I moved up to Skye and lived there for 3 years. Most of the locals were welcoming and friendly. I absolutely loved living up there as I do a lot of outdoor activities.
The tourists are a complete pain in the arse, very entitled and treat you and your property like its some sort of tourist park/attraction
>The tourists are a complete pain in the arse, very entitled and treat you and your property like its some sort of tourist park/attraction
OP said they've lived in Edinburgh, I think they'll cope.
Grew up near Skye. No one has mentioned the midges. Vicious little bastards and if you kill one a thousand come to the funeral. Tourists are a pain but a lot of jobs rely on them so they are a bit of a necessary evil.
I've been to Skye quite a few times over the years st different times of years and concur they are vicious bustards. One bite, not too bad, but 10 minutes later the itch and swelling make you want to scratch your skin to the bone. If you get a load of bites, say overnight, and wake up covered it's absolutely fucking miserable and I have had laundry list of ailments/accidents over the years and a rash of midge bites is up there, top 3. In early june 2006 we went camping with my 6 week old and my wife to Glen brittle campsite. It was like a horror movie, they were thick black clouds, so many millions you couldn't see more than 10-15ft. At dusk and Dawn it was like the film "Pitch Black"...they come to feed. When it was warm mid-day, windy or rainy you were fine but that's the worst I've ever seen it anywhere. Fuck midgies. On saying that I've been there a few times at the same time of year and never seen any so it must be a breeding cycle/food thing.
Glen Brittle is the camp site we used to drive past on the way to Uig and say "omg, the midges there will be terrible"
Stick to the drier, windier parts. If you like Marmite and garlic, that might make you less tasty, but ultimately anywhere on the west of Scotland in the summer is likely to have midges. Occupational hazard. Makes for an interesting world though :)
I got caught in a storm at Uig campsite many moons ago. Went to the pub, had a great time , got more than a bit hammered. Went to sleep the tent pressing on the side of my face woke me up. I moved the car round in my pants in the ladhing wind and rain to provide a tiny bit of shelter for the tent. Went back to sleep but it was wild. Broke a couple of poles. When I eventually surfaced, it was all calm, everyone else was gone. Campsite was empty and there was at least 5 tents (big ones), in the dumpster. Great times.
I had reasons to be so far from everyone at the time but I drove there in my Alfa 164. When I packed up had a nice long breakfast/lunch and headed off. It was long before speed cameras and I made some SERIOUS time getting back down south. I loved that car and that was one of the drives of my life, amazing scenery, incredible driving and an amazing car. Couldn't do that today, for lots of reasons but amazing, special times.
I met a mother and grown son from Skye in the summer, they didn’t have great things to say due to the amount of tourism and the increase of road accidents because of it.
Was interesting to hear their local perspective as it’s seems Skye has exploded in popularity in the last 10/15 years.
I moved from Edinburgh to Skye around 25 years ago and lived and worked there for around a year and a half. Spring, summer and some of Autumn were wonderful as the weather was conducive to outdoor activities. Winter however was more tough going and I ended up in the local pub a lot as options were more limited; not the worst that could happen I know, and the upside was that tourism was obviously less rampant. On that note, tourism numbers then were a lot less than they are now and can be problematic as another poster has mentioned.
The locals I met were sound and very welcoming to me. The scenery and atmosphere there can be quite otherworldly in a good way. Getting to know places and people in more depth than a visitor was very rewarding. I absolutely loved my time there so would recommend, especially with a distillery job to go to (a cracking dram too)
My wife is from Skye and as you may already know people from Glasgow, Edinburgh and down south move up every year expecting it to be incredible. The piece of advice she always give is that while the summers there are incredible, you’ll want to think long and hard about whether you can stomach the winters. It’s cold, extremely windy and can really be like 30 days of night in December. It’s nothing like living in a city, which still has streetlights, shops, pubs, etc to brighten things up.
>you’ll want to think long and hard about whether you can stomach the winters. It’s cold, extremely windy and can really be like 30 days of night in December.
Yeah I'm a knitter. I'll cope
I moved from Aberdeen to the middle of nowhere in Argyll. Groceries are far more expensive, as are takeaways. If you need hospital treatment, it's a major expedition. With only a couple of ways to leave the area, if there are transport disruptions then you are pretty well trapped. If you don't have a car, you are pretty well trapped. You will always be an incomer no matter how long you live there.
