Skye: The Misty Isle

Located off the West Coast of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is the second largest of the Hebridean islands.

Covering an area of 700 square miles, the island is made up of five peninsulas with many hundreds of miles of spectacular coastline. Nowhere, in fact, is further than five miles from the sea.

The stark yet stunning landscape is post glacial with a profusion of fantastic pinnacled hills, soaring cliffs, majestic stacks, stunning sea caves, and the finest range of mountains in the British Isles. The land is steeped in history from the savage clan battles to the devastating clearances.

This combination of unrivalled scenery and romantic stories of by gone days has lead to a thriving tourist industry which supplements the islands traditional economy of crofting and fishing.

The population is small but steadily on the increase as more and more people are attracted to a land that is remote, beautiful, and peaceful yet still can provide the infrastructure for a full and content lifestyle.

Some of the main population centres on the Isle of Skye include:

Portree: the island's capital. This picturesque town nestles half way up the island on the East Coast overlooking the Sound of Raasay. It has a most attractive harbour and is dominated by the peak of Fingal's Seat. The facilities within the town include; three banks, a number of shops, two supermarkets, a hospital, leisure centre, library, the island's secondary High School, a number of hotels and guest houses, several inns, various professional services and five churches.

Broadford: just eight miles from the Skye bridge, Broadford is a reasonable sized town supporting hotels, restaurants, a hospital, and several shops including a supermarket.

Uig: this town is situated in one of the most beautiful bays in Skye and is 15 miles north of Portree on the spectacular Trotternish peninsula. The picturesque houses line the rolling green hills, which slope gently down to the ferry terminal which services the outer isles. There are several shops including a pottery and the famous Isle of Skye Brewery.

Dunvegan: famous for its oldest inhabited castle in the UK, this small town is situated in the northern end of Skye and is 25 miles from Portree. The town has several hotels, shops, a school and a medical centre.

Staffin: known as one of the best farming areas on the island, this town is just a few miles north of Portree. It is surrounded by basaltic pillared rocks, which, along with the many other attractions on the Trotternish peninsula, prove very popular with the tourists. There are a number of shops and hotels, plus an extremely picturesque bay.

Bay at Stein, Waternish