PLACES TO VISIT
In and around Waterstein.; A 20 minute walk from the cottage will take you to the Lighthouse at Neist Point. This is the most northwesterly point on Skye. It is an ideal place to watch for whales, basking sharks, dolphins and seals. It is also one of the best sea angling spots on Skye. Of the many varieties that can be caught pollock, mackeral and coalfish are the most common.We have fishing equipment at the cottage for you to use, with tackle available to purchase. Advise and directions to the best marks are free! The lighthouse became automated in March 1988, the keepers cottages being now owned privatly.From the same rocks you can watch for whales, dolphins,seals, basking sharks[ which come in very close to the rocks, and can be as long as 30 feet]. as well as golden eagles, and the many different sea birds Skye has to offer.
The Biod-Mor and Milovaig Head
Again just 20 mins walk from the cottage.Choose a clear day and you can look over to the outer hebrides to the west and Rum and Cana to the south. While your up there watch out for our Golden Eagles , ravens and buzzards soaring above you.Although the Biod-Mor is 296 mts above sea level and Milovaig head is 197 mts ,they're not hard walks and well worth the effort, you will not be disapointed.An evening walk can be outstanding on a clear night, especially when the sun is setting over the outer isles.
Loch Mor;
5 minutes will take you down to loch Mor infront of the cottage, always a lovely stroll. A walk around the loch on a lovely summers evening or indeed any time of the day will always bring sheer pleasure. Watch out for the family of otters,( Mum has 2 cubs this year.) Look around and you'll see where the land was cultivated in yesteryear, you can see the rugged ground, which was all dug by hand to help with drainage and to gain extra land.This can all be clearly seen. See the ruins, where the houses used to be, before the clearances on the other side of the loch ,opposite to where the houses are now. Our house was the first to be built on this side in 1896.
Moonen Bay and Oisgil Bay
These are Watersteins very own beaches, you will need to be quite fit to scramble down to Moonen ,but well worth the effort, walk along the rocky beach and you will come to a waterfall, where you can stand underneath.Look over to the lighthouse and down to Ramasaig, if its been raining the waterfalls can be quite stunning.
Oisgil bay isn't as bad to get down to, but a bit of a scramble to come back. Usually Salty the seal can't resist coming around the corner to watch you on the shore, you'll find these beaches very quiet and peaceful, they're not on the tourist route, you will find you have the place all to yourselves.
All this and you haven't left Waterstein yet,A beautiful township with a population of 12.
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Moving away from Waterstein into Milovaig, we have a beautiful old pier, if you haven't caught your own fish yet,? then you'll be able to buy some freshly caught, from one of the local fisherman, or arrange a fishing trip on a boat.
Down to Glendale we have 2 small shops, both selling groceries, one a post office, selling daily papers, stationery, and gifts, the other is an off licence, resturant, and has a cash machine.Just further on we have a beautiful community hall, Craft club, badminton, art, bowls and quiz nights are a few of the clubs on offer with everyone welcome to join in.
Every Tuesday from Easter until October we hold a local craft market; offering wallhangings, soft toys, hand knit garments, covered books, scarves, jewellery, quilting, photos, and much more, all hand made in Glendale, open 11am to 5pm. You will also see some of my own pressed flowers in bookmarks and pictures, ideal keepsakes from your holiday.
Also worth a visit is the Toy museum in Glendale ,check out their web site, very hands on, with toys from victorian times to telly tubbies.
Glendale mill, although in disrepair, is a lovely old building, when we first came to Skye 21 years ago we could buy crushed oats for our ducks, the old wheel turned and the machines inside were all in working order.
Over the hill you'll come to Borreraig croft museum and piping centre, here you will find out about local history, lots to see, and hand made gifts to buy.. Another museum is in Colbost next to the Three Chimneys Restaurant, ( about 6 miles away. )This one is in shape of a black house, with an illegal still just behind it.
Next to the museum is The Raven Press , here Kathlene Lindsley a woodengraver and illustrator displays her work. Kathy engraves her pictures onto woodblocks, before printing them out, using an Albion hand press.
Skye Silver is situated in the old school at Colbost, a very popular stop for the ladies, Beautiful jewellery to purchase, again check out their web site.
Further afield, about 10 mile from us lies Dunvegan with its castle and gardens.Go beyond the castle for another few mile and you can view all the seals basking on the rocks on the way to the coral beaches, you must visit these while you are here. 2 golden beaches of broken coral and tiny shells. Probably 1 mile walk but well worth it and its easy going.
