Isle of Skye - December....
Discussion
Use the bridge if weather gets really bad - though it was closed to high sided vehicles this morning its not often fully shut. There is a ferry leaving from the tail end of the island but I have only used that once.
Its pretty variable up here at the minute, one second howling gales, then snow then rain, then sun-shine - so pretty normal for us
Its pretty variable up here at the minute, one second howling gales, then snow then rain, then sun-shine - so pretty normal for us
Edited by halo25 on Monday 10th November 21:04
No need for a ferry - the bridge (now toll-free) will solve any issues of lumps seas - not that it's that far away from the mainland anyway!
Mrs GB and I have been up there several times in October and November, and it's beautiful. Yes, it might snow, and yes, it might be a bit cold and blowy, but it's a stunning place - especially when all the other tourist have given up and gone home.
Fantastic driving roads too - not checked your profile, but whatever your own personal fleet comprises of, you won't be disappointed.....
Mrs GB and I have been up there several times in October and November, and it's beautiful. Yes, it might snow, and yes, it might be a bit cold and blowy, but it's a stunning place - especially when all the other tourist have given up and gone home.
Fantastic driving roads too - not checked your profile, but whatever your own personal fleet comprises of, you won't be disappointed.....
Cheers all does sound too bad at all, and would be nice to get away from it all.
Carwise - hoping to pick an mx-5 up over the next few days so it would be its first proper road trip, as i'm currently carless.
The cabin we have been offered is on the southern penisula of Sleat, on the coats line facing accross Loch Eishort to the Cuillins?
(yes i took that from the promotional blurb)
Carwise - hoping to pick an mx-5 up over the next few days so it would be its first proper road trip, as i'm currently carless.
The cabin we have been offered is on the southern penisula of Sleat, on the coats line facing accross Loch Eishort to the Cuillins?
(yes i took that from the promotional blurb)
Ah Skye at New Year, brings back a few memories!
1) Trying to pitch a tent in the rain and in a gale on a small piece of grass just next to the Sligachan. We took the tent out of the bag and immediately it was horizontal like a streamer - the wind was that severe. Thought that there was lightning until we noticed folks taking pictures of us through the bar windows. Buggers!
2) Tent erect and nice and warm now in the pub, que a stream of very wet freshers coming though the door, some crying and carrying wet sleeping bags and clothes. They had returned to their tents on the closed campsite to find that the river had flooded and had washed some of the tents away. Tarquin (yes really) from the Oxford mountaineering club couldn't understand it 'I've been coming here for 3 years and nothing like this has ever happened before'
3) Whisky and lots of it. Drunken and unsuccessful invitations to the better looking homeless girlies to come back to our tent.
4) Raging hangovers and snow in the morning.
Must do it again soon!
1) Trying to pitch a tent in the rain and in a gale on a small piece of grass just next to the Sligachan. We took the tent out of the bag and immediately it was horizontal like a streamer - the wind was that severe. Thought that there was lightning until we noticed folks taking pictures of us through the bar windows. Buggers!
2) Tent erect and nice and warm now in the pub, que a stream of very wet freshers coming though the door, some crying and carrying wet sleeping bags and clothes. They had returned to their tents on the closed campsite to find that the river had flooded and had washed some of the tents away. Tarquin (yes really) from the Oxford mountaineering club couldn't understand it 'I've been coming here for 3 years and nothing like this has ever happened before'
3) Whisky and lots of it. Drunken and unsuccessful invitations to the better looking homeless girlies to come back to our tent.
4) Raging hangovers and snow in the morning.
Must do it again soon!
There's only one ferry in Winter from Mallaig to Armadale, Skye. You're best heading to the bridge, plus the A87 is quite a fun road!
You might encounter snow on the journey though, A82 (around Glencoe) and possibly on some of the higher ground, it can suddenly appear round a bend so be careful. Usually the main roads are well gritted and fairly snow free.
Winter on Skye is usually pretty mild thanks to the Gulf Stream. You see snow on the mountains but rarely on the ground. In fact I can only think of once(maybe twice) that there's been snow at New Year in 15 odd years.
You might encounter snow on the journey though, A82 (around Glencoe) and possibly on some of the higher ground, it can suddenly appear round a bend so be careful. Usually the main roads are well gritted and fairly snow free.
Winter on Skye is usually pretty mild thanks to the Gulf Stream. You see snow on the mountains but rarely on the ground. In fact I can only think of once(maybe twice) that there's been snow at New Year in 15 odd years.
Hello and welcome to the Isle of Skye blether board..........
Weather today is, well lets say there is lots of it.
High winds, gusting, rain, cold. At Ardelve (10 mile from Skye Bridge) it was absolutely lashing down at lunch time, only heavy rain at Kyle but so cold I had pains in my face and this afternon on Skye it was raining so heavily wifey got soaked from car to door (about 6 metres).
New Year can be cold wet and windy or sunny and bright. Remember a few years ago we spent Boxing Day out walking in a few inches of snow on a lovely sunny day but since then it's been variable.
What were you planning to do when up here? Walking, Posh Hotel, Visiting friends? Camp?
