West Coast of Scotland (around Skye)
Discussion
Will be spending a week or so in the area in mid sept. Any must sees? OH wants to see the fairy pools on Skye? dont want to travel too far (under 200miles once near skye) looking at different places as we will be driving from edinburgh, and i will be driving up from East Anglia beforehand so will already be lots of miles before we get to Skye/west coast.
theplayingmantis said:
three chimneys is on her list! possibly staying there if that's a thing.
im leaving accommodation to her and itinerary mostly but wanted a few ideas in case she misses stuff
If Three Chimneys is full (may well be) then Kinloch on Skye or Torridon Hotel do similar quality food.im leaving accommodation to her and itinerary mostly but wanted a few ideas in case she misses stuff
You really need to do Applecross and Torridon.
From the Skye Bridge to here (Torridon) takes 50 minutes.
Lovely road out of Fort William to Mallaig and then take the ferry to Skye.
Myrtle Bank Guest House at Fort William is lovely, about 10 minute walk into town and with views overlooking the water.
The west coat is stunning...
You could approach by driving to Gourock and ferry across to Dunoon and head up via Oban..
Enjoy,,,,,
Myrtle Bank Guest House at Fort William is lovely, about 10 minute walk into town and with views overlooking the water.
The west coat is stunning...
You could approach by driving to Gourock and ferry across to Dunoon and head up via Oban..
Enjoy,,,,,
Edited by Davel on Wednesday 14th August 18:58
GetCarter said:
theplayingmantis said:
three chimneys is on her list! possibly staying there if that's a thing.
im leaving accommodation to her and itinerary mostly but wanted a few ideas in case she misses stuff
If Three Chimneys is full (may well be) then Kinloch on Skye or Torridon Hotel do similar quality food.im leaving accommodation to her and itinerary mostly but wanted a few ideas in case she misses stuff
You really need to do Applecross and Torridon.
From the Skye Bridge to here (Torridon) takes 50 minutes.
I'm not sure when it closes for the winter (check online) but you could head down to Kylerhea and cross the ferry and stop off in Glenelg, or drive further south to Arnisdale - perhaps walk to Sandaig. Could do a loop back over Mam Ratagan pass to Kyle on the return.
Sleat is nice down the south end of Skye, stopping at Isle Ornsay or a bit further on.
As noted above, likely to still be heaving with tourists - definitely book accommodation and eating out much earlier than you think you need to.
Sleat is nice down the south end of Skye, stopping at Isle Ornsay or a bit further on.
As noted above, likely to still be heaving with tourists - definitely book accommodation and eating out much earlier than you think you need to.
theplayingmantis said:
Will be spending a week or so in the area in mid sept. Any must sees? OH wants to see the fairy pools on Skye? dont want to travel too far (under 200miles once near skye) looking at different places as we will be driving from edinburgh, and i will be driving up from East Anglia beforehand so will already be lots of miles before we get to Skye/west coast.
When you leave Edinburgh I'd ignore the sat nav and Perth. Instead set sat nav for Crianlarich then Tyndrum > Rannoch Moor > Glen Coe > Fort William > Spean Bridge > Invergarry > Shiel Bridge > Kyle of Lochalsh > Skye.That will take you through stunning scenery - Glen Coe being the most spectacular in the UK (IMHO).
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 15th August 08:46
cheers all, she wants to use calmac hopscoth and go oban-mull-barra-uist-harris/Lewis then skye
to my untrained eye this looks way to much to pack in a week/10 days, as wont be enough time to look at things.
am i right?
if so given skye is the main goal how would skipping Oban/Mull/Barra/Uist and just going Skyle/Harris/Lewis be time wise. is that doable in a week?
sure to be more questions to come
Cheers
to my untrained eye this looks way to much to pack in a week/10 days, as wont be enough time to look at things.
am i right?
if so given skye is the main goal how would skipping Oban/Mull/Barra/Uist and just going Skyle/Harris/Lewis be time wise. is that doable in a week?
sure to be more questions to come
Cheers
theplayingmantis said:
if so given skye is the main goal how would skipping Oban/Mull/Barra/Uist and just going Skyle/Harris/Lewis be time wise. is that doable in a week?
