Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

self catering on Skye - any suggestions?

68 replies

dizzydixies · 03/01/2009 15:41

we're considering taking the kids up to Skye for a week during the summer but would prefer to stay somewhere self catering

anyone have any suggestions?

OP posts:
Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/01/2009 22:18

nobody been to Skye?!?!

OP posts:
pigsickonwhitewine · 04/01/2009 22:26

yes...last year....its like Little Surrey!
With added tie-dye!

hope you get the weather, not a lot to do when bad weather hits but a week should be do-able
lots of damp holiday cottages to rent some have sonic mouse repellents to stop the beasties coming in when the house is empty

take your food with you

(can you guess I am not a Skye person...I prefer Mull!)

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/01/2009 22:30

lol, you're not exactly selling it to me here

OP posts:
pigsickonwhitewine · 04/01/2009 22:33

its not called the misty isle for nothing!

some folk like it though

some will come along soon, I hope

pigsickonwhitewine · 04/01/2009 22:34

once they've finished tie dyeing their hand thrown pottery tea bag strainers

pigsickonwhitewine · 04/01/2009 22:36

there was one dark fruit and veg shop that my ds refused (hysterically) to even enter

Spar it wasn't

roisin · 04/01/2009 22:37

We are going to Skye in Summer, there are all sorts of fantastic properties. Whereabout do you want to be (it's a big place)? How many bedrooms? What are your preferences - middle of nowhere or nearer to a shop/restaurant/pub?

pigsickonwhitewine - we adore Mull, this is our first foray to Skye. I hope we fare better than you did!

roisin · 04/01/2009 22:40

Lots of the better places (Skye and Mull and similar) get booked up well in advance, so I would get your skates on!

When we were looking this one was the nicest I found, but it's much larger than we need, so I couldn't justify the cost.

ClaireDeLoon · 04/01/2009 22:41

I'm with pigsickonwhitewine (intriguing name) I prefer Mull. I would recommend you the holiday cottage we stayed at on Skye but it was damp with 70's furniture. Looked nice in the pics though. It is a lovely island though and I hope you have a lovely holiday.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/01/2009 22:43

pmsl pigsick!!

roisin we haven't been before so open to suggestions. we were in Mull last summer and love it there too

near to pub/restaurant etc probably preferable but not fussed as long as within driving distance

need at least 2 bedrooms as there will be me, DH DD1 who will be 6yrs, DD2 who will be 5yrs and DD3 who will be 1

OP posts:
roisin · 04/01/2009 22:46

Mull cottages are generally more expensive than Skye.

If anyone fancies Mull, we've stayed here a couple of times, and the cottages are gorgeous. It was recommended to me on mumsnet several years ago, and it is lovely.

We had deer over the fence from the cottage, rabbits in the garden, amazing dragonflies in the forest, and golden eagles seen every evening from a spot about 1 mile walk from the cottage. Also whilst on Mull seen dolphins, harbour porpoise, Minke Whale, otter, seals (two types), sea eagles, etc.

Crikey, I hope Skye is not a big disappointment to us!

Panta · 04/01/2009 22:50

Skye is the most beautiful place on earth!!

If you do go anytime bewtween May and September, you will be consumed by midges, so take LOTS of repellent with you. They can ruin your hols. I am very jealous....

Ponders · 04/01/2009 22:52

cottages4you have lots on skye (see ad on this page offering 7% discount )

Ponders · 04/01/2009 22:53

um - see ad on this page sometimes, offering 7% discount

There will be a link on the MN discounts page though

pigsickonwhitewine · 04/01/2009 22:57

hmmmm...Skye is pretty but the most beautiful place on the whole Earth.....hmmmm...not sure....

[deserted tropical island emoticon]

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/01/2009 22:58

panta we're scottish and used to the midge so well prepared

shall offer up one of the children as a sacrafice to the midges, depending on which one has annoyed me on the journey

OP posts:
Panta · 04/01/2009 23:19

like your thinking, dizzy!!

Original poster
dizzydixies · 04/01/2009 23:21

thankyou, I used to have 6 children but have been holidaying in Scotland a lot recently

OP posts:
Soprana · 04/01/2009 23:50

Yes. Best advice is to give Skye the bodyswerve (full of coachloads of tourists clogging up the photo opportunities, and VASTLY overpriced) and go to Mull instead. Much, much nicer. You can get info on staying on Mull here.

Panta · 04/01/2009 23:51

Ignore Soprana. She is clearly ill.

Soprana · 05/01/2009 09:22

Panta, why be nasty? I'm entitled to my opinion. Skye IS very touristy, which for me spoils it, despite the beauty of the scenery.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother with Mumsnet.

roisin · 05/01/2009 15:45

Is Skye really so crowded/touristy? I mean it's so much bigger than Mull. Is it only certain parts, or is it because it's so much more accessible because of the bridge?

I shall come back with my judgement in August! The only thing is we've always been incredibly lucky with the weather and midges on Mull, so if the weather/midges are 'average' or worse this year we will probably be very disappointed.

Soprana · 05/01/2009 16:59

Well, Roisin, I've only been once - so maybe I got it at a bad time (it was July). The narrow roads were clogged up with enormous tourist coaches, the b and b accommodation we had was grim, and horrifically expensive, and the service indifferent and offhand. The restaurants we ate in served bad food, at inflated prices. If all of those things are not indications of somewhere that doesn't have to try too hard to encourage visitors, I don't know what is. Mull, on the other hand, is never busy, in my experience. I've been there in May, July and September, and it's always been possible to find good accommodation, get good food, and not feel like you're an extra in a Japanese film (not that I've got anything against Japanese films I hasten to add). It has great scenery, fantastic, friendly people and amazing wildlife. The only problem is the midges. Which they have on Skye too, by the way.

Original poster
dizzydixies · 05/01/2009 17:18

I was in Mull last year but thank you

OP posts:
Pan · 05/01/2009 18:38

Oh Soprana, I was kidding. I should have put a in to be fair to make it plain that I was kidding. So.....

"Ignore Soprana. She is clearly ill. ".

Looks much better, n'est-ce pas?

I apoplogise to you without reservation for any disturbance caused to you.