Depending upon where you are travelling from, the Bridge at Kyle is free, there is a ferry from Kylerhea to Glenelg which is a treat to use (6 cars max and a piece of history)if it is running then, as they take it off fo restoration, or there is the bigger Calmac Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. Busy and regular runs in the summer it drops to about 3 times aday in winter so check the times on the Calmac website. A bit pricy in my opinion but plenty use it as it is the more traditional way of getting to the island and it saves around 50 miles and 50 minutes on the Fort William to Skye stretch.
And Finally, if you are travelling up through Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, and the stretch from the Cluanie to Shiel Bridge at dusk or dawn WATCH OUT FOR DEER. they have no road sense and many are related to the Japanese Hari Kari suicide pilots of WW2. Can guarentee that a collision will result in a large bill at best and a trip to hospital at worst.
If you need any advice about the place, hotels, etc drop me a line. To add the big hotels generally are open but many restaurants and B&B's close in October for the winter as the tourist trade dies off with the exception of Christmas/New Year. The B&B's Restaurants don't reopen for those weeks though.
Tony H
Weather today is, well lets say there is lots of it.
High winds, gusting, rain, cold. At Ardelve (10 mile from Skye Bridge) it was absolutely lashing down at lunch time, only heavy rain at Kyle but so cold I had pains in my face and this afternon on Skye it was raining so heavily wifey got soaked from car to door (about 6 metres).
New Year can be cold wet and windy or sunny and bright. Remember a few years ago we spent Boxing Day out walking in a few inches of snow on a lovely sunny day but since then it's been variable.
What were you planning to do when up here? Walking, Posh Hotel, Visiting friends? Camp?
Depending upon where you are travelling from, the Bridge at Kyle is free, there is a ferry from Kylerhea to Glenelg which is a treat to use (6 cars max and a piece of history)if it is running then, as they take it off fo restoration, or there is the bigger Calmac Ferry from Mallaig to Armadale. Busy and regular runs in the summer it drops to about 3 times aday in winter so check the times on the Calmac website. A bit pricy in my opinion but plenty use it as it is the more traditional way of getting to the island and it saves around 50 miles and 50 minutes on the Fort William to Skye stretch.
And Finally, if you are travelling up through Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, and the stretch from the Cluanie to Shiel Bridge at dusk or dawn WATCH OUT FOR DEER. they have no road sense and many are related to the Japanese Hari Kari suicide pilots of WW2. Can guarentee that a collision will result in a large bill at best and a trip to hospital at worst.
If you need any advice about the place, hotels, etc drop me a line. To add the big hotels generally are open but many restaurants and B&B's close in October for the winter as the tourist trade dies off with the exception of Christmas/New Year. The B&B's Restaurants don't reopen for those weeks though.
Tony H
Skyedriver said:
Hello and welcome to the Isle of Skye blether board..........
Tony H
Thanks Tony, Tony H
It would be a short break - 5 days to a week.
Me the missus and another couple in a cabin we have been offered near to Ord.
We'd just be looking to get away from it all for a few days, and have a chang eover the new year really.
Travelling up from Sheffield - so a fair distance!
Had visions of the whole island closing down from October to March but it sounds quite habitable!
I also didn't realise how big it was! Thanks again
Dan
dan1981 said:
It would be a short break - 5 days to a week.
Me the missus and another couple in a cabin we have been offered near to Ord.
We'd just be looking to get away from it all for a few days, and have a chang eover the new year really.
Ord is quite remote in that it's down a single track road and there's not many houses there. However it is within driving distance (15 miles) to Broadford which has a decent Co-op supermarket, bank, few hotels etc. Me the missus and another couple in a cabin we have been offered near to Ord.
We'd just be looking to get away from it all for a few days, and have a chang eover the new year really.
In the other direction is Armadale (9 miles) which has a Gaelic College and they are bound to be holding a Hogmanay Ceilidh! You just need to designate a driver.
Catz said:
northwest monkey said:
Woohoo
Off to Skye (near Broadford I think) on Jan 2 & can't wait
Could do with some info on the place though...
What do you need to know? I know that area very well Off to Skye (near Broadford I think) on Jan 2 & can't wait
Could do with some info on the place though...
Either ask away here or send me an email.
If you could help it would be very much appreciated
northwest monkey said:
Catz said:
northwest monkey said:
Woohoo
Off to Skye (near Broadford I think) on Jan 2 & can't wait
Could do with some info on the place though...
What do you need to know? I know that area very well Off to Skye (near Broadford I think) on Jan 2 & can't wait
Could do with some info on the place though...
Either ask away here or send me an email.
If you could help it would be very much appreciated
There's also what we call "The Top Shop" in Broadford, privately run and sells lottery tickets
, it's near the Post Office.Wi-fi access isn't the norm. Next to the Co-op there's a launderette which has internet access, although it seems to have been out of order for ages. Possibly try the library in Broadford for internet access.
Broadford doesn't look the prettiest of towns, basically many houses and a few shops over the space of a few miles however you said "near Broadford" so that might change things a fair bit. The scenery all looks stunning to me anyway!
Lots of shoreline to look for crabs (for a 14 month old); also a bit of sandy beach nearby, when the tides out, called "Ashaig" (you might need to ask a local to point the way); your kiddie might be a little young but there's a Serpentarium in Broadford too where you can handle a snake.
I think the tourist info in Broadford is shut at that time of year but generally if you just follow a road you'll probably happen upon something worth looking at. Guess it depends what you're into right enough.
I love Skye though, it's always fantastic to me!
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