Portray of the Destination
The Isle of Skye offers its visitors many opportunities to bask in the history, culture and great
outdoors of the Island. The plummeting sea cliffs and white coral beaches that lie on the Northwest
of the Island replicate the wing of a great bird. Wildlife such as red deer and sea eagles are not
a rare sight, not to mention sea creatures ranging from whales and sharks to seals and puffins. The
sea also doubles as a divers' haven, as shipwrecks and a vibrant, colourful marine are there to be
explored. Amazing and fiery sunsets are not a rarity either, surely not to be missed.
The Northeast of Skye sports a coastline that creates one of the most dramatic formations within
the UK. It is also home to the Trotternish Peninsula which is the largest on the Island. The
Northeast coastline is said to be the best stretch of earth in the UK to enjoy walking. There are
plenty of castles to visit whether it be the last medieval castle to be built on the island; Hughs
castle or the ruins of Duntulm castle. Within this district the Gaelic language is regularly
spoken.
Just as the Northwest is a divers' playground, central Skye is a mountaineers' playground as
there are many shattered peaks and vertical faces waiting to be challenged. Central Skye is where
the Island’s larger towns and villages can be found which are also accompanied by many tourist
amenities and facilities. A breathtaking view of the bay awaits those who visit and the vibrant and
magical contrast of the bold green mountains and deep blue sea that lay among the Islands ever
changing topography is a sight for all eyes to experience.
The Isle of Skye is full to the brim of amazing views and a chance to journey through time.
Unique craft shops, inspirational museums and panoramic views add to the pleasure of visiting the
Island. It is paradise for those who enjoy the outdoors and an adventure for those wanting to
explore and experience the lands that lay upon the Isle of Skye.
We would like to thank the tourist board of Scotland ‘Visit Scotland’ for supplying us with
images and text. For more information on the Isle of Skye visit:
www.visitscotland.com
Geography
The Isle of Skye’s amazing topography was created by fierce volcanic activity dating back to a
million years ago. The Island consists of over 350 miles of breathtaking coastline and also
glorious mountains, moorland and lochs.
After the Isle of Lewis, the Isle of Skye is the second biggest Island in Scotland. The
Island is home to the world renowned Cuillin mountains which are said to be some of the most
spectacular and striking mountain topography within Scotland. Situated across the island is an
abundance of history, culture, monuments, castles and memorials all contributing to the Isle Skye’s
wealthy heritage.
There are a series of peninsulas within the Isle of Skye such as Sleat which is located
within the southwest region of the island. Further to the west peninsulas including Strathraird,
Minginish, Duirinish and Waternish can be found.
Climate
The Isle of Skye has got a reputation for being a rainy and foggy island, hence where the name the “
The Misty Isle” comes from. With regards to the temperature on the island it is quite reasonable.
However, people generally tend not to label the Isle of Skye with a climate as it changes daily and
occasionally several times during the day.
When to go
The best time to visit the Isle of Skye is during the summer months. This is because the weather is
warmer and also as there are more visitors during this period attractions are opened longer, public
transport is more frequent and there are many festivals to enjoy.
History
For over 400 hundred years Vikings have settled on the Isle of Skye and dominated it for much of
that time also. As with most of Scotland the Isle of Skye also has a clan history which is best
described as turbulent. The Clans of Skye include Clan Macdonald’s, the Lords of the Isle (Armadale
Castle) and the Clan MacLeod (Dunvegan Castle).
A prominent part of the Isle of Skye's history is the potato famine which the highland areas
of Scotland endured during the 18th century. Many lives were lost especially amongst children and
the older generation. The Island also suffered clearances during the later stages of the 18th
century seeing many moving to built-up areas within mainland Scotland such as Glasgow and
Edinburgh. Both factors contributed to the near demise of the Island's population which was
calculated at less than 10,000 at the 1991 census.
The introduction of the Skye Bridge was a major positive factor of the Isle of Skye’s history
as it is a link to mainland Scotland as it made access a lot easier to and from the island.
However, when opened there was a toll of £5.70 which was highly opposed. Now the bridge is no
longer under private ownership and tolls have been removed.
Traditions
An annual festival on Skye is the Isle of Skye Music Festival. The festival draws thousands of
visitors to the island and also famous celebrities and artists to perform at the festival. There
are also many other traditional music festivals on the island such as Skye Accordion and Fiddle
Festival and Drums in the field which consists of the island's best Celtic bands. Another
traditional and very important festival on the Island is the Isle of Skye Highland Games which is
usually on the 9th of August.
Gastronomy
The Isle of Skye does not really have a local dish but they do tend to cook with fish. They
tend to use fresh local produce within their dishes and also have readily available food such as
Haggis and shortbread and there is defiantly no shortage of Malt whisky.
Many of the restaurants can be found within the island's capital, Portree, including an Indian
and Chinese restaurant, many cafes and plenty of Fish and Chip shops. It is not unusual for
visitors to eat out within many of the island's hotels, many are award winning.
Currency Exchange
The following exchange rates are to 1 pound sterling.
(USA) $1.89
(CAD) $2.12
(EUR) €1.48
(AUD) $2.47
Prices
Prices within the isle of Skye are reasonable. As there is a lot of local produce sold, the price
of items are to their value. The cost of eating out and socialising is average to that of any town.
