The Skye's the limit

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Relatively speaking, I was on home soil for this trip, and acting as a tour companion for a couple who had flown in from the Far East to take in the sights and sounds of this Scottish gem which many a seasoned traveller sings the praises of. Driving to Skye from home in Yorkshire was, in terms of journey time, something akin to a long-haul flight, and it therefore came as no surprise that the first port of call on the island was to be Kyleakin, a stone's throw from Skye bridge. My newly-purchased satnav took us to the guest house's doorstep, which was as convenient as you could have asked for, and first impressions of the island were as pleasant as any member of our mini tour party could have hoped for. The B and B overnight stays were booked comfortably in advance, and they pretty much dictated the route taken around the island, which took in pretty much all the points of interest on the island along the way. A stay at the 'Pink Guest House' in Portree, the island's chief town, allowed us pretty views of the local harbour, and the town offered the closest you'd come on the island to a bona fide shopping culture. Reaching the Museum of Island Life up towards the northern coast enabled us to gain an insight into the history of the Crofters, and to see how island life had evolved over the ages. When we eventually reached the remote village of Glendale, in the far north-western corner of Skye, it felt like we'd stumbled upon a part of Scotland which had been spared any real attempt at development beyond its natural setting, and arguably, it doesn't get too much more authentic than that. Driving home from Skye made me realize that there is a fair amount of depth and diversity to the UK's natural terrain, and that mad-for-it overseas travellers like myself need never assume that they need to board a plane in order to see tantalizingly fine landscapes complimented by warm-spirited hospitality.

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Photos

Portree
Portree, the island's chief town - no prizes for guessing which is the 'Pink Guest House'!

Clifftop
Not all cliffs are as green-looking as this one, I'll concede

Museum
The Museum of Island Life - a slice of Skye's traditional culture

Lighthouse
Lighthouse at Neist Point, Isle of Skye

Scenery
Rolling scenery, as we rolled past by car!