The Isle Of Skye In Scotland - The Isle of Mists, whiskey, and mysterious rocks. The landscapes of the Isle of Skye resemble the scenery from the fantasy movies
The Isle of Skye is part of the British Isles and is located in the Inner Hebrides archipelago. Going to the "Isle of Fogs", as its name is often translated, we will find Scotland in a nutshell. It will be green, mysterious, and mystical. We will meet sheep and the famous hairy cows, hear Celtic bagpipes, learn the secrets of the old castle, and taste traditionally made peat whiskey. Delighted by the landscape, we will not worry about the vagaries of the weather, because most likely ... we will not avoid the rain. What will we see on Skye?
The Story Of Skye
The first place we'll go to learn a bit about the island's history is the Skye Museum of Island Life in Kilmuir. The open-air museum was established as early as 1965, when the island was still somewhat off the beaten track and was rarely visited by tourists.
By the 1970s, more than half of Skye's population was still speaking Gaelic. The inhabitants dealt mainly with animal husbandry, fishing, and obtaining peat, which was the main source of heating the households. Much changed when a bridge was thrown across the strait separating Skye from Britain in 1995 and the strenuous ferry journey through the treacherous waters of the Sound Strait was no longer a necessity.
In the open-air museum, which is considered to be one of the most interesting in the Islands, several original, stone, thatched huts have been opened to the public. The exhibition inside presents the everyday life and hardships of a farmer, weaver, or blacksmith's life in the harsh climate of the far north. We will also learn the secrets of the art of peat digging.
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| You can fall in love with the harsh climate of the island of Skye |
For centuries, in the lands of today's Scotland, a very deeply entrenched clan hierarchy was in force . Until the 18th century, it was the basic form of social organization in the Highlands . Kindred Scots who have their own coat of arms, call, the pattern of tartan - the fabric from which the traditional kilt is made, and the clan march choose a warden who resides in the castle from among their clan members.
Dunvegan Castle in the western part of the island is the longest castle, continuously since the 12th century, that is over 800 years !, actively serving as the seat of the clan. It is inhabited by the chief of the MacLeod clan - historically the strongest in the Hebrides. The estate of Hugh Magnus MacLeod , the 30th clan chief, covers approximately 17,000 ha. There is a museum in the castle, open in the interwar period and presenting the history of the family inextricably linked with the history of the island. The gardens surrounding it are the pride of the MacLeod headquarters .
The Nature Of The Isle Of Skye In Scotland
Skye is, above all, an opportunity to watch wild nature. The observation of marine animals is especially interesting. We can combine a visit to Dunvegan Castle with a small boat trip from the local marina to see the nearby small colonies of gray seals .
An irregular shoreline, full of protruding rocks and coves, is a dream habitat for these animals. If we are lucky, we can also meet otters, swimming on their backs and eating their greatest delicacy - oysters .
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| The Isle of Skye is part of the Inner Hebrides |
If you are a camera-in-hand adventurer, consider a day trip by speedboat from Portree Harbor to the 85 nautical miles of St. Kilda . This reserve is under the patronage of UNESCO. In 1930, its entire population, following a unanimous decision, was evacuated due to poor sanitary conditions, as evidenced by the Dunvegan Castle Museum .
Today, only soldiers and scientists who study the world's largest colony of gannets and puffins are stationed there . Other seabirds also nest there, including fulmars and barrows. A trip to this "end of the world" is a real sea adventure, during which you can feel like a representative of a geographical society.
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| Livestock is one of the main livelihoods of the inhabitants |
Another option is a cruise to meet the largest marine mammals - whales . The best time for such a trip is from May to October, which is when the most tourists come to the island.
Most often, we see a pygmy whale , but the lucky ones can count on a meeting with a killer whale or a humpback whale. If you find yourself on the right boat at the right time and in the right bay, in the waters surrounding the magical Skye, you can also come across a super herd of bottlenose dolphins , which during the summer months host sea parties here with a guest list of more than several thousand individuals. It is a truly unforgettable sight.
What To See On Skye?
Most sea animal cruises depart from the island's capital, Portree . It is also the most picturesque town of Skye . The port with its frontage of tightly placed low-rise buildings with colorful facades is very picturesque and is a showcase of island architecture.
Traditional fish and chips - fish and chips sprinkled with vinegar nowhere taste so good. It is also nice on the market, above the port, where you can do all the basic shopping. There you will also find a post office, tourist information or catch a bus to the rest of the island.
