It never fails to amaze me how many people cheerfully surrender their lives for want of just a little common sense.
If you do decide to visit the Isle of Skye I hope that you will have a most excellent holiday.
However you should remember that Skye is a dangerous place if you do not respect it.
It has beautiful mountains and sea cliffs to fall off. There is also an abundance of rivers to drown in, and peat bogs to disappear in. If you have children, please keep an eye on them.
On Dunvegan Head my wife once sank up to her waist in a peat bog. When I got her out she had to remove her trousers and change into her waterproof leggings. To the amusement of all, she had to waddle back into the hotel in waterproof overtrousers and bare feet with her sodden filthy ordinary trousers over her arm - a funny story with a happy ending, but not so good if you either drown in the bog or you cannot get out and nobody knows where you are.
The sea is too cold to swim in. Remember that in these latitudes, survival in the sea will be measured in minutes if you are not wearing a survival suit.
People often refer to the "misty Isle of Skye". This is not just a romantic way of looking at things, it is entirely true. This means that the weather can be unpredictable and, if you intend to go into the mountains, please make sure that you know what you are doing.
Whatever the weather, you should always take clothing with you which is suitable for adverse weather. Conditions in the mountains can change extremely quickly.
If you're going to venture far off the beaten track, maps and a compass are essential. If you are going into the mountains, please take local advice, be mindful that finding your way around in mist is a very different matter from finding your way around in clear conditions. Take food and something non alcoholic to drink
Particularly in the Black Cuillins, magnetic rock is to be found which can make compass readings unreliable. I always take with me the relevant map, my compass and also a Magellan hand-held satellite navigation system set to OSGB, the British Ordnance survey map reference system.
Even though Ordnance Survey maps are amongst the best, there are places on Skye where paths exist on the map, but are not very evident on the ground.
If you are going to go into the Black Cuillins please let somebody know where you are going, either a friend, or your landlady, or your hotel, or the local police. Behave like a pilot filing a flight plan. Tell people where you are going and do not venture from your route. People have got lost and died up there. Remember to tell people when you have returned and allow a realistic time to get back. If you don't think you are up to something, or you are unsure then don't do it!!
Skye is also renowned for its midges, which have a vicious bite and turn out sometimes in unbelievable numbers. It all depends upon whether it is a "midge" weather.
You could go to the Isle of Skye and never encounter the midges, in which case you will wonder what all the fuss was about. On the other hand if you find yourself a long way from anywhere and the midges do come out then, believe me, the little swines can drive you mad.
The remedy is always to carry in your pocket a reliable midge repellent. I recommend one called Autan which is made by a company called Bayer. This is not to say that other brands of repellent are no good. All I am saying is that we have tried this particular one and it does seem to work. That having been said, do not think that midge repellent keeps midges well away from you. When I first used midge repellent I expected it to be like the glass dome that goes over some ornamental clocks and that it would afford me some sort of demilitarised zone for several feet around me in each direction. It does not work like that, the midges will still buzz round you and land on you and generally be a nuisance. However they will not bite you and that is the difference.
For midge repellant, and all your other medical needs, I recommend the chemists shop in Wentworth Street in Portree.
If you are unfortunate enough to fall ill, then your local hotel, or landlady, or the police will be able to point you in the direction of a local doctor.
The hospital at Broadford caters for many of the Island's needs and also those of part of the mainland.
In cases where it can't, you are liable to be ambulanced, or flown, to Raigmore hospital at Inverness.
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In those pre-bridge days, when there was an emergency, all loading of the ferry stopped and priority was given to the ambulance on the ferry. Once it was aboard, up would go the ramp and the "flattie" would take off at full speed for Kyleakin, engines going twenty nine to the dozen and the whole contraption shuddering and vibrating for all it was worth.
Copyright © Gareth Boote 2000