Cheers
That's certainly doable. The thing with the Outer Hebrides is you really need good weather as there is sod all to do. It's not far from here so we go once or twice a year - but ONLY when the weather is good.Cheers
But when it's good....
http://stevecarter.com/Hebrides/Hebrides.htm
BTW our fave drive on Skye is the road to Elgol in the south. This was a couple of months ago:
GetCarter said:
theplayingmantis said:
Will be spending a week or so in the area in mid sept. Any must sees? OH wants to see the fairy pools on Skye? dont want to travel too far (under 200miles once near skye) looking at different places as we will be driving from edinburgh, and i will be driving up from East Anglia beforehand so will already be lots of miles before we get to Skye/west coast.
When you leave Edinburgh I'd ignore the sat nav and Perth. Instead set sat nav for Crianlarich then Tyndrum > Rannoch Moor > Glen Coe > Fort William > Spean Bridge > Invergarry > Shiel Bridge > Kyle of Lochalsh > Skye.That will take you through stunning scenery - Glen Coe being the most spectacular in the UK (IMHO).
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 15th August 08:46
Mind you, I went through there a few weeks ago on the way back from Torridon and it was heaving with folk - probably school hols/nice weather combo but I'd never seen as many people up there before.
We always have a symbolic 'b
d' and shake of the fist at Jimmies house 
GetCarter said:
theplayingmantis said:
if so given skye is the main goal how would skipping Oban/Mull/Barra/Uist and just going Skyle/Harris/Lewis be time wise. is that doable in a week?
Cheers
That's certainly doable. The thing with the Outer Hebrides is you really need good weather as there is sod all to do. It's not far from here so we go once or twice a year - but ONLY when the weather is good.Cheers
But when it's good....
http://stevecarter.com/Hebrides/Hebrides.htm
BTW our fave drive on Skye is the road to Elgol in the south. This was a couple of months ago:
but you think its ok?
edit do you mean her plan of going everywhere, or mine of reducing to Lewis/Harris/Skye
Doing yours. The thing is you're using a lot of ferries, so you either stay on each Island, or you hack South to North to make the Ferry... which means you miss stuff and get stressed!
There are of course lots of remains, standing stones (Callanish being the most famous), but you have to remember the population density is 8 per square mile, and most of those are in Stornaway, so although there are a few pubs & small museums, compared to the mainland you are kinda' stuck there if the weather is bad... and bear in mind that 99% of the Outer Hebrides shuts on Sunday. (Most locals are not even allowed to wash their cars on the sabbath!).
ETA You should check out CalMac - it'll give you an idea of the ferry timetable (most Islands have only 2 a day)
https://www.calmac.co.uk
They are subsidised, so not massively expensive, but in September they are still busy and you can't just turn up and be guaranteed a place... which you can for much of the year.
There are of course lots of remains, standing stones (Callanish being the most famous), but you have to remember the population density is 8 per square mile, and most of those are in Stornaway, so although there are a few pubs & small museums, compared to the mainland you are kinda' stuck there if the weather is bad... and bear in mind that 99% of the Outer Hebrides shuts on Sunday. (Most locals are not even allowed to wash their cars on the sabbath!).
ETA You should check out CalMac - it'll give you an idea of the ferry timetable (most Islands have only 2 a day)
https://www.calmac.co.uk
They are subsidised, so not massively expensive, but in September they are still busy and you can't just turn up and be guaranteed a place... which you can for much of the year.
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 15th August 11:41
theplayingmantis said:
cheers all, she wants to use calmac hopscoth and go oban-mull-barra-uist-harris/Lewis then skye
to my untrained eye this looks way to much to pack in a week/10 days, as wont be enough time to look at things.
am i right?
if so given skye is the main goal how would skipping Oban/Mull/Barra/Uist and just going Skyle/Harris/Lewis be time wise. is that doable in a week?
sure to be more questions to come
Cheers
Personally**, I'd give Skye a bit of a miss (too touristy nowadays) and spend more time around the Outer Hebrides. It depends whether you want a bit more 'town' type facilities or want to enjoy beautiful scenery. True to say that the weather will make all the difference.to my untrained eye this looks way to much to pack in a week/10 days, as wont be enough time to look at things.
am i right?
if so given skye is the main goal how would skipping Oban/Mull/Barra/Uist and just going Skyle/Harris/Lewis be time wise. is that doable in a week?
sure to be more questions to come
Cheers
- Others will disagree.....
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