Revealing how accessible Skye is For All
Dunscaith Castle or Dun Sgathaich in Gaelic is a ruined fortification of the Clan MacLeod. The ruins still sit atop a large rock on the edge of Loch Eishort near the small township of Tokavaig. It is a short walk to Dunscaith Castle, approximately 2km or 1.25 miles in all and the views are tremendous. Underfoot the ground is quite rough with no discernable path after the cottages & a cobbled beach area. Not a walk for everyone but achievable for many.
It is a short walk to the ruins of Dun Fiadhairt just north of Dunvegan. Here you find the remains of an Iron Age Broch some 17 metres in diameter. The structure reveals internal and external broch walls and doorways. Not a walk for wheelchair users but only a mile or so for those wanting to stretch their legs. If there has been heavy rain the ground is very very boggy so maybe visit in drier weather.
The Old Moll Road is a single track road which bypasses the A87 between Sconser and the lower end of Druim na Cleochd. It was always a quiet road on Skye but during a storm in September 2018 a huge chunk of the road was washed away. The road is unlikely to be repaired so it has become a bit of a peaceful walking haven. The landslip is closer to the Druim na Cleochd end so our walk starts at Sconser.
Firstly the walk to Glamaig Waterfalls is not suitable for wheelchair users or rollator users. However it is a rewarding gentle walk of just under 2 km or 1.25 miles in old money! It is on a good path and very easy going. The Glamaig waterfalls walk would be perfect for anyone who is a little unfit or is looking to regain some fitness by starting with some gentle walks. Depending on how fast you walk it will take from about 40 minutes to go there and back. Maybe a little longer if you need to. Even after rain the path is a good surface to walk on, and the waterfall is even more spectacular. Don’t get this walk confused with the Allt Dearg Waterfalls on the opposite side of Glen Sligachan, we’ll cover that another time!
You can find the Isle of Skye Baking Company set back from the A87 Dunvegan Road on the way out of Portree. If you are heading out of Portree it is the turning just before the big Howden’s building. A real hidden gem. The building itself was formerly a Woollen Mill. There is no allocated disabled parking spaces but the car park is large, smooth and on a level with the front door.
After a very cold snap and some snow on the ground we opted for a short walk by Storr Lochs. We were sheltered from the incoming weather by the Trotternish Ridge and more impressively the Old Man of Storr. This walk is on a tarmac surface so fully accessible for all abilities and wheelchair users if you are happy to cross a cattle grid.
Deli Gasta is situated in the old watermill building in Broadford. This building once housed a Serpentarium but is now home to a lovely Cafe. And don’t worry, we saw no snakes on our visit. It is open all year round 9am – 5pm for snacks, breakfast, lunches and drinks.
Continue reading “Deli Gasta Broadford”
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”After a few days of bad weather here on Skye the forecast broke so we headed out for a walk. To avoid any puddles underfoot we set off for a walk at Kingsburgh Forest Trust. Situated adjacent to the A87 between Portree and Uig.
An Crubh, meaning The Hub was built by the local community as a meeting point. It offers a cafe, a shop selling local produce, groceries, essentials and gifts, and a Post Office. Sitting beside the main road through the Sleat Peninsula (A851) at Camus Cross, it is very accessible by car.
