Weekend away Stonechat Bothy, Skye
SEE, DO, STAY, LOVE THE UK. THIS MONTH: A LIGHT-FILLED WOODEN CABIN ON SKYE
GO & STAY
We crossed the Skye Bridge as the sun set and drove south on to Skye, towards a small (‘handful of houses’ sort of small) village called Drumfearn. Stonechat Bothy came into view as we pulled up a steep hill and rounded a corner. Sitting quietly in the textured grasses of the hillside, it was a vision of weathered grey larch cladding and big glass windows that watched over the valley we had just driven through.
Stepping inside, we felt instantly at home. Its clean lines and spacious living area were only interrupted by a log-burner – something we are always happy to see, whatever the season. Arriving at sunset meant we had to wait for the next morning to appreciate the full effect of the floor-to-ceiling windows but it was worth it. Over the course of our stay, we became familiar with the local wildlife and changing skies that our one-bedroomed ‘bothy’ revealed to us through those windows.
Owners Laura and Phil live a little further down the hill and were there to help if we needed them. We didn’t: Stonechat Bothy was just right for us, offering
a connection with nature as well as wifi to share our day’s findings on Instagram. We love to explore the outdoors but we also really enjoy our home comforts, all of which were met.
SEE & DO
Navigating the island by car is a must when you visit Skye, especially if you’re like us and want to see as much as possible in the time that you have. Although the majority of roads are single-track, there is an abundance of passing places to negotiate with other drivers.
Driving the scenic route to the village of Elgol took nearly double the amount of time we expected, however, because we had to stop every two seconds to take in the changing views of the Cuillins mountains. Every corner offered a new vista and different weather conditions; we witnessed stunning rainbows, howling winds and glorious sunshine – all within a single hour.
Thankfully, the sun shone for the remainder of the day and we took the 40-minute boat trip across the bay to Loch Coruisk, an inland loch that was so still and silent that at first glance we mistook it for the reflected
mountains. We’ll never forget the peace in that place.
Our recommendations are all dominated by the breathtaking geography: a walk on Claigan Coral Beach to hear the ‘crunch’ underfoot, the overwhelming power of Mealt Falls cascading over Kilt Rock sea cliff, and the amble to Neist Point, the most westerly outcrop of Skye, are three highlights.
EAT & DRINK
With a world of outdoor adventuring to keep us busy, we opted for the freedom of packed lunches and homecooked evening meals. Skye has a couple of well stocked shops so it was no problem laying our hands on supplies, and we stopped for occasional hot chocolates in the cafés that punctuate the winding roads.
Hot chocolates, cheese sandwiches and flasks of coffee only went so far though, so one day we treated ourselves to lunch at The Three Chimneys in Colbost. The menu consisted of incredible fresh flavours celebrating the local environment: fish from Scottish waters, butters seasoned with seaweed, and pearl barley like we’d never tasted before. The highlight was the marmalade pudding (the restaurant’s speciality) that came swimming in rich Drambuie custard, a welcome indulgence to round off a great meal.
India Hobson and Magnus Edmondson are contributors to thisisyourkingdom.co.uk. Their findings on travel, lifestyle and design are at haarkon.co.uk and on Instagram @haarkon_