Revealing how accessible Skye is For All
Cafe Sia is in Broadford at the south end of the Isle of Skye. At the foot of Beinn Na Caillaich, on a clear day the views from the restaurant are amazing. Very disabled friendly and a varied menu which suits many dietary needs. Read on to see how much we enjoyed our visit.
Continue reading “Cafe Sia”
Located in the village of Dunvegan the Giant MacAskill Museum is a favourite place for visitors to Skye. Open Easter to October it is well worth a visit if you are passing through Dunvegan. Despite the museum being in an old thatched croft house there is plenty of space inside for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
Continue reading “Giant MacAskill Museum”
Taigh Ailean Hotel is situated at the end of the Minginish Peninsula on Skye, in Portnalong. Meaning Allan’s House in English Taigh Ailean has been here for over a century. Initially a working croft and now a comfortable family run hotel with a restaurant and bar for both residents and non residents. It has become one of our favourite spots for a relaxing evening meal.
Continue reading “Taigh Ailean Hotel”
Bharcasaig Bay is a bit of a hidden gem on Skye. Usually only seen by locals and those headed to the MacLeod’s Tables or MacLeod’s Maiden. We are here to share this beautiful spot with you. Unfortunately wheelchairs will probably not be able to go the whole distance but it is reasonably accessible for most other abilities and well worth the visit.
Continue reading “Bharcasaig Bay”Columba 1400 is located just off the A855 on the right hand side as you enter Staffin from Portree. Purpose built in 2000 it offers residential courses for disadvantaged young people. Columba 1400 also acts as a bit of a community hub as they have a restaurant, gift shop, library, and sports pitch that are open to the public.
Looking across Portree Harbour from the village there is a pristine piece of green land. Usually adorned with a flagpole which sadly broke in a early winter storm of 2020. This area is home to the Nicolson Clan Memorial. The walk from the village centre (Somerled Square) to the memorial is approximately 2.5km or 1.5 miles . Walking halfway on the footpath and halfway on the pathless Scorrybreac Road. Sarah found it quite tricky in places which we will describe at length below.
Amy’s Place, formerly The Blue Shed Cafe at Torrin, is run by Mark and Alison not Amy. The Tea Room is named after their daughter, Amy, who suffered from Lupus and epilepsy and sadly died in December 2018 aged only 23. In honour of her Mark and Alison have painted the cafe purple and decorated it with butterflies. Inside they tell Amy’s story in their menus and have a collecting tin for Lupus UK. There is a bookcase of second hand books available for a donation to Lupus UK.
Wentworth Street Portree
Accessibility – one smaller step from street level
The two counters are at the rear of the shop, both are high but the staff are very helpful
There is not a lot of floor space once inside, users of large wheelchair may struggle
Bank Street Portree
Accessibility – level entry from the car park and street
Disabled parking space and dropped kerb by front door
External cash machine mounted at wheelchair height
Automatic doors to gain entry inside
Somerled Square Portree
Accessibility – ramp to the front door from the car park
Disabled Parking space by the front door
External cash machine mounted at wheelchair height
Automatic doors to gain entry inside
Somerled Square Portree
Accessibility – ramp to the front door from the street
Disabled Parking spaces across the road in the Square
External cash machine mounted at wheelchair height
Automatic doors to gain entry inside
The Green Portree
Accessibility – ramp up to the front door from the street
Tigh na Sgire, Park Lane Portree
Accessibility – step free access from the street
Disabled parking by the front door
Automatic front doors
Low level reception desks
Lift
Disabled toilets, free for the public to use even when not using the Service Point
The Green Portree
Ladies, Gents and Disabled toilets.
All level access from the street
Free to use.
RADAR key needed for access to the disabled toilet
Wentworth Street, Portree
Accessibility – Large step up to the front door
Portable Wheelchair ramp available – ask inside
Knock on the window if you are alone & can’t get up the step, a member of staff will come to your assistance.
Wentworth Street, Portree
Accessibility – level entrance
Push button automatic doors
One disabled parking space outside the store.
Bank Street, Portree
Accessibility – level access
Automatic doors
Very narrow and crowded aisles
Usually very busy, particularly in summer months. If you have transport you may be better taking a trip to the large Co-op supermarket on Woodpark Road.
Bayfield Road, Portree
Accessibility – level access
Automatic doors
Low level help desk
Two disabled parking spaces available in the car park in front of the centre.
Wentworth Street, Portree
Accessibility – one small, very visible step outside.
Inside the Ladieswear is located upstairs, there is no lift.
Staff may be able to give assistance if necessary.
Floor space is tight but not totally crowded.
Many items are displayed at a low level.
Wentworth Street, Portree
Accessibility – one small step in the front doorway
Level inside and all on the ground floor
Fairly spacious layout on the sales floor.
Wentworth Street, Portree
Accessibility – level entrance from the street
Two doorways to navigate to get inside
Space is a little tight once you are inside as it is a little sweet treasure trove
Very helpful staff
Wentworth Street – Portree
Accessibility – one small step to gain access to the shop
Plenty of floorspace once inside
Helpful staff behind the counter
There are a few tables and chairs inside where you can eat your lunch
Wentworth Street Portree
Accessibility – one small step to gain access to the shop
Plenty of floorspace once inside
Staff can help you with items you cannot reach
Wentworth Street, Portree
Accessibility – level entry from the street
Space is tight inside due to all the lovely items on sale
Staff very helpful in finding or handing you things you cannot reach
Bayfield Lane Portree
Accessibility – two steps to the entrance
Help was offered to help Sarah in and out of the shop and to also bring her rollator inside out of the rain
No access for wheelchairs inside the shop
Bayfield Lane Portree
Accessibility – one step to the entrance
Very helpful staff
Very spacious once inside
No access for wheelchairs due to the step
Bank Street Portree
Accessibility – level from the street, though there is a raised area in part of the shop.
Enough space to move around in inside
Staff very willing to offer assistance
Bank Street Portree
Accessibility – level from the street
An external door leading to a shared entrance vestibule
Level and spacious sales floor
Helpful staff
Bank Street Portree
Accessibility – level from the street
Shares the same from door and entrance vestibule as Cuillins Crafts
Many books are displayed on lower level table tops
Staff are happy to help with books on higher shelves
The Green Portree
Accessibility – level entry from the street
Level sales floor once inside
Items displayed at all levels
Staff happy to help with harder to reach items
Enough floor space to get around, a little tight in the window area.
King’s House The Green Portree
Accessibility – ramp up to the front door
Typical Charity Shop that is packed to the rafters with donations.
Space is a little tight but staff are more than willing to help you out.
Somerled Square Portree
Accessibility – one step up to the front door from the path
The Green Portree
Accessibilty – level entry from the street
Two different shops in one building with very similar layouts
Level floor once inside
Space to move around between clothing racks
Helpful staff in both stores
Bayfield Lane Portree
Accessibility – one step up from the street
Large waiting area inside with a low level counter
Queenie the receptionist is very very helpful
The Aros Centre is now the Isle of Skye Candle Company Visitor Centre. Same building, same place but all new interior and offering.
The Aros Centre on the edge of Portree is home to so many different things for the local community and visitors to Skye. Primarily a tourist will see it as a visitors centre, with gifts, books and a cafe. For Skye it serves as a community hub, cinema, theatre and meeting place. Here we will explore what the Aros Centre Portree has to offer in terms of accessibility for the disabled.
Continue reading “Aros Centre Portree”