SkyeSkyns was established in 1983 and is now the sole remaining commercial woolskin tannery in Scotland. Now run by the second generation of the Hartwell family it is a year round visitor attraction on the Isle of Skye. Situated on the beautiful Waternish peninsula SkyeSkyns and the Yurt is well worth a visit. Disabled access is tricky but we are sure you can make the best of it.
The Tannery
Tours of the tannery are bookable in advance online and take place throughout the year. So if the weather isn’t being too kind you can pop up to SkyeSkyns for an indoor tour. The tannery is at ground level however the shop is upstairs in the attic. The team are really friendly so can probably help you out with anything you want to look at.
The Yurt
The Yurt is a seasonal pop up tent, usually open April to October but is very weather dependent. Visit their Facebook page for regular updates. It is separate from the tannery building so a perfect place to stop for a cuppa when you are in the area.
On offer are coffee, tea, soft drinks, and a selection of home baking and home-made soup. On our visit Melanie had a latte with a scone, jam and cream and Sarah had a hot chocolate and managed to get the last slice of a fabulous strawberry and vanilla sponge.
You order your food and drink at the counter which will then be brought to your table. On a clear day you have beautiful views through the Yurt windows
At the entrance to the Yurt there is a raised walkway so you will need to be able to manage the small step at either end. There is some seating outside but on the day we went it was very wet so we sat inside. Despite the rain it was also quite warm but on colder days the Yurt has a wood burning stove, and that and the sheepskin rugs on all the chairs make for a very cosy atmosphere.
There is one allocated disabled parking space and the car park is also for the SkyeSkyns building so may get very busy, especially when tours are taking place at SkyeSkyns.
Currently the only toilets are temporary port-a cabins in the car park and there is no specific disabled toilet. Sarah did manage with these facilities but a wheelchair user would not. There is a disabled toilet in the public car park in Dunvegan.
SkyeSkyns also have another branch in Portree with access from The Green, down a flight of stairs or from Bayfield car park. Within this branch there is a small coffee bar and cakes!
Notes – July 2020
Please note that during our most recent visit SkyeSkyns and The Yurt were operating under Covid-19 restrictions. Tableware was disposable, seating greatly reduced and tours running slightly differently to pre-covid times. Please keep an eye on their website and/or Facebook page for any changes to this operation in coming months.