Page 234 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Gaelic) takes its name
OUTER HEBRIDES from the old Norse sky-a,
meaning ‘cloud island’, a
If you’re not ready to return to the mainland after Viking reference to the
visiting the Isle of Skye, consider a trip to the Outer often-mist-enshrouded
Hebrides (aka the Western Isles; Na h-Eileanan an Cuillin Hills. It’s a
Iar in Gaelic) – a 130-mile-long string of islands 50-mile-long patchwork
west of Skye. More than a third of Scotland’s of velvet moors, jagged
registered crofts are here, and no less than 60% mountains, sparkling
of the population are Gaelic speakers. With limited lochs and towering sea
time, head straight for the west coast of Lewis cliffs. Lively Portree
with its prehistoric sites, preserved blackhouses, (Port Righ) has the
beautiful beaches, and arts and crafts studios – the island’s only tourist of-
Lochmaddy Tourist Office (%01867-500321; Pier Rd; fice (%01478-612992; www.
h10am-5pm Mon-Sat Apr-Oct) can provide a list. Ferries visitscotland.com; Bayfield Rd;
(car £30, driver and passenger £6.10 each) run once h9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 10am-
or twice daily from Uig on Skye to Lochmaddy (1¾ 4pm Sun Jun-Aug, shorter
hours) and Tarbert (1½ hours). hours Sep-May; W).
Skye offers some of
the finest walking in
www.visitaviemore.com; The Lower down, scenic glens Scotland, including some
Mall, Grampian Rd; h9am- are softened by beauti- short, low-level routes.
5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm Sun ful open forests of native The sheltered coves and
year-round, longer hrs Jul & Scots pine, home to sea lochs around the
GREAT BRITAIN 16 BRITAIN’S WILD SIDE
Aug) – to the Angus Glens rare animals and birds coast of Skye provide
in the south, and from such as pine martens, magnificent sea-kayaking
Dalwhinnie in the west wildcats, red squirrels, opportunities. Skyak Ad-
to Ballater and Royal ospreys, capercaillies and ventures (%01471-820002;
Deeside in the east. crossbills. www.skyakadventures.com; 29
The park encompasses Lower Breakish, Breakish; 1-day
the highest landmass in 4 p233 course per person from £100)
Britain – a broad moun- The Drive » Take the A9 runs expeditions and
tain plateau, riven only northwest to Inverness, then courses for both begin-
by the deep valleys of the the southwest-bound A82 ners and experienced
Lairig Ghru and Loch along Loch Ness (keeping an paddlers to otherwise
Avon, with an average al- eye out for mythical beasts). inaccessible places.
At Invermoriston join the
titude of over 1000m and westbound A887, which Skye’s stunning scen-
including five of the six becomes the A87, and continue ery is the main attrac-
highest summits in the to Kyle of Lochalsh where you’ll tion, but when the mist
UK. This wild mountain cross the Skye Bridge to the closes in there are plenty
landscape of granite and Isle of Skye. Continue along the of castles, crofting muse-
heather has a sub-Arctic A87 to reach Portree (a 145-mile ums and cosy pubs and
climate and supports journey all up). restaurants, along with
rare alpine tundra dozens of art galleries
vegetation and high- and craft studios.
altitude bird species, g Isle of Skye
such as snow bunting, The Isle of Skye (an
ptarmigan and dotterel. t-Eilean Sgiathanach in

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