Outer Hebrides 1 - Skye

 9 - 14 May 2024

 Hebrides Overture

We’d tried, and failed, to get to Skye back in 2011, so another attempt was overdue. However, having seen a lot of photographs from the Outer Hebrides, gradually the plan evolved, and Skye became the start point for our adventure. Ferries and campsites were booked, and we were ready for the off.

Our first night was at CMC Strathclyde Country Park, conveniently located close to the M74, the drawback being the traffic noise. Otherwise the usual high quality site with the added bonus of warm sunshine.  There's a loch nearby which you can walk or cycle around if you want to stretch your legs.

 
The route to Skye could be navigated by lochs, rather than by road numbers: Lomond, Leven, Linnhe, Lochy, Garry, Loyne,Cluanoe, Duich, Alsh, then over the bridge and on to the Skye Camping and Caravanning Site at Edinbane. We had underestimated how long this journey of 237 miles would take and regretted not having time to linger on the way. We did manage to sneak into a car park alongside Loch Duich to photograph the iconic Eilean Donan castle

Although our pitch was not by the water, it was elevated and looked out over Loch Greshornish and we enjoyed a pretty sunset.

Due to a leisurely start next day there was a lot of competition for the available parking on the Trotternish peninsula and no chance of stopping at The Storr at the first attempt. We drove on to a new and fairly empty car park near Loch Mealt where there was a viewpoint and waterfall....

 ...and then headed back the way we had come and managed to find parking to enable us to climb up towards The Old Man of Storr. Even though we took the easier route it was still quite strenuous. The views were impressive, but would have been even better without the gloomy weather.

 

The forecast rain held off .... for the time being. However, back at the site we had a thunderstorm, which didn't last long, but heavy rain resumed just as John set off to do the washing up!

We opted to use the bus on Monday to go into Portree. The bus service was a bit limited but enabled us to do a short walk around the edge of the bay to Black Rock, where it's possible to see seals or sea eagles; sadly we saw neither. We then found a restaurant for a delicious fish and chip lunch before a look at the colourful buildings along the harbour.

 

The bus back was one of the many used by the school children, ferrying them back to distant places on Skye. The rather curmudgeonly driver was very strict with them.

On Tuesday we drove up to Uig (pronounced oo-ig) for the afternoon ferry to Lochmaddy on North Uist. It was a miserable, wet and foggy morning which put us off any exploring in that vicinity. The terminal is undergoing a £3.5 million redevelopment, due for completion in Spring 2025.

Even in early May Skye seemed very busy. We didn’t see the dramatic scenery at it’s best, due to the rain and haziness. However, the gorse and carpets of bluebells were very colourful.

Farewell to Skye