Broadford a Taste of Sea Air and other Isle of Skye, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

Small & Rural

Broadford is the second biggest town on the Isle of Skye, but it is tiny really. Good things really do come in small packages and Broadford is packed with them, not buildings of note or great monuments, but great seascapes, rolling landscapes, beautiful wild flowers and distant mountains are all yours here. We took a walk to An Gidhe Mor (Broadford Pier) where you can sit for ages watching the sea and the town in the distance. We then went walking a bit further to Rubh'an Eireannaich (Irishman's Point) the wild flowers, gentle weather and spectacular scenery were a joy to behold - ah to be alone in Broadford with just nature for company is truely very special.

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Address: Broadford Isle of Skye
Directions: In the south east of the Island Broadford is the first place you will come to
Website: www.isleofskye.net

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Things To Do: On this Island you can never leave the sea

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 27, 2006

Artificial Reefs - Very Natural

We sat for ages looking across the sea towards Applecross and the Torridon Mountain Range on mainland Scotland, Catching glimpses of the tiny islands with so few trees you can count them, in perfect peace and harmony with nature, you can't beat this sort of pleasure. I love the sea and find great beauty even in lobster creels and little fishing boats who's magic can spirit you away. The colourful artificial reefs are placed on the seabed to grow shell fish, I'm glad they were out of the sea and drying nicely in the sunshine. We spent quite some time here and only saw one person, he was fishing but stopped for a chat by the sea.

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Address: Broadford Isle of Skye
Directions: When you pass the Bank walk left and follow the narrow track you will then come to the pier
Website: www.isleofskye.net

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Things To Do: Dramatic Scenery Awaits While You Search

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 27, 2006

Uig is the name but not the

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by scottishvisitor , 3 more photos

We went in search of the Fairy Glen and ended up in Uig. Uig is the place to catch a ferry for travellers to Harris. I wasn't looking for a ferry, just a Fairy Glen, the name Uig sounded ugly to me but it missed the description by miles. The dramatic headland, scattered with tiny white houses, the ever changing weather loaded sky and the colour changing hues on the sea left us with feelings of wonder. We decided this place should be renamed, but no, let's keep it that way UIG = Uninteruppted Inviting Glory.

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Address: Uig Isle of Skye
Directions: On the A87 North West Skye
Website: www.isleofskye.net

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Things To Do: We found a Brewery on Skye & its opposition

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 28, 2006

The Brewery

by scottishvisitor , 3 more photos

Our search for the Fairy Glen led us into Uig to ask for directions. No one seemed to be arounds this tiny village, the ferries had all gone for the day, so we popped into the only place with people here, Skye's very own Brewery, we didn't take a tour, I wanted to make sure we were sober to see the Fairy Glen. The Brewery staff were very helpful, pointing us in the right direction. As we set out once again on our mission we stopped at the Free Church of Scotland, perched high above the village. I had to laugh, the Wee Free, as it is known in Scotland is opposed to alcohol and would see it banned if it could = funny how a tiny place could have two Great Traditions in rivallry with each other.

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Address: Uig Isle of Skye
Directions: North Western Skye
Website: www.isleofskye.net

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Things To Do: Find the Fairy Glen and its magic

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 28, 2006

The Little Lochan

We saw a lot of stunning scenery in our search for this the Fairy Glen. You won't find the glen marked in any guide book or placed in any maps. A secret place I read about in the "Skye Visitor" We travelled up the single track road to get here, then walked through the magical glen in awe and wonder. Great Mountains would bow down if they could see the perfectly conicalled little hills. Great Loch would weep at the sight of the little lochan. We saw no Fairies but we were not quite alone in the magical Glen - we did spot someone, he was wearing a kilt, high above us, I took a picture and when I looked back up, he was gone. We still had some company with us but they were just the Fairies sheep happily grazing on the greenest grass I ever saw.

