay, or take a boat trip from Elgol
right back to the earliest settlers.
to Loch Coruisk. The dramatic Spar Cave is at
Glasnakille – a great exploring opportunity
providing you keep an eye on the rising tide! The Cullins and Dunvegan
Portree – The King’s Port – is set on a pretty
Beautiful Glen Brittle is the gateway to the
natural harbour and surrounded by crags
Cuillin mountain range, where experienced
and cliffs. At the Aros Centre, there’s a
climbers can test their skills on the dynamic
web cam trained on a sea eagle eyrie plus
ridges that carve the skyline and offer enthralling
lots of other visitor attractions, and in the
views for those not bent on high-rise thrills.
town centre there’s plenty of interesting
Spectacular views and incandescent sunsets,
shopping, from distinctive clothing and
woodland walks and the sea shining on the
crafts to hand-made chocolates.
horizon make this a wonderful destination.
Visitor attractions include the Glendale Toy Museum
and the Talisker distillery, home of one of the
In Broadford,
islands’ most fiery single malts. At the dramatic
The Handspinner cliff-top site of Dunvegan Castle, you enter the
stronghold of the Macleods of Dunveganand
is Having Fun
Harris, where the clan chiefs have lived for over
800 years. There are impressive gardens, a craft
Inspiring Woolly
shop and restaurant, and wildlife cruises to enjoy.
Experience by
To the west of Dunvegan, the twin flat-topped
the Wee Pier
hills known as Macleods’ Tables rise out of a flat
www.teoshandspun.com plain. The Giant Macaskill museum is here, and
01471 822876
at Edinbane, there’s a haunted hotel and pottery.
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STEP ACROSS
AND DISCOVER
THE MAGIC
www.visitwaternish.co.uk
Waternish is a slender peninsula accessed plus various craft outlets. Here you’ll find forest
via the Fairy Bridge, offering superb views of and coastal walks and ancient sites – Trumpan
sea and headlands, and towards the distant Church, Annat’s Temple, the Dun Hallin Fort
Outer Hebrides. and the Cat Cairn. A hike out to the lighthouse
at Waterish Point ends in spectacular views
The heart of this area is Stein, a picturesque
and a great vantage point to watch for whales,
string of old fishing cottages along an idyllic
basking sharks, seals, porpoise and dolphins.
harbour front, originally designed by Thomas
Telford. The Old Stein Inn, Skye’s oldest pub, Waternish offers a rich variety of enterprising
is close to the marina, the Lochbay Seafood businesses, including Skyeskyns, the only
Restaurant, a diving centre and boat trips, working exhibition tannery in Scotland.
MacLeod’s Terrace, Waternish, Isle of Skye IV55 8GA
T. 01470 592362 E. [email protected] W. steininn.co.uk
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All here
Places to Visit
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