Isle of Skye Tour Guide Company |
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TOURS OF SKYE | ACCOMODATION
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Luxury Tours of Skye from Kyle of Lochalsh The 8.55am train from Inverness, or your own vehicle will convey you to the Kyle of Lochalsh railway station for 11.17am (where your tour commences and finishes). Your guide will drive you over the bridge for your tour of Skye together with a commentary to suit the journey. there will be time from a meal at Dunvegan and later a stop for an hour in the main town of Portree and then return to Kyle to catch the 16.38 train back to Inverness. The tour last approx. 5 hours and is exclusive for up to 6 persons. The tour company also provides the best guides on Skye to accompany coach tour parties or private car tours. Costs |
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Tour
Highlights |
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| 1 | Over
the Skye Bridge: Built in 1995. |
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| 2 | Remains
of Castle: From where a Viking Princess, Saucy Mary, hung a chain
across to Kyle and levied tolls on passing boats. |
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| 3 | Castle
Moil: Which was later inhabited and held by the Mackinnon Clan. |
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| 4 | Kyleakin:
Named, some say, after the Viking warrior King Haakon who passed
through in 1263 on his way to the battle of Largs. Others say
it is named after the mythical Prince Akin, twin brother of Rhea. |
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| 5 | Road
to Kylerhea and Glenelg, where Skye cattle in times gone by were
driven over the sea nose to tail to market on the mainland. Kylerhea
is allegedly named after the brother of Akin. |
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| 6 | Broadford
Crossroads: South to Sleat, garden of Skye and traditional home
to the MacDonalds of Skye and where their headquarters are situated
at Armadale Castle. |
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| 7 | Journeying
through and north of Broadford we see the first of the Red Cuillins,
Beinn na Caillich. Passing through these majestic mountains we
head for the old inn at Sligachan |
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| 8 | Before
Sligachan we pass Sconser Lodge where in 1745 the Chiefs of MacDonald
and MacLeod met and decided not to support Bonnie Prince Charlie.
From Sconser the ferry leaves for the island of Raasay from where
MacLeod of Raasay sent an ill-fated 100 men to support the Prince
and subsequently paid heavily, his lands being plundered, cattle
stolen and boats destroyed. Many of his clansmen were captured
and starved to death by the infamous Duke of Cumberland. |
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| 9 | At
Sligachan we reach the end of the Red Cuillins (rounded granite)
and the start of the Black Cuillins (jagged, dangerous and composed
of gabro rock), home to golden eagles amidst 12 Munros (mountains
over 3000 feet). Here the last clan battle between the MacLeods
and the MacDonalds took place. The MacDonalds won the day. |
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| 10 | Turning
left at Sligachan we travel towards Carbost where the famous Talisker
whisky is distilled and on towards The Castle of Dunvegan, the
home of the MacLeods of MacLeod. |
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| 11 | Before
reaching Dunvegan we pass through Struan and see on the right,
up the hill behind, one of the best remaining examples on Skye
of a 2000-year-old Broch. On to Caroy we pass the ancient and
ruinous Church of St John the Apostle where lies the body of Flora
MacDonald Swire, tragically killed in the Lockerbie plane disaster
in 1988. Flora, the daughter of Dr Jim Swire, was a direct descendent
of the Flora Macdonald. |
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| 12 | On
approaching the Township of Dunvegan we see the two flat-topped
basalt peaks MacLeod's Tables, whereupon in ancient times the
Clan Chiefs sat in judgement of their inferiors. |
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| 13 | After
lunch at the castle we head for Portree. This journey of some
20-odd miles will be broken up with tales of the history of Skye
from the dark and forgotten past to present day. The Picts, Celts
and Vikings will all be put in context together with the Lordship
of the Isles, the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and the massacre
of Bonnie Prince Charlie's supporters and the subsequent saga
of Flora MacDonald's flight with the Prince as he sought to escape
the vengeance of the pursuing English. Also the sad stories of
the Clearances where an ancient people were forced from Skye to
new lives in lands afar, or to die in deep waters betwixt. |
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| 14 | In
the event of the tour taking in the North End of Skye as an alternative,
you will hear further epic tales of Flora and visit her grave
at Kilmuir. Also the 'last Goodbyes' to Charlie at the MacNabs
Hotel (now the 'Royal') in Portree; the Battle of Braes, Crofting
History and much more. |
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Contact Details Mr Peter MacDonald, 3 Kilmore, Sleat, Isle of Skye, IV44 8RG Telephone 01471844272/440 |
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