Exploring the area

Cruinn Bheinn is the ideal base from which to explore Skye.  It is only seven miles from the island capital Portree, from where roads radiate out to all parts of the island.  Yet it is in as tranquil and timeless a spot as any to be found on Skye, surrounded by nature and history, a place where Gaelic is still spoken and the crofting way of life lives on.  The picture on the left shows the view from our front gate.

For the walker there is open country stretching out in every direction, broken only by Loch Snizort Beag, an arm of the sea to the west of us with fascinating walks along its shores.  The wildlife is as varied as the landscape, from the seabirds and otters in the loch through the croftlands which are a refuge for so many species now rare in the rest of the country, up into the hills where song of the skylark and the mew of the buzzard accompany you all the way, until you reach the heights where the golden eagle is king and the peregrine falcon guards the crags.

The Trotternish Ridge is a 20-mile inland cliff studded along its length with amazing rock formations.  Its highest point, the Storr, is directly east of us, some five miles of uphill slog away, but you can always drive round to a point on the other side of the peninsula where a short walk will take you to the Old Man of Storr, a gigantic natural rock pillar that marks the start of a wonderland of pinnacles and boulders (picture on right), with the Storr mountain towering behind.

Evidence of earlier inhabitants is all around you.  In a field beside the shore, visible from the house, are a pair of prehistoric standing stones (picture on left) 3500-4000 years old, and possibly even older is the substantial chambered cairn a mile further south.  The remains of a Dun, or Celtic hill-fort, are just half a mile up the hill-track from our house, and there are several others in the area.  Moving on to the time of the Picts, one of their mysterious symbol stones still stands at Tote, 3 miles south of us, and a short distance beyond that is one of the earliest Christian settlements, on an island in the river Skeabost reached by a small footbridge.

Ruined castles from the days of the clan chiefs are found on lonely headlands, and the history of the ordinary people is brought to life in the superb Skye Museum of Island Life at Kilmuir (picture on right).  You can take part in the traditional form of Highland entertainment at the Skye Scene Highland Ceilidh in Portree.  Most evenings there is music on somewhere in the vicinity, and a variety of other cultural events take place throughout the year.

Portree is well supplied with places to eat and drink, and we will be glad to give our advice if asked.  We also recommend the excellent Skeabost House Hotel, set in beautiful countryside about 3 miles from our house and renowned for its cuisine.

Fishing, pony-trekking, canoeing, windsurfing, boat trips, guided walks and many other activities are all available in the area.  A day sail to the Western Isles, consisting of a combined ferry and bus tour starting from Uig, 8 miles to the north of us, makes for a relaxing day out and a change of scene.

Piper at the Skye Highland Games

Fishing on the Storr Lochs

Lucky white heather growing wild near us

If at any time during your stay you want any further advice about what to see and do in the area, or in other parts of Skye, please don't hesitate to ask Peter or Marina.  We have a good store of local knowledge and are always delighted to share it with our guests.

For further information about our area visit the pages below

Trotternish - The Scenery
Walking in Trotternish
Trotternish Ridge Picture Album
Birds of Trotternish
Plant Life of Trotternish
Skye Museum of Island Life
Isle of Skye Virtual Tour
Skye Scene Highland Ceilidh
The Early Church in Skye
A Short History of Crofting in Skye