Skye - one for Mr Carter?

[CarMac]

So, we've bitten the bullet and given up our annual pilgrimage to Mull in October this year. Instead, we've opted for a trip to Skye.

Any tips for places to visit, roads to drive, etc? We'll be staying not far from the Skye Bridge.

[v15ben]

I was there a few weeks back and there are some amazing places to take photos.

A few of my favourites:
Quirang
Old Man of Storr
The road to Elgol village
The road north of Staffin - fantastic roads and very quiet!
Neist Point and the lighthouse

Plockton is very nice too, just a few miles from Kyle.

An amazing place and I'm sure you'll enjoy it

[CarMac]

Excellent pointers, thank you. Hopefully it will be VERY quiet in October!

Will look those places up.

[whirligig]

Good pointers there Ben, esp Neist Lighthouse area. Not a massive fan of Skye per se (much prefer the west coast or the Western Isles) but I do like the south (Sleat Peninsula). Worth doing the "loop" there to Ord and Tarskavaig to get away from it all.

[Don]

Take a walk by the lochside at Loch Brittle. It's great getting there and if you are lucky you can watch Basking Sharks herding fish into the loch.

[v15ben]

whirligig said:

Worth doing the "loop" there to Ord and Tarskavaig to get away from it all.

I stopped near Tarskavaig for lunch and in 30 minutes I didn't see any other people. Spectacular views and deserted!

[GetCarter]

I'd agree with all the above... As you get over the bridge, the first 30 mins is rubbish... head to the Cuillins, West and North. You can always jump on a Ferry from Uig to Harris - if the weather is good that's a must. You obviously know the beach at Calgary on Mull, well the beaches on Harris are about 50 times the size - and in Oct, empty! You HAVE to have good weather for Harris though... bugger all to do.

By the way... The road to the Skye Bridge is a stunning drivers road. (I assume you're going that way and not by ferry).

[rhubarb]

While we're on the topic - or nearby at least, we're off back to harris this year - end of september / october, and thought rather than head up through skye, we'd get the ferry from oban to barra and then island hop. Sorted for Barra now but don't know much about Uist. Plan to stay a week between Barra and Uist before heading the Harris. Is it best to stay in two seperate places in Uist - south and north or is it ok to stay in the middle somewhere - whilst love driving don't want to spend the whole week going from top to bottom or vica versa. Any recommendations on where to saty - hotel or b&b?

Thanks

Giles

[GetCarter]

rhubarb said:

While we're on the topic - or nearby at least, we're off back to harris this year - end of september / october, and thought rather than head up through skye, we'd get the ferry from oban to barra and then island hop. Sorted for Barra now but don't know much about Uist. Plan to stay a week between Barra and Uist before heading the Harris. Is it best to stay in two seperate places in Uist - south and north or is it ok to stay in the middle somewhere - whilst love driving don't want to spend the whole week going from top to bottom or vica versa. Any recommendations on where to saty - hotel or b&b?

Thanks

Giles

It only takes an hour or so to get from top to bottom... but the middle is about the most boring bit IMHO. The west of North Uist is lovely (not sure of accommodation there mind).

Are you staying in the Barra Hotel in Barra? And the Rodel Hotel on Harris?

You've seen them... but my snaps from last year on Barra/Uists

http://www.stevecarter.com/barra/barra.htm

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 2nd June 13:35

[CarMac]

GetCarter said:

By the way... The road to the Skye Bridge is a stunning drivers road. (I assume you're going that way and not by ferry).

No, we're not using the ferry!

Thanks for all the pointers peeps. I've got some homework to do before October! Will definitely try to get to Harris. It sounds great

[GetCarter]

CarMac said:

Will definitely try to get to Harris. It sounds great

...couple of Harris beaches:

[CarMac]

Stunning. What time of year were those taken?

[GetCarter]

CarMac said:

Stunning. What time of year were those taken?

We always go between mid April to Mid June. (No midges, sod all tourists) Trying to get there next week, work permitting.

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 3rd June 13:08

[Don]

GetCarter said:

CarMac said:

Stunning. What time of year were those taken?

We always go between mid April to Mid June. (No midges, sod all tourists) Trying to get there next week, work permitting.

Mid-June? No midges!? We always end up being in Scotland in June (we take our holidays around personal dates) and I've been eaten alive every time!

But the daylength is glorious.

[GetCarter]

Well there are a few in June admittedly. None here yet. As you know Don it really depends on the type of weather. I'm hoping it stays this dry for next week. But I have to say that mid June is midge free compared to mid August.. Which will frighten the English like no Scottish army ever did!

[Don]

GetCarter said:

Well there are a few in June admittedly. None here yet. As you know Don it really depends on the type of weather. I'm hoping it stays this dry for next week. But I have to say that mid June is midge free compared to mid August.. Which will frighten the English like no Scottish army ever did!

Went to Skye in August one year - because I was given a FREE week in a Holiday Cottage by my wonderful kid sister - repaid by driving my old Mum and her around the Island.

Dear God.

They could desanguinate a man in under a minute. It was like flying clouds of Piranhas.

[john185k]

Another vote for Elgol... Taken 3 weeks ago





And Plockton

[CarMac]

They're lovely. Been doing some 'googling' tonight!

Think we're going to run out of time to fit everything in!

[//dean]

ooh ooh ooh!

Can I join in? I'm off to Torridon late June, I'll be taking some of the above advice on board as I plan to visit Skye.

Any tips for Torridon?

Cheers

[GetCarter]

//dean said:

ooh ooh ooh!

Can I join in? I'm off to Torridon late June, I'll be taking some of the above advice on board as I plan to visit Skye.

Any tips for Torridon?

Cheers

Buy me a pint?

www.Torridon.org

Steve

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 4th June 17:16