The city is dominated by a hill with a park where Highland Games are held . It is more than just a traditional sports competition. The Highlander Olympics (yes, yes, although we are on the islands, the rest of the country perceives their inhabitants as highlanders) is a great event for the local Scottish community. These on Skye have been held every year for over 140 years.
Effective competitions include original athletics and strength competitions, such as the throw of a wood log, an anvil, a lumberjack duel, cross-country running, but also artistic competitions in dance or playing bagpipes. The players wear kilts made of fabric corresponding to the clan they come from. Regattas are held in the waters of the Raasay strait . We assure you that the spirit of sport and the atmosphere of the event will absorb you completely.
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| Portree is an extremely charming town on the Isle of Skye |
Active on the Isle of Skye - Quirang and Old Man of Storr
Skye is the hiking queen of the British Isles. Its varied landscape, full of glacial lakes, wetlands, cliffs, waterfalls, soaring peaks, cliffs, vast moors, and the greenest panoramas you can imagine, will delight everyone.
There are not many marked trails on the island, but its topography is well described in hiking guides, and you can easily buy detailed maps even in Poland. There are many possibilities, and we have selected two classic routes for lovers of active recreation.
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| The vicinity of the Quiraing landslide was the setting for an animated film for children |
The aim of the first one is the Quiraing landslide , which was used as a filmland of giants in the fairy tale "Very Cool Giant" . Fine rock formations are found north of Portree . The path starts in the parking lot and the unhurried loop takes about 3 hours.
As a result of tectonic movements, rock carvings were created here that is difficult to describe in words. Some of them, however, have their names. How about a picnic at The Table - that is, just on the table? There are several other places worth visiting in the vicinity of Staffin .
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| There is no shortage of attractions on Skye. You can also swim in the waterfalls on the island |
You can extend your walk and go to the great granite outlier - The Old Man of Storr , which is almost twice as tall as our Maczuga Herkules in Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska, or go down to the can, where Kilt Rock is waiting for you with the only one on the British islands over 60 meters high. a waterfall whose waters go straight to the sea.
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| The rock pinnacle is really huge, twice the size of the Maczuga Herkulesa |
The granite columns of the steep coast form a pattern resembling a pleated skirt. If you look around, you will also find traces of the island's oldest inhabitants - well-preserved footprints of a dinosaur family that walked this way 175 million years ago! Are you curious how your shoe size compares to that of a megalosaurus?
The second suggestion involves a trip south from Portree . On the way towards Skye Bridge, the old stone bridge in Sligachan at the crossroads is impossible to miss . It is the gateway to the most mountainous region of the island - the Cuillin Hills .
Here we have black, gloomy, and hard to reach, basalt Black Cuillins and more gentle, less respectable Red Cuillins . We can go on a short trip to "fairy-tale lakes" - Fairy Pools , a beautiful cascade of reservoirs and small waterfalls, where the most resistant to low temperatures can take a bath.
We can also decide to go on a longer trip. If you have a sleeping bag, walk along the main strip all the way to Camasunary Bay . It is a bay with a sandy beach surrounded by mountains. There is a hut there, where anyone can find a shelter for the night free of charge - in Bothy's Scotch.
You can return to the bridge by taking a roundabout road over Lake Coruisk . A night in Bothy , with a fireplace filled with wood thrown by the sea on the beach and seaweed stalks, is a memory you will gladly think back to.
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| Sheep and scattered farm buildings are the typical landscape of the Isle of Skye |
Skye's Kitchen
In this way, we reached, let's face it, one of our favorite parts of the program - culinary recommendations. At the foot of the Cuillin Hills , in the tiny town of Carbost, there is The Oyster Shed , which is simply a shed with oysters. It is worth visiting to try the greatest delicacy on the island.
It's not just otters that eat Skye oysters . The restaurant serves absolutely fresh and juicy oysters from its own farm in Loch Harport , served in a variety of ways. You will also eat local crabs and lobsters here , all with views of the sea and mountain peaks.
What would a visit to Scotland be without knowing the secrets of the most important Scottish export commodity - Scotch whiskey . A short distance farther west is the Talisker Distillery with a rich heritage.
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| The legendary Talisker Scotch whiskey is being made on the Isle of Skye |
Talisker , one of the northernmost distilleries producing the finest Single Malt whiskey , offers sightseeing opportunities. The guided visit lasts approximately 45 minutes and may be combined with a tasting. The local whiskey, due to the use of peat in the drying process, has very characteristic smoky notes, which distinguishes the island liquor from others.
A bit of magic and the flavors of Skye closed in a bottle of amber alcohol is a good gift idea for friends or relatives who have not had the chance to feel the unique atmosphere of the Isle of Mists just like you.
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