Failte
- to the Isle of Skye
As you cross over the Skye Bridge or arrive on via the Armadale ferry you feel as though you are entering a different world…..
The Isle of Skye (an t-Eilean Sgiathanach in Gaelic) takes its name from the old Norse sky-a, meaning ‘cloud island’, a Viking reference to the often mist-enshrouded Cuillin Hills. Red Cullins Presented to you is a 50-mile-long smorgasbord of velvet fields, jagged mountains, sparkling lochs and towering sea cliffs and wide open spaces. Skye has something for everyone:
- there are many clubs and organisations to become involved in
- there is a flourishing local arts and crafts industry
- the AROS centre presents a year round selection of entertainment, from cinema to concerts and theatre events
- Skye Dance offers a range of acting and dance classes
- Skye Chamber Music offers a mixed programme of music each month. - there is an endless list of outdoor activities including climbing; kayaking; sailing, horse riding, fishing
- the Fingal Centre at the new high school offers a community facility that has a range of classes; a gym, climbing wall and a good sized swimming pool
- spectacular walks, views and wildlife
- and of course there is crofting….
.. although you can always find a quiet place away from everything if you just want to relax.
If you want to know more about any of this things listed above, there is a list of websites at the end of this document.
Local Amenities There are excellent schools in Portree - Portree Primary School, built in 1991, and Portree High School opened in 2008, a full 6-year secondary school, serving the Island and beyond, with children from some remote areas staying in hostel accommodation. The high school offers a range of facilities open to the community as do the local colleges. The new gaelic primary school opened in 2018. Many of the other areas have primary schools as well.
We hope this has given an insight if only briefly into our home and that the accompanying document will tell you a bit about us…
…and that you find yourself and your family on the Road to Portree.
Resources
Our links are not exhaustive but they may give you an insight to the facilities here and what it’s like living on the Isle of Skye, please use the links to visit:
General Isle of Skye - http://www.skye.co.uk Raasay - www.raasay.com
Culture AROS Centre - http://www.aros.co.uk Chamber Music - http://www.skyeartsguild.org.uk Skye Traditional Music - http://www.seall.co.uk Gaelic Music – (started by Dr Angus Macdonald) - http://www.feisean.org/en/index.php Local Community Radio Cuillin FM - http://www.cuillinfm.co.uk
Photography Marcus Macadam - http://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/photo-gallery Morton Hansen - http://www.mortenhansen.co.uk
Education Portree High School - http://www.portreehigh.highland.sch.uk Portree Primary School - http://www.portreeprimaryschool.com Plockton High School - http://www.musicplockton.org Sabhal Mòr Ostaig - http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/colaiste/welcome West Highland College - http://www.whc.uhi.ac.uk/about-us/college-centres/portree
Estate Agents Skye Property Centre - http://skye-property-centre.co.uk Remax Skye - http://www.remax-scotland.com/property-for-sale/skye.aspx Isle of Skye Estate Agents - http://www.iosea.co.uk
Activities and Leisure (to mention just a few!)
Fingal Centre - http://highlifehighland.com/leisure-facilities/fingal-centre Sailing Club - http://www.skyesailingclub.com Whitewave - http://www.whiteact.demon.co.uk/Whitewave Golf Club – http://www.isleofskyegolfclub.co.uk Walking - http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye Shinty - http://www.skyecamanachd.com North Skye Kayak Club - http://www.northskyekayakclub.co.uk South Skye Kayak Club - http://www.skye-lochalsh-kayaking.co.uk Skyak Adventures - http://www.skyakadventures.com Climbing - http://www.climbskye.co.uk Mountain climbing – www.skyeguides.co.uk Skye Mountain Rescue - http://www.skyemrt.org Skye Dance - http://skyedancer.co.uk Skye Country Dancing - http://www.skyerscds.org.uk
There are also gardening; quilting; pottery; painting etc organisation if you are interested in any of these things.
No introduction to Skye would be complete without the dolphins and other sea creatures….
Skye Tours gallery - http://www.skye-tours.co.uk/gallery/index.html Glendale Whale Watch (west coast) - http://www.glendaleskye.com/whales.php
Skye raises a significant amount of money each year for charity through community events all over the island and everyone seems to be fantastic cooks and bakers (including some in the practice!).
…..and we haven’t even started talking about the food and local restaurants!!