Portree
Skye’s the limit – and just the start of your Scottish adventure
Isn’t it early to be heading to Scotland? Not a bit of it – you’ll beat the rush. Though you don’t need to go this second, as the weather is more touch-and-go in spring. But it’s worth sorting your accommodation out soon if you want to stay there this summer – particularly if you’re booking for a group. Skye’s a popular destination and leaving it to the last minute may limit your choices.
Is it so small that we won’t get a bed? No. Skye’s by far the biggest of the Inner Hebrides and is one of the largest of the British Isles (apart from Britain and Ireland, only the conjoined mass of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides is bigger). But the towns on Skye aren’t large and they can get very busy in peak tourist season.
Does that mean it’s expensive? Not expensive, but accommodation prices on Skye are usually a bit higher than on the mainland. If you’re on a budget, perhaps you’ll stay on the other side of the bridge. But for the full experience, you need to stay on Skye. A bridge? What about a bonnie boat? You have a choice of two ferries to Skye: one from Mallaig, at the end of the awesome A830; and a smaller one from Glenelg, which you reach on a beautiful minor road that branches off the spectacular A87. But you can stay on the A87 all the way on to the island, using the Skye Bridge.
And what is there on the island? Mostly, landscape. It’s a jaw-droppingly wild, beautiful place with some amazing roads cutting through that scenery. There’s a fair bit of traditional tourist stuff to do, from boat trips to castle or distillery visits, as well as plenty of non-bike-related outdoor activities – from mountain biking to climbing. But the big attraction is the riding.
It’s good, is it? It’s spectacular – though you do need to be ready for a mix of road conditions, from the wide and immaculate to the narrow, bumpy and gravelly. And be wary of the occasional hairy coo or hillwalker lumbering out into the road. Why stay in Portree? It’s the biggest town on Skye and, positioned halfway up on the eastern shore, is an ideal base for exploring the north, west and south of the island – either in bite-sized chunks or in one high-mileage day.