Prices do not reach those of major cities.
Useful Info
Official nameIsle of Skye
CountryScotland
Time ZoneGMT
Official LanguageEnglish
Surface area1700 km2
Population10,000 inhabitants
Political RegimeConstitutional Monarchy
Public holidays1st January (New Year's Day)
2nd January (Hogmanay Bank Holiday)
Friday before Easter Sunday (Good Friday)
First Monday in May (Early May Bank Holiday)
Last Monday in May (Spring Bank Holiday/Whitsun)
First Monday in August (Summer bank Holiday)
25th December (Christmas Day)
26TH December (Boxing Day)
ReligionThe most prominent religion within Scotland and The Isle of Skye are Christians of the Church of
Scotland, however, there is freedom of worship.
ReligionMost of the population is Anglican, but there are also Roman Catholic, Muslim, Presbyterian, Methodist , Sikh, Hindu, Jewish.
Arrival / DepartureIf travelling into the Isle of Skye by car, access is only granted over the Skye bridge. However,
it is not recommended that you travel by car to the Island as there are more efficient modes of
transport. The most highly recommended form of transport to get to The Isle of Skye is by train and
then ferry. The easiest way of doing so is boarding a train to Glasgow, then transferring on a
train to Mallaig, which can take up to six hours, and then finally boarding a ferry to Isle of Skye
which only takes around twenty minutes. It is possible to travel to and from the Isle of Skye by
bus but as it is the cheapest option of travelling it may be quite a tiring, long and uncomfortable
journey.
SafetyThe Isle of Skye is a very safe place to visit but general care for yourself and personal
belongings should be taken.
VisaCitizens from the European Union do not require a visa. Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States do not require a visa for
visits under 6 months. Most other countries will require a visa, which can be obtained from the
nearest British Embassy or Consulate.
ClothingWith weather that is constantly changing it is advised to wear clothes that can be layered when
visiting the island. The weather is highly unlikely to be very hot on the island so warm clothes
are advisable.
ElectricityBritish-style 3 blade plug
240V
Radio and TelevisionThe most regularly watched television broadcasting that is watched on the Isle of Skye is BBC
Scotland. Gaelic television is also available in the form of Teleg which is a daily Gaelic TV
channel which can be accessed through ONDigital. If you have access to digital television then it
is possible to tune into all major international channels.
TelephoneScotland (+44)
Isle of Skye – Portree (1478)
Isle of Skye – Broadford (1471)
Isle of Skye – Edinbane (1470)
Police999
Ambulance999
Fire Brigade999
Tourist health care servicesScotland’s 24 hour health care service - 08454 242424
Newspapers and MagazinesThe West Highland Free Press is a long established newspaper which is based in Broadford, the Isle
of Skye. It is a free newspaper which is distributed amongst the western highland areas. An
Gaidheal Úr, is the only Gaelic newspaper in the world and is read by many residents of the Island.
Postal ServiceThere is an efficient postal service within Skye and also many local post offices where packages
and letters can be sent locally or internationally.
Health Care ServicesDr Mackinnon Memorial Hospital
High Road
Broadford
Isle of Skye
IV49 9AA
Tel: 01471 822491
Fax: 014710 822298
Situated 9 miles away from the Skye Bridge is Dr Mackinnon Memorial Hospital. The hospital
provides a twenty four hour Accident and Emergency Service and stabilises patients who are in
critical conditions. There are also many doctor's surgeries situated around the island.
AirportThe Isle of Skye’s airport is located within its Broadford area and tends to deal with domestic and
European flights. If travelling internationally it is advised to travel to and from airports such
as Glasgow that has more of a range of destinations to fly from.
Public TransportIt is possible to travel around the Isle of Skye via public buses during mid-week however it is not
advised to plan weekends around the schedule of the bus service as there are not services
that run regularly and there are none that run on Sundays. Within the winter months it is virtually
impossible to be able to get around on public transport as it is virtually none existent.
RailwayTrains can be boarded within Inverness which will then depart at Kyle or alternatively from Glasgow
to Mallaig which passes through Fort William, after which, access to the Isle of Skye can be gained
via the Skye bridge or via ferry mainly departing from Mallaig.
BusWhen travelling around the Isle of Skye the bus is not the most reliable option. This is because
they tend to be semi-infrequent and also they do not run on Sundays at all. It is possible to
travel on buses if you look at the timetable and the name of the bus company that operates in the
area that you want to travel to.
CarIt is not really necessary to hire a car when wanting to travel around the Isle of Skye because
there are much cheaper options and more efficient ways of travelling around the island. There are
car hire companies within the island but users should make themselves aware of the many one-way
roads before they hire a car.
Car RentalsPortree Coachworks
Tel: 01478 61288
Kyle Taxi Company
01599534323
ShipFerries travel to and from the area of Armadale on the Isle of Skye to Mallaig, mainland Scotland,
which is around twenty minutes travelling time. Alternatively, ferries crossings can also be made
from Kylerhea to Glenelg. Train times and Ferry times tend to be synchronised in the case of the
route Mallaig to Armadale.
Destination Tourism Office in Spain Spanish embassy in the destination See climatewww.worldweather.comCurrency converterwww.xe.com/ucc/A dinner20 Pounds
A coffee1.50 Pounds
The Bus1.50 Pounds