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Address: Near Uig Isle of Skye
Directions: Near the Free Church and a sign posted Sladair with a dead end sign
Website: www.ilseofskye.net

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Things To Do: If Skye had a Capital Then This Would Be It

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 28, 2006

Colourful Houses

Portree is the main town on Skye but still, like the rest of Skye, has few Street names. The town is named in Gaelic "Port Righ" - the King's Port after a very early tourist's visit by James V1. Gaelic scholars would argue this name and much prefer to call the town Port Ruighe with a more apt meaning = Port of the Slopes. Portree has a very busy sheltered fishing harbour bordered by rows of colourful houses. We saw photographes of the Market Square before our visit - it looked large and lively but it isn't, it is just a small square with a bus station for local buses. Portree is a popular place with tourists, but not for me, apart from the colourful houses, it has nothing special.

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Address: Portree Isle of Skye
Website: www.isleofskye.net

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Things To Do: The most visited place on Skye

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 28, 2006

Welcome to Dunvegan

Dunvegan Castle has been home to the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly eight hundred years and it remains their home today. The Castle is built on a rock and was once surrounded by sea water to complete its defences. Dunvegan is unique in Scotland being the oldest inhabited castle to have retained its family and its roof no wonder then the Clan motto is "Hold Fast" with a bull pictured in the clan crest. Dunvegan was much too busy for me - I hate being stuck behind the masses, so did not enjoy the visit but if you are into clan history and want to see the famous Fairy Flag then Dunvegan Castle is for you.

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Phone: 01470 621206
Address: Dunvegan Isle of Skye
Directions: North west on the Isle of Skye
Website: www.dunvegancastle.com

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Things To Do: If you don't like the crowds = choose the gardens

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 30, 2006

The Waterfall

If you visit Dunvegan Castle, and like me, don't like crowded places = then visit the gardens. These lovely gardens are included in your entry ticket and for me anyway well worth the ticket price. Hardly anyone was visiting this green oasis, most tourists come by the bus load, view the Castle, then leave. We took our time and were naturally rewarded. The gardens have many paths which lead you to shimmering ponds and little burns all fed by the sparkling waters of the cascading waterfall. The gardens are surrounded by acres of woodland glades, where you can enjoy a series of long nature walks. So Dunvegan Castle did not disappoint me, but rather touched my soul.

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Phone: 01470 521206
Address: Dunvegan Castle Isle of Skye IV559WF
Directions: North West Skye
Website: www.dunvegancastle.com

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Things To Do: Armadale - the house of Clan Donald

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Updated by scottishvisitor

on Sep 29, 2006

A Ruin and a Beauty

Clan Donald translates literally into 'The Children of Donald' but more commonly called MacDonald which means the same thing. The clan chiefs were 'Lords of the Isles' until 1493 when the Scottish King took the title away. The clan has seven main branches = you might recognise some of the place names = ANTRIM ARDNAMURCHAN CLANRANALD GLENCOE GLENGARRY KEPPOCH and SLEAT they held extensive estates from Ulster to Skye. The estates over time were sold or confiscated. Finally, in 1971 the last remaining lands of the Clan Chiefs came up for sale, these were the estates in Skye. Luckily, they fell into friendly hands, the Clan Donald Lands Trust supported by Clan Donald members worldwide. Clan Donald is the largest Clan in Scotland and descendants of the thousands of MacDonald who emigrated, also make it the largest Clan in the World. The House of Donald is just a ruin but I found it possessed great beauty and bygone splendour, there are far off plans, if money allows, to re build - but I seriously hope this never happens and Armadale Castle remains a beautiful ruin.

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Phone: 01471 844305
Address: Armadale Castle, Armadale, Sleat
Directions: South west tip of Skye in Armadale, Sleat
Website: www.clandonald.com

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Things To Do: A Gardener's Dream

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Written by scottishvisitor

on Sep 30, 2006

A Gardeber's Paradise