22/05/2024
This is an excellent post by Jack Murray pasted from another Skye page.
My partner and I have just completed an amazing week on your beautiful island. It gets more magical every single time we visit.
A few bits of advice/opinion for anyone due to travel here for the first time:
Roads
The roads aren't nearly as bad as people online make out. I think a good few of the troublesome single track roads/roads in to the main "attractions" have been relaid since last year, mind, so that may have made it easier. If you drive to the conditions, use passing places correctly, and allow traffic behind to overtake you if you need to go slow, you'll be absolutely fine. There are only a few places where potholes are a major issue in our experience but these are easy to navigate if you simply take your time.
Food
We'd read that it's a major struggle to get booked in for food. We were in self catering accommodation, so only booked out for tea three times, but had no issues either time. First at the Isle of Skye Candle Co, second with the Sligachan Hotel, lastly with the Uig Hotel. Both had ample slots available. There are also plenty of amazing little cafés, shacks, honesty boxes etc to visit through the day.
Crowds
We didn't notice any of the main attractions were majorly overcrowded, but this was because we planned the "big" ones around times less likely to be crowded. We did the Old Man of Storr, Fairy Pools etc either very early or very late. You had a handful of people, roads were relaxed, and you only got the crowds as you were heading back to the car. Skye can be as busy or as empty as you make it, it's simply all about timing.
Now a few slight gripes we had, and these aren't meant as a slight to anyone, merely observations that we found worthy of mentioning in case anyone doesn't know/understand a few things.
Manners
We found ourselves frustrated quite a few times with the lack of manners from tourists (yes, we are aware that we are ourselves tourists). Waiting at passing places or pulling in to allow people past, the lack of acknowledgement or thanks from people was astounding. That said, we are also aware this could well just be a cultural thing and not something widely practiced, and that we are simply accustomed to it in British culture that we take offence if it isn't reciprocated. A simple hand raise here to acknowledge someone has been kind to you goes a long way.
Driving
Please, please, please, if you aren't confident and feel you have to go slow, pull into a passing place if traffic starts to build. We had a guy the other day collect a ten vehicle convoy from the Storr down to Sconser because he refused to go over 20-25mph on the 60mph road, and refused to use a passing place to allow people to pass. It's frustrating driving on a road like that when you aren't confident, but even more frustrating for those behind when they're held up. This is mainly a complaint aimed at helping locals. They may well have to get somewhere quickly. We also noticed a lot of people either slowing to a complete stop in the middle of roads with no warning, swerving without indication/late indication, or simply driving dangerously so they could gawp at the sights whilst driving. Please don't endanger others for the sake of you feeling the need to see something.
Litter
Please take it back with you. We noticed an awful lot of litter just left around the trails up to, and sometimes at/in the attractions. We went for a walk up Sligachan river last night and there was actually half eaten pizza just discarded by the river bank and in the water itself. You may not care about cleanliness or respect at home, but please respect the people of Skye and keep their island beautiful.
Anyway, that's just a few different points we wanted to mention. Our week on this island has been utterly magical and we can't wait to return in the future for a 3rd and 4th time respectively!
Hope this doesn't upset anyone, merely trying to help people who may not understand a few things have an easier time of it :)
