Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Broadford Bay, Skye, Scotland

• Castles
• Gardens
• Mountainous landscapes.
• Seascapes
• A whisky distillery ( Talisker).
• Wildlife including raptors and seals.
• Prehistoric standing stones.
• An iron age ( 2000 year old) dwelling called a broch.
• Traditional peat cutting.
• Waterfalls.
• Artists and craft people. Combination of ever changing light conditions and landscapes offers superb raw material for photographers.
• Colourful harbourside at Portree, the island’s capital.
• Fascinating geological history.

A basic tour of Skye can be undertaken in one full day but some visitors may wish to linger and explore this multi-faceted island.,

Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland

 

 

Popular Mealt Falls in the north of Skye.

Mealt Falls, Skye, Scotland

 

Kilt Rock, adjacent to Mealt Falls. So named due to similarity with a pleated kilt.

 

Kilt Rock, Skye, Scotland

 

 

Rugged scenery featuring the Old Man of Storr (perpendicular rock in right of image).

Old Man of Storr, Skye, Scotland

 

The Quiraing, rugged scenery due to a massive landslip.

 

Quiraing, Skye, Scotland

 

Here is the ferry port of Uig. Connections to the Hebrides available from here. Good stop for lunch in course of a one day island tour.

 

Uig Bay, Skye, Scotland

 

Fairy Glen near Uig. Name inspired by the strange conical hills.

 

Fairy Glen, Skye, Scotland

 

Here are the remains of an Iron-Age Broch. Just the foundation remains. When complete the structure was probably a high status dwelling and about as tall as a lighthouse.

 

Dun Beag Broch, Skye, Scotland

 

Here is Dunvegan Castle, home to the Chief of Clan MacLeod for hundreds of years and open to the public.

 

Dunvegan Castle, Skye, Scotland

 

Interesting view from Elgol at end of a long and winding road from Broadford.

 

Elgol, Skye, Scotland

 

 

 

View of Cuillin Montains

 

Cuillin Mountains, Skye, Scotland

 

 

Sky ablaze at dawn.

Sunrise, Isle of Skye, Scotland

 

 

View from Isleornsay

Isleornsay, Skye, Scotland

 

Invariably, Skye features in my round Scotland tours.

Archway at Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye

This evening, I am focusing on Armadale on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Many times each year I pass through Armadale either arriving or departing Skye via the ferry crossing.

This part of Skye is called Sleat and is traditionally home to Clan Donald. In fact, in times past, this was the location for mansion house residence of the MacDonalds of Sleat. As is evident from images immediately above and below is now a romantic ruin. However, on the same site there is the Clan Donald Visitor Centre with extensive library, archives and a museum which combine to provide a good quality visitor experience and an excellent facilty for researching local ancestry. There are also immaculately kept gardens in the grounds of the ruined castle which are particularly colourful in Springtime as a function of a well endowed population of azaleas and rhododendrons.

Ruins of Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye, Scotland

At the ferry terminal at the harbour there is small collection of art, craft  and textile shops which are of interest to ferry passengers whilst waiting for departures.

Armadale Harbour, Skye, Scotland

The ferry crossing to/from Armadale offers wonderful scenic views of Knoydart  and sometimes dolphins  can be spotted.

Broadford Bay, Isle of Skye, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on the village of Broadford on the Isle of Skye.

From my perspective, Broadford is strategically situated for tours of Skye  being relatively close to both the Skye Bridge, Kyleakin  and the ferry port at Armadale. Other facilities include:

• A wide variety of lodgings.
• Supermarket with cash machine.
• Tourist Information Office.
• A ‘craft enclave’ comprising art gallery, jewellery, textiles and second hand bookshop.
• A few good restaurants.

From a historic perspective, ath is the Gaelic name for ford and Broadford is a literal translation from the Gaelic an Ath Leathan.  In the 18th century, Broadford started life as a cattle market and later became the hub for access to other parts of the islands, much as it is today.

Here is a video clip  of the harbour looking towards Broadford.

Broadford Harbour, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Broadford Landscape, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Sunset at Broadford, Isle of Skye, Scotland

As stated above, I view Broadford as an excellent base for touring Skye.