Revealing how accessible Skye is For All
Located at the end of Glen Brittle, the beach is one of the most beautiful on Skye especially when the tide is out. Glen Brittle beach lies in the shadow of the Black Cuillins which never fail to impress. With compact, endless sand it is a good walking surface to enjoy. Not a spot to bring a wheelchair but definitely accessible for everyone else.
Lealt Waterfalls are located on the A885, 13 miles north of Portree. In 2018 the Staffin Community Trust heavily invested in the Lealt Falls area, adding new car parking and a viewing platform. This has been a welcome addition to the Trotternish Peninsula and also makes the view of Lealt Falls very accessible.
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.
Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall is located on the A855 at Ellishadder, 15 miles north of Portree and 2 miles south of Staffin. There is a narrow access road to a car park where you need to park considerately. The car park is not marked out and gets very busy in summer so a bit of care is needed. There is no rush, the cliffs and waterfalls have been there for millennia and aren’t leaving in a hurry!
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.
Spring is coming to Skye so we went to the snowdrop day at Dunvegan Castle . It may be later than elsewhere in the country but after a stormy winter it is very welcome. The yearly snowdrop days at Dunvegan Castle are a chance to celebrate these first signs of life. As well as a chance to raise funds for local charities.
The Ord Coral beaches are a hidden gem on the Sleat Peninsula of Skye. You can truly appreciate the coral beaches at low tide so check the tide times before you go. The lower the tide the more exploring you can do. It is a short walk of approximately 3km or 1.8 miles but you can explore further if you wish. Not suitable for wheelchair users but a gentle walk for folks who don’t want to over exert themselves.
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.
The Fingal Centre is situated in the same building as the library and the school. The access is through the library. There are two sides to the centre, the wet side and the dry side. The wet side is of course the swimming pool, sauna and steam room. And the dry side contains the gym and sports halls and courts. This is where team games are played and classes are held. The doors are not automatic and quite stiff but the staff are very helpful.
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