Skye & Lochalsh

The Isle of Skye is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides.

Sometimes referred to in Gaelic poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle), the Isle of Skye is renowned for its natural beauty, history and wildlife.

The Cuillin Hills, the Red Hills and Blaven have long been favourites with climbers and walkers and the deeply indented coastline means you are never far from the sea.

Wildlife abounds on the Island, with birds from the tiny Goldcrest to magnificent Golden Eagle, mammals from Pygmy Shrew to Red Deer and fish from Saithe to Salmon. If you are lucky you might catch sight of the elusive Otter playing on the shore. The wide range of geology and topography provides habitats for many wild flowers.

The main industries are tourism, agriculture, fishing and whisky-distilling and the largest settlement is Portree, which is known for its picturesque harbour.

As you travel around the Isle of Skye it's not unusual to hear snatches of Scottish Gaelic, the indigenous language of the area. Gaelic culture and heritage pervade the atmosphere, each part of the Island having its own tales of times past and plans for the future.

Whether you're a potential first time visitor or one of the many people who are drawn back to the Isle of Skye you cannot fail to be enchanted by the Misty Isle.

In Lochalsh you will find everything you would expect from the Scottish Highlands  - castles, glens, heather and the lochs that open into the sea beyond, the postcard perfect village of Plockton, Scotland's highest waterfall, the Five Sisters of Kintail and the unsurpassed walks of Glen Shiel steeped in Jacobite history and of course the original ferry 'over the sea to Skye' from Glenelg to Kylerhea which still runs during the summer months.