What to do in Skye? And practical questions ...

[CocktailQueen]

How long does it take to drive to Skye from Glasgow? (We're staying 12 miles north of Portree)

We're going in August and staying right by the coast. Will there be midges??

What should we do? Best beaches? We're going for wildlife and peace and quiet...

Anything else we should know??
Thanks!

We live just north of Perth and go most Easters. We stop at Kyle of Lochalsh to eat in the hotel there and mostly to on to Uig or this year it was Stein so I reckon around the area you're talking about. Including stopping, it takes about 5 hours for us. We go up the A9 and out through Spean Bridge... what route are you taking?
Once you're on Skye, it can take a wee while. It's bigger than you think and also the roads can be busy...especially on a Saturday (changeover day).
Where are you staying? We usually go to a fab house at Uig but left it late to book this year and ended up in what was supposed to be a 5 star luxury boathouse at Halistra (it wasn't!!)...just panicking you're going to the same place!! It was nice but nowhere near as nice as it should've been for the price!!

Waternish and Trotternish are the best penisnsulas I think. Waternish is pretty and there's a great pub at Stein. Trotternish is spectacular...the Quirang and the Old Man of Storr are walks you just have to do!
Great walk down near Elgol too...over a track to a secluded bay called Camusanary. Only accessible by sea, that track or by coming through the Cuillins so generally deserted!!
Great coral beach walk at Dunvegan. Drive past the castle and keep going a couple of miles and its a great sea walk...you follow the coast and get to the beach, then theres a wee hill at the end from where you get a great view.
Good Coop in Portree so you don't need to take everything with you. But everything is shut on Sunday so make sure you've enough to last till the Monday!!
Any more questions...just ask!

Oh, fabulous, thank you! We're staying at Jubilee Cottage - www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Fort-William-Isle-of-Skye-The-Western-Isles-Idrigill/Jubilee-Cottage-12666.html - which looks lovely.

Thanks for all the tips :) What wildlife have you seen there?

My sons (5 & 8) still talk about watching a huge Sea Eagle pluck a fish out of the water about 30 feet from us on a short boat trip we took from Portree. We watched seals playing about in the shallows off the coral beach and made (black)sand castles at the beautiful beaches at Glen Brittle and Talisker. The dinosaur footprints at An Corran beach at Staffin also made a lasting impression!
We went a few years ago at Easter(spent the day of Thicky and Totty's wedding exploring the Quiraing) so no problems with midges, perhaps if you stick to the beaches they won't bother you
Typing this out has made me think that I should book up for next Easter.
Have a brilliant timeOP

Take a day on Raasay - check the ferry times. If you're into wild and remote it's pretty special.

CampingClaire's got it covered - I'd echo the recommendation for the pub at Stein, plus there's a rather good seafood restaurant next door.

Otter sanctuary
Three Chimneys restaurant

Enjoy.

Pint at Stein Inn on Waternish peninsula.
Drive from Broadford to Elgol.
Visit the Quirang.
Meal at The Three Chimneys if you're feeling flush!
Visit Dunvegan Castle.
Walk to the Coral Beach.
Lunch at Cafe Arriba in Portree.

Midges - thoosands!!

Have fun!

CocktailQueen.. Phew...not the same house!! It looks lovely and Uig is so nice. Supposedly pod of dolphins seen there last week! Eagles and seals are all I've seen. Desperate to see a basking shark...it's becoming a bit of a holiday joke in our family...they seem to be sighted by other visitors to the houses we go too but never by me!!!
Agree with everything PoloMintCity said!

Fabulous - am looking forward to it :) Thanks all :)

If you've youngish DC buy some cheap crabbing kit & bacon. Keeps them entertained for hours.