Skye

The Cuillins                                                                          Trotternish

The island Skye (An t-Eilean Sgitheanach in Scottish) is the largest and also the most northern island of the Inner Hebrides.

The Scottish-Gaelic name originates from the Norwegian word Eilean, which means island, and of the Gaelic sgiath, which means winged. This refers to the shape of the island. There are different peninsulas such as Sleat, Minginish, Waternish and Trotternish, which give the island the shape of a wing.

The English name of the island probably originates from the Old-Norwegian Skið = ski.

Geography and geology

With a surface of 1700 km², Skye is the second largest Scottish island, preceded by the island of Leòdhas agus Na Hearadh (Lewis and Harris), which is part of the Outer Hebrides. On the South of the island you can find the mountain chain the Cuillin. The South West of Skye consists of a consecution of peninsulas such as Sleat, Strathaird, Minginish and Duirinish. The peninsulas Waternish and Trotternish are in the North West. Raasay, Scalpay and Rona in the North West, Soay, Canna, Rum and Eigg in the South are islands surrounding Skye.

On the peninsula of Trotternish you can find the bay of Bearreraigwhich is geologically important because of the fossils which can be found there. The bay is surrounded by 150m of high cliffs which were formed in a shallow tropical sea during the Jura. In these surroundings remains of Jurassic dinodaurs and fossilised foot tracks have been found.

Skye Bridge

History and population

Famines in the 18^th century and large depopulation have ensured a large decrease of the population: in 1991 less than 10.000 people lived on the island. According to an interview in 2001, 8.748 people lived on Skye.

On May 31^st 1952 a small weir was opened in the bay of Bearreraig where the water of the Storr Lochs crashes down a 150m into the sea. At the opening it provided for electricity production for virtually the complete island. Nowadays it’s only turned on as an additional supply in a network, which provides the complete North West of Scotland with electricity. The dam has the only working track line on Skye, which during the construction was used to get material down from the cliffs. Nowadays the only truck however is no longer used because it is broader than the track and at use it would partially come across the steep walking path (the Storr Steps).

In Staffin, a brand-new management centre has been opened in 2000 with the aim to train the unused potential of executive persons on the island and to put them to good use. The centre, Columba 1400, has been called after the saint Columba.

                   Storr                                                                Bearreraig bay                                      Track line on Skye

 Culture and tourism

Skye corresponds culturally well with the islands of the Outer-Hebrides: the majority of the population masters Scottish-Gaelic. The Free Church of Scotland is well represented also.

The castle of Dunvegan, the head seat of the clan MacLeod since the 13^th century and still inhabited by the McLeod family (John McLeod of McLeod), is a rather important tourist attraction.

Tourists mostly visit Skye for its natural beauty (trotternish) and the fauna and flora. Virtually everywhere close to the coast one can observe otters and seals. The Cuillin, with its 12 Munro’s, are rather popular with mountaineers and more active walkers. Also the strangely looking peaks of volcanic origin on Trotternish, such as The Old man of Storr, are rather popular.

Transport and connections

Skye has been linked with the Scottish mainland by a bridge since 1995, the Skye bridge, from Kyleakin to Kyle of Lochalsh (or in short Kyle). At the end of 2004 the toll levy was abolished after long-term and violent protest of the islanders. There is also a ferry service between Armadale on Skye and Mallaig and between Kylerhea on Skye and Glenelg.

Ferry services also provide the connection with the Outer-Hebrides: between Uig and  Tabert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist. There is also a ferry service from Sconser to the island Raasay. Bus services link Skye to Inverness and Glasgow. More or less regular bus services also link the villages on the island; these generally leave from Portree (sometimes also Broadford). There is only a train connection from Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland to Inverness. This train route is praised commonly because of its beauty.

             Raasay                                                                  North Uist

Copyright © 2007 Martine Maryns. All rights reserved.