Isle of Skye on your bucket list?

After visiting the home of Scottish forebears in September 2017, I agree with the recent rash of travel articles cautioning that Scotland has a lot more to offer than the Isle of Skye.

This is especially so as ‘overtourism’ impacts ultra scenic locations that have shot to fame the world over because they've been featured in high profile TV series.

In an ideal world, Skye has much going for it, but weighing up the best time to visit is a delicate balancing act when it comes to ensuring: 

• good weather (more reliable in the tourist season)
• fewer tourists (out of the tourist season, colder and possibly wetter)
• best accommodation deals (out of season).

And then there's the midges.

Which ever month you decide to visit, there’s no guarantee that you’ll arrive to sunshine instead of overcast, misty or downright wet weather. And clustering in Portree with other time-poor rugged up tourists from all corners of the globe can be less than inspiring, especially as every single one of them are experiencing the same sense of let down as you are.

This especially applies to 'fast tourists' who've allowed one day all up to 'do' Skye, or worse still, drive from Edinburgh or Glascow on and out-and-back day trip in order to tick it off their bucket list! Good luck with that.

Want my advice? If your trip is by necessity short, pack a camera that can make the best of the conditions.

For example, we couldn’t see The Storr on our northward loop with the naked eye, but my new Panasonic Lumix could as I discovered when downloading photos shot on one of its creative filters.

Like wow! A shadow glimpse is way better than nothing.  

Check out The Storr in the background, not visible with the naked eye.

Here's the Old Man of Storr once again, invisible to the naked eye but not to my camera!

All was not lost, whatever the weather.