Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye

Skye is without doubt one of the most famous islands in the world, and is a must-see for many visitors to Scotland. Boasting one of the most dramatic and unique landscapes to be found anywhere, the island is also home to extraordinary wildlife and a local population who are as justly proud of their island as they are their Gaelic heritage and history.

Each part of Skye is wildly different from every other part. In the south are the mountain ranges of the Black Cuillins and the Red Cuillins – one jagged and sharp, the other rounded (though still steep). In the north and west are plunging sea cliffs sometimes hundreds of metres tall, topped by grassy slopes cropped close by roaming sheep. Skye’s northernmost peninsula boasts the extraordinary rock formations of The Storr and The Quiraing. The southernmost end of the island is full of rugged hills and woods.

Skye has two main towns – Portree and Broadford. The rest of the island is dotted with small villages and townships that reflect the long history of small scale farming across the islands.

Skye is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides.

Blood, Stone, Ice and Fire

Skye is a product of its turbulent history, which extends back more than 60 million years to the time of the dinosaurs. Much of the island was formed by the violent and massive eruptions of a huge super-volcano, now fortunately long extinct. Huge outpourings of lava created the dark iron-rich rocks of Skye, which have been weathered through repeated ice ages to form the dramatic and otherworldly shapes seen today. The walls of the ancient magma chamber now form the the sharp peaks of the Black Cuillin hills.

Skye’s human history was frequently as violent as the island’s creation, and there are numerous tales of Vikings, Gaels, warring clans and brutal clearances of the island’s population. The MacLeods and MacDonalds fought for centuries for control of the island, and the ruins of their strongholds still dot the landscape.

Local Culture

The people of Skye are deeply proud of their Gaelic heritage and history. Besides tourism much of the local culture still revolves around the traditional sheep farming and fishing industries, and reflect a culture that prizes hard work and self sufficiency. Unsurprisingly, Skye’s incredible landscapes draw many creative hearts to the island, and a flourishing visual arts scene can be enjoyed by visiting the numerous galleries and craft workshops that feature painting, photography, jewellery and weaving.

Traditional music is a keystone of island life and many contemporary musicians in the trad and folk scene hail originally from Skye. Until recently retiring, Runrig were one of the most famous Scottish bands whose music is well known across the country, and were formed on Skye in 1973.

The Gaelic language and culture is nurtured and kept alive for future generations both by local residents and the Gaelic language college at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – the only centre of education in Scotland that teaches exclusively in Gaelic.