Skye is a bigger island than many people expect, and public transport is pretty thinly spread, so travel by car is the most popular way of getting about.
In the 1960s the A87 from the mainland ferry at Kyleakin in the south to the ferry to the Outer Isles at Uig in the north was completely rebuilt. The old single track road was replaced by a fine modern two-lane highway. Bits of the old road still exist, and now make useful dry dog-walking paths! (Of course - the Kyle/Kyleakin ferry has now been replaced with the beautiful Skye Bridge).
Above - a stretch of 'old' A87, and below, a juction on the current A87 just north of Portree
A loop of modern two-lane road was also built to Dunvegan, in the west (where we live). Below is the main road near us, with the Cuillin in the background. Just last year, another section of new road was completed to connect the mainland Mallaig/Armadale ferry terminal to Broadford.
Getting to the other extremities of the island still involves a journey down a single track road, like the two examples below. Visitors can be a bit frightened of roads like this, but you are more likely to meet sheep than any other traffic... If nervous, it's best to drive slowly, and let people behind overtake by pulling into passing places (little laybys - NOT for parking in!). If you meet someone - again, pulling into a passing place in good time will usually alleviate the need for any reversing. Don't be tempted to drive onto the grass verge - your wheels could sink into six inches of wet peat!
The lack of traffic in any of these pictures is not just by chance - the roads are usually like this in winter, and even in summer, traffic jams are pretty much unheard of. The exception to this is when there are road repairs underway... But if you are stuck waiting for temporary traffic lights to go green, it's a good time to whip out the camera and take a few photos of the views!
No comments:
Post a Comment