Thursday 11 October - Uig to Broadford

When that bus finally did depart, at 2.45pm, it set off for Portree, the main town in Skye. It lies 15 miles south of Uig. The road climbs steeply out of the village and passes high over the moors through Kinsaleyre to the junction with the Dunvegan road at Skeabost. It is there that we were halted by police, who were shepherding three lorries with large loads to Dunvegan. The loads consisted of turbine segments, which were to be assembled into a windfarm. Upon reaching Portree, we had about 20 minutes to change into a local service bound for Armadale, some 45 miles to the south. Portree is the largest village in Skye, and is bristling with B&Bs, hotels and the like. Somerled Square is the centre, from where all buses depart. I did not have time to look round other parts of the centre of Portree, which is positioned quite prettily on a bay. It could be confused with Tobermory on Mull (famous through Balamory). Otherwise, a tourist hotpot best avoided if you're not thus inclined. The run down to the next village, Broadford (30 miles away), is a scenic route over the foothills of the famous Cuillin Mountains. Although their altitude (3,300 feet) is not particularly height, you have to remember that they start at sealevel. The mountains in the pictures reach just over 3,000 feet - Marsco is at 2,400 feet as is Glamaig. Be very careful if you decide to climb them. The A87 trunkroad winds its way along the shoreline to Broadford.

I stayed in Skye for a couple of weeks in October 2004, and know it quite well. This does not just go back to 2004, but right back to 1987.