Welcome to Uig Isle of Skye Scotland
Uig is a small village on the romantic Isle of Skye in the West of the
Highlands of Scotland, the ferries to Lochmaddy and Tarbert depart from
Uig. Set in a sheltered bay Uig is a great place for a walking holiday.
Uig is often warm and dry when there is rain further south. Only 363 people
live in Uig and make their living from fishing, crofting (usually part-time),
tourism and the ferry.
Around the bay are several crofting townships including Cuil, Rha and
Idrigill. The rivers Rha and Conan flow into the bay through wooded gorges.
The woodland is managed by the Woodland Trust and is one of the few areas
of ancient woodland left in Skye.
Places to stay in Uig Isle of Skye
Cal-Mac Ferry
The Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry from Uig to the Western Isle leaves from
Uig twice a day sailing directly from Uig Bay right into the Minch. From
the hills above Uig you can watch the ferry leave and see the hills of
Harris across the Minch.
Uig Waterfall
Take the Staffin road by the Police house in Uig. Before you get to the
bridge over the river Rha you will find a stile on the right hand side
of the road. If you cross over the stile and follow the path it will take
you into a deep glen with a magnificent double waterfall. Be careful to
stay on the path, particularly in wet weather, as the banks above the
waterfall can be very slippy and dangerous.
Fairy Glen
Take the road which goes to Sheader and runs up behind the Uig Hotel.
This leads to a glen which at the top end has a number of small lochs,
and small conical shaped hills, which give the appearance of a miniature
landscape.You can also get a good overall view of the Fairy Glen from
the Glen Conon road. You will find the entrance to this road opposite
the post office in Uig. While using these roads for sightseeing remember
that local people are also using these roads to go about their daily business
so be careful not to block the road for others.
Uig Tower
You will see this Norman style tower as you drive down into Uig from the
Portree road. This is not an early Norman Tower it is a much more modern
ruin. It was built by Captain Fraser, a notorious landlord of the Kilmuir
Estates during the period of the Highland clearances, and was indeed originally
used to collect rents from the local crofters.This building was used to
house a family in Uig into the 11024s
Clach Ard Uige
(The high stone of Uig) This is a relic of an ancient stone circle which
stood on the hill just above Uig. This single stone remains in this prominent
position up on the hill by the Youth Hostel. It is said that in the old
stories of the area great disaster will befall the community if this stone
should ever be moved.
Caisteal Uisdean
(Hugh’s Castle) This old 17th century castle is interesting in that
it shows the style of the early castles in Skye which used the sea as
their main highway. Many castles in Skye, including the famous Dunvegan
Castle were originally designed with their main entrance to the sea. Hugh’s
castle has no entrance at all on the ground floor. Entrance could only
be gained by a stairway which was raised and lowered from the second floor
level, and again the main means of transport to and from the castle was
by sea. If you want to go and have a close look at this castle you should
go down the Cuidrach Road where you will find a footpath which will take
you to the castle.
Piping Memorial
At the top of Glenhinnisdal just before the last house there in a small
memorial at the roadside to mark the place where Donald MacDonald was
born at a croft there in 1750. Donald MacDonald was a famous piper, and
bagpipe maker, and a pupil of the great MacArthur pipers who had a piping
college at Hungladder in Kilmuir. Donald’s main claim to fame however
is that he was the first to put the Famous Piobaireachd, or “Ceòl
Mòr” into notation for others to read. His own book of early
“Ceòl Mòr” tunes are still used today and are
played at the Skye games piobaireachd competitions each year by pipers
from all parts of the world.
Museum of Highland Life
These are just some of the things of interest in Uig district itself,
but of course the surrounding area is full of places of historical and
natural interest. The Skye museum of Island life is just a short distance
to the north of Uig in Kilmuir, and is a must for any visitor to the area,
and the little book “Discovering Skye” by Jonathan MacDonald,
which can be bought at the museum, is an excellent way to get an introduction
to the rich history of the Island if you are here on a short holiday.
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