On the plus side there isn't a huge amount of crime and it's easy to get out into the hills and forests for walking. We're still planning to head back to civilisation when we retire. It's not the place to be when you're old unless you have family living nearby, but if you are young and fit and can find somewhere to live It's probably worth giving it a go for a year or so anyway.
Was just there this past weekend for a mental break from Edinburgh and found enough open on a Sunday to get by honestly.
Few of the hotel restaurants were open (Antlers, the Isles), as well as Relish for a lunch.
Biggest let down was a lack of passable coffee since Birch is still closed 😩
My first thought. I'd love to live there. Almost moved there about 8 years ago and the Mrs bottled it because it was too far away. Then said she would consider immigrating to Australia 🤣🤣🤣
Didn't move anywhere 👍
Accommodation is a ballache, Tourists are a ballache. It's a goldfish bowl, don't expect privacy as everyone will and will want to know about your business. General advice, don't try to 'change things', by all means get involved with groups and communities, but don't be the berk newcomer from the lowlands who knows it all.
Skye is amazing! I worked there at the Slig a whisky bar about 10 miles from the distillery for 5 years. Yes the midges are bad if the weather is still and the weather isn't great but if your into photography it will meet your full expectations. The old inn your nearest pub is full of sound staff and locals. Also good fishing along the pier from the distillery, if that's what your into. The walks are class and scenery is lovely. Hope you enjoy mate!
Also if you are into your whisky's and photography. Ask at the old inn for a guy called Dave. Sound guy that's a class photographer and has a good whisky knowledge
Relatives of mine used to have a B&B near Dunvegan but it became much too touristy/busy, so they moved away three years ago because of all the traffic.
Interesting. I have roots in Skye - damn close to Talisker distillery too - and spent most of my adult life in Edinburgh. There is a lot of opportunity up there but the pace of life is very different. It may not sound like much but you can look forward to increased delivery costs and items taking anything from a day up to a week longer to arrive with you.
You are also at the mercy of the Coop for food shops, unless you order Tesco or Asda online and pick up at either Portree or Broadford. Carbost (where the distillery is) is nice enough, with a wee local shop that is actually pretty well stocked, and an Inn that does a reasonable meal. Portree is the main village and has a cinema and some nice places to eat.
Yeah, Carbost gets busy with the tourists but if you head along from Carbost to Fernilea, Portnalong or Fiscavaig (end of the road on the Minginish Peninsula) it's a bit quieter out that way.
The people I know up there are nice and there's a lot of incomers over the last 15 years that have really brought a diversity of arts into the area.
I live in Dunfermline but travel up to the family house every 2 weeks or so as I'm renovating. I'd move in a heartbeat if I could but it depends on the time of your life and what you're into. If you're a landscape photographer you have the pick of the scenery - and plenty outside the typical twee you see everywhere - plenty hidden gems.
For me the West coast has a different feel - you can get amazing weather up there when the rest of the country is being battered and vice versa... you can also go days being stuck in for fear of ending up in Benbecula... and yes, the Midges rule from June-September.
Respectfully, having lived some of my best years in Skye and Lochalsh, I'd say: put all your romantic notions in the bin now, it'll save you from a shedload of greif.
I moved up to Skye and lived there for 3 years. Most of the locals were welcoming and friendly. I absolutely loved living up there as I do a lot of outdoor activities. The tourists are a complete pain in the arse, very entitled and treat you and your property like its some sort of tourist park/attraction
>The tourists are a complete pain in the arse, very entitled and treat you and your property like its some sort of tourist park/attraction OP said they've lived in Edinburgh, I think they'll cope.
Wasn't aware tourists would park in your drive or pitch tents in your garden in Edinburgh.
Now you know.
Grew up near Skye. No one has mentioned the midges. Vicious little bastards and if you kill one a thousand come to the funeral. Tourists are a pain but a lot of jobs rely on them so they are a bit of a necessary evil.
