General Chat

Early May is definitely the best time - best weather, and before the midges hatch :-D

Bye (for now)!

Yeah, it's famous for them! I always thought May was the best time to do the Isles. Before the worst of the midges.

Right, that's me signing off. Been nice chatting and who knows, I might need to do some research in the future so, like Arnie - I'll be back. Maybe.

Live long and prosper :)

Just like to say - there are a lot of bl**dy cuckoos on Skye.
I saw, for the first time ever, two fly over me - both cuckooing!
Sat in the garden having a smoke, and a couple of cuckoos, either side of the garden, were having a 'cuckoo; tennis match :-| :-| :-|

That's a shame:(

I suppose nothing lasts forever.

:-D :-D :-D :-D Caroline!!
No, It's a big one now - 10+ cars - hence, when there are low tides it can't make it.
However, when there are low tides, and the ferry won't be running it's on the timetable!! :-D (according to my sister - she did the arranging)

Is it still the same tiny thing that only holds about 2 cars? Even once the bridge opened I liked to use that one :) Didn't seem the same going over the bridge. Really must make the effort to get back.

Of course maybe some will confirm their ancestor went to Skye by boat many many years ago that would be Bonnie wouldn't it :-D

It used to be a private (local) one, now it's Caledonian MacBrayne,
Sister and I were up there the first week in May.
We went over to Skye on the ferry, hired a car, stayed on Skye for a few days, then drove over the bridge to the Kyle of Lochalsh to get the train to Edinburgh.

Now they have the bridge I think the only ferry to Sky is from tiny private one from Glenelg to Kylerhea - unless you do the long route from Mallaig to Armadale. Someone may correct me, though. It's a few years since I was up there.

Ah - dead comfy - can't be Caledonian MacBrayne then :-D :-D

Cal Mac run the ferries to Skye - but not on certain days when the tide is too low :-(
You really would think they'd provide a ferry that suited the water, wouldn't you?
They undercut the 3 local ferries that ran to Skye - but don't provide the service.

I was told this by a leather worker in Armadale (Skye) - who (strangely) used to run a leather shop where I used to live :-D

Sorry Maggie..... :-( :-P

It's a new ferry - dead comfy. Run by North Link. Not too badly priced, either - I assume to do with the Scottish Govt,'s road travel scheme where ferry fares are based on car travel costs.

Joy Louise - yes it is!!! I'm don't care how general - a specific island isn't needed as I live in 4 different places here.
From the clues, you should be able to guess :-D :-D :-D

Caroline - less of the 'Old Dears' if you don't mind :-| :-| :-|

Eldrick - Weather - yes. Absolutely amazing if you have no modern 'facilities'.
I remember hanging the (hand washed and very wet) sheets on the line, in line with the crofthouse.
Why? So that when they blew off the line, they were 'stuck' on the croft wall, and didn't fly to Hamnavoe!!

If you go by ferry, I bet it's a bit more comfortable than the old St Claire - but still run by Caledonian Macbrayne.
Going by plane - I've only ever gone from there to Prestwick on a 16 seater.(Courtesy of the CostArc - the firm I worked for - who were extending the airport)
Turbulence? Of course - but we called it the 'Bouncy Castle' effect :-S
(anything to deny to ourselves we were going to die) :-( :-(

Oh dear Rollo was a wannabe snotty yachty even worse...and yet sad....never liked the plastic pigs myself much preferred the old wooden hulls.

Maggie I think they'd need a few old dears as like you said pass on the skills but not too quickly....didn't someone on here earlier mention no knowledge as there would be no computers...can't beat brain power.

That's the plan - weather is always going to be the bugbear but if you don't try you cant win.

I've been a few times now and love the getting there bit. Can be quite interesting!

Just from that comment, I know you know where it was, Eldrick!
It is amazing, the people (when I was there) were incredible - probably a huge influx of Sooth-Moothers now.

Hope you get to see the Aurora :-D

I'm going there in November. Wish I could stay for the new years Viking celebrations!

Ooh, didn't realise there was a quiz too!

Was it some Scottish island, Maggie?

:-D :-D :-D :-D

I'm still waiting for someone to suss out the clues about where I was living.
Here's another clue - there were lots of Vikings there, in fact they celebrate the Vikings every year.

Edit: I'm actually getting bored waiting. Anyone else like to guess?
(I was going to write 'have a stab' - but someone might) :-0