Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
Just heard the Isle of Skye is 'FULL'
Heard on the news that officials are pleading for holidaymakers to avoid Skye unless they have a reservation.
Is this a case of the NC500 atracting too many tourists seeking solitude and wilderness?
9th Aug 2017 9:30 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Some of the scenes on the BCC news piece this morning were very sad
Snaking lines of vehicles clogging up the roads and reports from locals of people just driving to the spot where they know a particular film was shot, taking a photo and driving off. It also showed some Chinese tourists getting a hire car stuck in the verge of the single-track lane.
It's been over five years since I was last there but I certainly don't remember it being anything like what I saw this morning.D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
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9th Aug 2017 9:34 am
Iguana
Member Since: 14 Oct 2013
Location: 'Sunny' Zomerset
Posts: 9424
Very sad, we've been there 3 times over the last 10 years or so, gorgeous place and never had any 'Traffic' issuesIggy/Ieuan
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9th Aug 2017 9:39 am
Jamiehol
Member Since: 13 Nov 2015
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 394
James W wrote:
It also showed some Chinese tourists getting a hire car stuck in the verge of the single-track lane.
The picture I saw of the Chinese tourist, showed a diplomatic registered car getting stuck, you would hope they would know better but given how many diplomatic cars don't pay traffic penalties.
9th Aug 2017 9:56 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15272
On a side note to this, spare a thought for the islanders of the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands etc.
These humongous vessels are docking and dumping tourists by the thousands on these once quite little islands.
Whilst it might be good for some businesses, I'm sure it's not good for all, nor the residents and 'normal' tourists.
When I get up to tour the North of Scotland [in my soon to be ready camper van conversion], I'm certainly going to plan ahead and miss these 'plagues of locusts'.
I'm quite sure there'll be many 'normal' tourists doing the same thing - and that's not good for the local busineses!
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9th Aug 2017 10:19 am
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
Thing is the locals are suffering. Not only are the roads congested - convoys of same make cars, yesterday it was Lotus, hoards of motorcyclists, cyclists, but there isn't much money spent tbh, so there's no positives.
The cruise ships have always been there, just increasing in frequency. Its a frenzy when they disembark, walking, taxis, multiple busses and coaches.
There's also the point that they can't get medics and other professionals into the area to serve the resident population.
Put simply, they don't want to move into the area in its present state. SWMBO got offered a position to cover the West Coast and wouldn't take it because of the NC500 road congestion. A 40 min journey now takes over 2 hours. So one home visit would take basically 5 hours out of your working day by the time your finished.
I certainly avoid travelling in the summer and many locals are now getting increasing vocal in their opposition to all this. It ain't a happy place.
9th Aug 2017 11:11 am
highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5107
Much of Skye is fine...well, okay.
I've been to Broadford twice this week with no problems.
The NC500 doesn't cover Skye. It was thought up to try to bring more tourism to less frequented places (although the Bealach na Ba was hardly quiet in summer for many years.
It IS problematic at the Fairy Pools, where some of the filming was done, and the Quirang and some other single track stretches (e.g. Fairy Glen).
The biggest issue that lead to the 'FULL' warning is accommodation.
We only book 3 months in advance but friends who leave their calendars open for a year or more are fully booked for July and August next year already.
They opened up at least one community hall last year for families who had booked no accommodation when the weather got a bit lairy.
We had a cancellation last week and although it was 4.30pm we thought we'd open up the booking.
By 4.33pm it was booked.
Many/most visitors don't seem to realise that May and September are better months to come (weather and midge wise).
On the subject of the Fairy Pools, there are better pools elsewhere and no-one, even locally, really called them the fairy pools or bothered with them until recent years. It seems some good tripadvisor reviews started a bit of a snowball effect a few years back.
Anyway, there are issues, but I wouldn't generalise it as not being 'a happy place'.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
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9th Aug 2017 1:54 pm
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
Try and get a ferry - bl00dy nightmare
I was trying to get to family on Mull a few weeks ago and all the sailings from Oban were booked days in advance.
Had to then detour to the Coran Ferry at Ardgour, single track roads to Lochaline and ferry from there to Fishnish on Mull
112 miles instead of 57.
Roads on Mull are mostly single track and are snarled up this time of year with Camper vans who bring everything with them and really spend very little on the islands.
All caused by the Road Equivalent Tariff and the weak pound
9th Aug 2017 2:26 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
Lots of interesting points there. I think I'll leave my trip until the Autumn.
9th Aug 2017 4:31 pm
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
A lot of locals are pretty negative about things probably because the congestion effects their everyday lives in one way or another. It's not like there plenty of alternatives routes, one road in and one road out normally. It maybe a generalisation, but a valid one.
9th Aug 2017 6:20 pm
mcsimmo
Member Since: 08 Aug 2011
Location: North of the south
Posts: 1795
I don't blame anyone from Englandshire wanting to see what an attractive and beautiful country we have. Man with no D3 anymore, but cant leave the forum....how sad.
10th Aug 2017 7:42 am
Alex08
Member Since: 09 Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1600
highlands wrote:
Much of Skye is fine...well, okay.
I've been to Broadford twice this week with no problems.
Broadford is easy - proper road.
It took me the best part of an hour to get from Uig around the north end to Staffin the other week on a Friday morning. Single track, campervans at 20mph, no overtaking, queues to get past 'beauty spots' etc
Tourism is to be encouraged but it does need investment to make it a good experience for everyone. Highland Council has dropped the ball here. Maybe we should lease the island to Disney as they can manage queues, allocate time slots for attractions and keep smiling the whole time.
It is REALLY busy just now - much more so than before. We live opposite the Quairang where most of the 'scenic' shots for the BBC piece were filmed - I should probably put camping in the barn on airb&b for some exorbitant price!
10th Aug 2017 1:31 pm
highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5107
Don't you live atop the Erskine Bridge anymore?
You have a barn opposite the Quirang and it's not on Airbnb!!
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10th Aug 2017 3:37 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20855
Member Since: 25 Aug 2013
Location: Teesdale
Posts: 1418
Whilst Skye is an extreme case, all of the UK that is anywhere scenic tends to be full at this time of year.
We were at a large camping/caravanning site in the Lake District last week and saw several families who hadn't booked but just rolled up, being turned away. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth
Why anyone would go to places such as Skye at this time of the year and not pre-book beats me
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