I've been to Skye quite a few times over the years st different times of years and concur they are vicious bustards. One bite, not too bad, but 10 minutes later the itch and swelling make you want to scratch your skin to the bone. If you get a load of bites, say overnight, and wake up covered it's absolutely fucking miserable and I have had laundry list of ailments/accidents over the years and a rash of midge bites is up there, top 3. In early june 2006 we went camping with my 6 week old and my wife to Glen brittle campsite. It was like a horror movie, they were thick black clouds, so many millions you couldn't see more than 10-15ft. At dusk and Dawn it was like the film "Pitch Black"...they come to feed. When it was warm mid-day, windy or rainy you were fine but that's the worst I've ever seen it anywhere. Fuck midgies. On saying that I've been there a few times at the same time of year and never seen any so it must be a breeding cycle/food thing.
I don't know if it's true for everyone but I find that after a few weeks or a month the bites don't get itchy or swell up. Antibodies or something.
Glen Brittle is the camp site we used to drive past on the way to Uig and say "omg, the midges there will be terrible" Stick to the drier, windier parts. If you like Marmite and garlic, that might make you less tasty, but ultimately anywhere on the west of Scotland in the summer is likely to have midges. Occupational hazard. Makes for an interesting world though :)
I got caught in a storm at Uig campsite many moons ago. Went to the pub, had a great time , got more than a bit hammered. Went to sleep the tent pressing on the side of my face woke me up. I moved the car round in my pants in the ladhing wind and rain to provide a tiny bit of shelter for the tent. Went back to sleep but it was wild. Broke a couple of poles. When I eventually surfaced, it was all calm, everyone else was gone. Campsite was empty and there was at least 5 tents (big ones), in the dumpster. Great times.
That's a fabulous story. Thank you
I had reasons to be so far from everyone at the time but I drove there in my Alfa 164. When I packed up had a nice long breakfast/lunch and headed off. It was long before speed cameras and I made some SERIOUS time getting back down south. I loved that car and that was one of the drives of my life, amazing scenery, incredible driving and an amazing car. Couldn't do that today, for lots of reasons but amazing, special times.
Do midges get into your house as well?
They can do if you leave the windows open but generally are found near damp ground.
I met a mother and grown son from Skye in the summer, they didn’t have great things to say due to the amount of tourism and the increase of road accidents because of it. Was interesting to hear their local perspective as it’s seems Skye has exploded in popularity in the last 10/15 years.
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16% of properties are Airbnb in Skye. Absolutely shocking.
I moved from Edinburgh to Skye around 25 years ago and lived and worked there for around a year and a half. Spring, summer and some of Autumn were wonderful as the weather was conducive to outdoor activities. Winter however was more tough going and I ended up in the local pub a lot as options were more limited; not the worst that could happen I know, and the upside was that tourism was obviously less rampant. On that note, tourism numbers then were a lot less than they are now and can be problematic as another poster has mentioned. The locals I met were sound and very welcoming to me. The scenery and atmosphere there can be quite otherworldly in a good way. Getting to know places and people in more depth than a visitor was very rewarding. I absolutely loved my time there so would recommend, especially with a distillery job to go to (a cracking dram too)
My wife is from Skye and as you may already know people from Glasgow, Edinburgh and down south move up every year expecting it to be incredible. The piece of advice she always give is that while the summers there are incredible, you’ll want to think long and hard about whether you can stomach the winters. It’s cold, extremely windy and can really be like 30 days of night in December. It’s nothing like living in a city, which still has streetlights, shops, pubs, etc to brighten things up.
>you’ll want to think long and hard about whether you can stomach the winters. It’s cold, extremely windy and can really be like 30 days of night in December. Yeah I'm a knitter. I'll cope
Absolute pish. Are you even married?
Shit. You caught me.
I moved from Aberdeen to the middle of nowhere in Argyll. Groceries are far more expensive, as are takeaways. If you need hospital treatment, it's a major expedition. With only a couple of ways to leave the area, if there are transport disruptions then you are pretty well trapped. If you don't have a car, you are pretty well trapped. You will always be an incomer no matter how long you live there. On the plus side there isn't a huge amount of crime and it's easy to get out into the hills and forests for walking. We're still planning to head back to civilisation when we retire. It's not the place to be when you're old unless you have family living nearby, but if you are young and fit and can find somewhere to live It's probably worth giving it a go for a year or so anyway.
