Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Uig
Skye's chief ferry port for the Western Isles is
UIG
(Uige; pronounced “oo-ig”), which
curves its way round a dramatic, horseshoe bay. Most folk are just passing through,
but if you've time to kill, take the lovely, gentle
walk
up Glen Uig, better known as the
Faerie Glen
, a Hobbity landscape of miniature hills at the east end of the bay.
ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND
TROTTERNISH
By ferry
CalMac (
W
0800 066 5000,
W
calmac.co.uk) sails
between Uig and Tarbert on the Isle of Harris (1-2 daily;
1hr 40min).
By bus
The North End Circular bus (service #57A and #57C)
loops around the peninsula from Portree via Old Man of
Storr, Sta
n and Uig (Mon-Sat 6 daily; 2hr total circuit).
ACCOMMODAT ION AND EATING
STAFFIN
Small & Cosy Teahouse
4 Digg, 2 miles south of
Sta
n
T
01470 562471.
The Czech owner's fascination
with her grandmother's herbal teas has morphed into a
menu of up to fifty leaf teas plus interesting cakes and
home-made soups in a lovely wee café with a touch of
bygone tea parlour.
Tues-Sun noon-6pm.
Staffin Campsite
Staffin
T
01470 562213,
W
staffin
campsite.co.uk.
A spacious site with a relaxed vibe
and a good location spread beneath the Totternish
Ridge, with glimpses of the sea a 10min walk away.
There'
s p
lenty of flat ground and a simple amenities
block.
£5
/person
Rooms are in the main hotel or a
cotta
ge behind where
Flora MacDonald lived out her days.
£160
Ì
Glenview Hotel
Culnacnoc, 3 miles south of Sta
n
T
01470 562248,
W
glenviewskye.co.uk.
Quirky vintage-
style accommodation - all Bakelite radios, naïve paintings
and painted floorboards - and sensational cooking in a
restaurant with rooms. Short menus (two courses £30)
created from super-fresh produce might include nettle and
parsley soup with scallops, sole with local mussel sauce
or venison in a red
wine a
nd tarragon sauce.
March-Nov
Tues-Sat 7-10pm.
£110
UIG
The Sheiling & Ella's Café
T
01470 542797.
Within a
former crofters' warehouse behind Uig garage, Ella serves
home-made toasted focaccia, smoked salmon and crowdie
pâté and delicious baking (£5-8). It doubles as a local
crafts outlet to feel like a village hall on fête day.
Easter-
Oct Mon 2-5pm, Tues-Sat 9am-5pm; Nov-Easter
Tues-Sat 10am-4pm.
Uig SYHA
T
01470 542746,
W
syha.co.uk.
Great views
over the bay from the south side of the village and lovely
staff, but a 20min walk from the centre and the simple if
spacious dorms are rather tired. Bear in mind too that, like
all SYHA hostels, it'
s loc
ked b
etween
10.30am and 5pm.
April-Sept.
Dorms
£17
; twins
£44.20
Woodbine House
T
01470 542243,
W
skyeactivities
.co.uk.
The pick of Uig's acommodation, this B&B is in a
tasteful house on the Duntulm road. Front rooms benefit
from sea views, and all are en-suite. The owners (hugely
helpful) also rent mou
ntain
bikes. Two nights minimum
June-Aug.
March-Oct.
£68
QUIRAING AND AROUND
Dun Flodigarry Hostel
T
01470 552212,
W
hostel
flodigarry.co.uk.
What were the servants' quarters for
a grand country hotel is now a spacious if fairly dated
independent hostel on the loch; rooms and dorms could
do with an update.
Yo
u can also ca
mp on
the la
wn
and use
facilities. Camping
£9
/pitch; dorms
£17
; twins
£45
Ellishadder Art Café
Culnacnoc, 3 miles south of
Sta
n
T
01470 562734
. Superb light lunches of savoury
tarts like courgette, fennel and goats' cheese plus exquisite
cakes for afternoon nibbles in a gallery/café that sells the
owners' beautiful hand-weavings and paintings.
Feb,
March, Nov & Dec Fri & Sat 10.30am-5.30pm; Easter-
Oct daily same hours.
Flodigarry Country House Hotel
Flodigarry
T
01470
552203,
W
flodigarry.co.uk.
Beautifully sited on the loch,
this is every inch the traditional country hotel, all soporific
ticking grandfather clock and squishy sofas in the lounge.
Isle of Raasay
The hilly, fourteen-mile island of
Raasay
(Ratharsair) sees few visitors. Yet in many
ways it's the ultimate Skye escape, with plenty of walks - intimate strolls compared to
the wide spaces of Skye - and rich flora and fauna, including golden eagles, snipe,
orchids and the unique Raasay vole, not to mention the castaway thrill of a small
island. Most visitors come on foot - if you come by car be aware there's no petrol. The
ferry docks in Churchton Bay, near
INVERARISH
, the island's tiny village set within
thick woods on the southwest coast.
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