Isle of Skye (Scotland): description and main attractions

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

If you like picturesque natural landscapes - feel free to go to the Isle of Skye. This is one of the most beautiful places not only in Great Britain, but throughout Europe. In addition, the island is also interesting for its architectural monuments.

Isle of Skye: photo and description

Sky is an island in the western part of Scotland. Geographically, it belongs to the Inner Hebrides archipelago, and administratively - to the Highland region. The Isle of Skye is the second largest off the coast of Great Britain. Its total area: 1656 sq. km. The length and width of the Isle of Skye are 80 and 42 kilometers, respectively.

The terrain here is hilly, and the highest point reaches a height of 993 meters. The sky above the island is almost always overcast with gray clouds. The local climate is characterized by high humidity and frequent precipitation.

About 10 thousand people live on Skye. Many of them speak a special language - Scottish Gaelic. Students and linguists from different parts of the world come to the island to study it.

There are two ways to get to the Isle of Skye. With the mainland (if you can call it Great Britain) it is connected by only one bridge, near the town of Kyleof Lokolsh. You can also get to Skye by ferry, which runs between the settlements of Mallay and Armadale. The length of the crossing is 7 kilometers. There is an airport near the city of Broadford, but there is no regular passenger service with it.

The island is mentioned several times in the popular Harry Potter novels. So, according to the book, this is where the Hebridean black dragon lives.

Isle of Skye: sights and places of interest

Pearl of Scotland, a reserve of natural, pristine natural beauty. This is how the British often call the Isle of Skye. Here you can admire amazing landscapes woven from gentle hills, rocky ledges and sea bays. Sometimes ancient castles or stone bridges are harmoniously woven into these landscapes.

The Isle of Skye is not only picturesque nature, but also a huge number of legends, legends, tales. And all this is carefully preserved by the locals.

Here is a far from complete list of must-see places on Skye:

Dunvegan Castle;
Magic Bridge;
Quirang Plateau;
Fairy pools.

Dunvegan Castle

One of Skye's most famous sights is located in the western part of the island, in the vicinity of the village of Dunvegan. The castle was founded in the 14th century and belongs to the well-known MacLeod dynasty in Scotland. One of its representatives, Hugh Macleod, still lives in it. True, his apartments are located in one of the buildings, and the rest are free to access.tourists.

Dunvegan Castle is very interesting from an architectural point of view, as several historical styles can be traced in it. Around the fortress there is a wonderful park with flower beds, ponds, waterfalls and openwork bridges.

Magic Bridge

This popular tourist attraction is close to Dunvegan Castle. A miniature arched bridge built of large boulders spans a small stream near the A850 highway.

One of the local legends is associated with this bridge. So, one of the representatives of the Macleod dynasty, Jan Kiar, was allegedly married to a fairy. They had a son, but a year later the fairy wife was called back to her magical land. Jan fell in love with his wife and did not want to let her go. But the fairy nevertheless soared into the sky and flew away to her people, leaving Yan with a patch of the finest silk. “Three times he will save you in difficult times,” she managed to say goodbye. It all happened just on the bridge, later called Magic.

By the way, the patch presented by the fairy was used twice in the story. It is now kept at Dunvegan Castle.

Fairy Pools

Charming, heavenly place on the Isle of Skye - Fairy Pools. This is a whole complex of waterfalls and cascades formed by a water stream flowing down from the mountains. The attraction is located in the southern part of the island, near the Glenn Brittle forest area (3 km from the coast).

Waterfalls are surrounded on all sides by picturesque rock ledges. The water here is clear and clean. It's best to come here afterabundant rains, when the Fairy Pools become especially turbulent and full of water.

Interesting moment: a curious photo of this marvelous natural corner of Skye "walks" on the Internet. But in the picture, the Fairy Pools are surrounded by bright purple trees. Many tourists who come here are trying for a long time to find these unusual plants on the ground. In fact, purple trees are nothing more than a Photoshop prank.

Quirang Plateau

Quirang Plateau is another picturesque place in Skye, located in the far north of the island. This is a grandiose plateau with sharp rocky peaks, deep depressions and colorful meadows. The whole area is generously indented with hiking trails. A walk here will be very impressive and educational.

The plateau began to form at the end of the ice age and is an actively collapsing array of solidified lava. Here you can see many outlandish geological formations. For example, Prison ledge, which resembles a massive medieval fortress, or a sharp 37-meter rock Igla. From anywhere in Kuiranga, the traveler's gaze opens up landscapes of incredible beauty.