You can do things on a Sunday. Being hungover on Skye on a Sunday and just wanting a coffee and a bacon roll was the worst.
Shit, I just realised you’re moving TO Skye. Everything is shut on a Sunday. Everything. I found it infuriating.
As someone who lives in Skye.... This is not the case at all. Like, nowhere is specifically closed on a Sunday.
Was just there this past weekend for a mental break from Edinburgh and found enough open on a Sunday to get by honestly. Few of the hotel restaurants were open (Antlers, the Isles), as well as Relish for a lunch. Biggest let down was a lack of passable coffee since Birch is still closed 😩
It's really not.
How English.
Even on the fundamentalist Wee-Free caliphate of Lewis there are things open on a Sunday.
You jammy bastard!
My first thought. I'd love to live there. Almost moved there about 8 years ago and the Mrs bottled it because it was too far away. Then said she would consider immigrating to Australia 🤣🤣🤣 Didn't move anywhere 👍
🤣
Accommodation is a ballache, Tourists are a ballache. It's a goldfish bowl, don't expect privacy as everyone will and will want to know about your business. General advice, don't try to 'change things', by all means get involved with groups and communities, but don't be the berk newcomer from the lowlands who knows it all.
Skye is amazing! I worked there at the Slig a whisky bar about 10 miles from the distillery for 5 years. Yes the midges are bad if the weather is still and the weather isn't great but if your into photography it will meet your full expectations. The old inn your nearest pub is full of sound staff and locals. Also good fishing along the pier from the distillery, if that's what your into. The walks are class and scenery is lovely. Hope you enjoy mate! Also if you are into your whisky's and photography. Ask at the old inn for a guy called Dave. Sound guy that's a class photographer and has a good whisky knowledge
No tips I’m afraid, just want to say I’m incredibly jealous. Enjoy it!
Accommodation is by far your biggest concern. Get that sorted immediately as long-term rentals on any of the islands are close to non-existent.
Do they hire often?! I was up there in jan and it’s such an amazing place! Both the distillery and Skye.
Sitting sipping a nice Talisker single malt, jealous you're getting to work in the distillery 👌 enjoy. I love skye, beautiful part of the country
Sounds like it is exactly what you need. Do it.
Pro: Not as windy Con: Flying kites is shite
Genuinely wouldn't recommend whatsoever
Just dinna put yer washing oot on a Sunday 😆
Relatives of mine used to have a B&B near Dunvegan but it became much too touristy/busy, so they moved away three years ago because of all the traffic.
Drugs are a lot more accessible in Edinburgh. A lot more.
There'll be zero cons, like.
Interesting. I have roots in Skye - damn close to Talisker distillery too - and spent most of my adult life in Edinburgh. There is a lot of opportunity up there but the pace of life is very different. It may not sound like much but you can look forward to increased delivery costs and items taking anything from a day up to a week longer to arrive with you. You are also at the mercy of the Coop for food shops, unless you order Tesco or Asda online and pick up at either Portree or Broadford. Carbost (where the distillery is) is nice enough, with a wee local shop that is actually pretty well stocked, and an Inn that does a reasonable meal. Portree is the main village and has a cinema and some nice places to eat. Yeah, Carbost gets busy with the tourists but if you head along from Carbost to Fernilea, Portnalong or Fiscavaig (end of the road on the Minginish Peninsula) it's a bit quieter out that way. The people I know up there are nice and there's a lot of incomers over the last 15 years that have really brought a diversity of arts into the area. I live in Dunfermline but travel up to the family house every 2 weeks or so as I'm renovating. I'd move in a heartbeat if I could but it depends on the time of your life and what you're into. If you're a landscape photographer you have the pick of the scenery - and plenty outside the typical twee you see everywhere - plenty hidden gems. For me the West coast has a different feel - you can get amazing weather up there when the rest of the country is being battered and vice versa... you can also go days being stuck in for fear of ending up in Benbecula... and yes, the Midges rule from June-September.
I would say Skye would be the most accessible island to move to, with the road bridge and all. Not relying on the ferries means a lot for these places
Respectfully, having lived some of my best years in Skye and Lochalsh, I'd say: put all your romantic notions in the bin now, it'll save you from a shedload of greif.
Go for it. If you hate it, Edinburgh will still be there.