Winter Weather on Skye

I know this is a subject I have written about before, but it's the kind of subject that can be re-visited!

Just about every UK resident, no matter where they live, has had something to moan about regarding the weather in 2012. It is mostly the incessant rain that drove everyone to distraction, but there wasn't too much evidence of sunshine either. As it happened, while the central and southern UK suffered downpours, the north west coast of  Scotland endured a drought. We had an exceptionally dry spring and summer.

But most people want to know how we cope with all the rain and wind in the winter... Well, this is the fourth winter we have lived on Skye, and each has been completely different to the others. So far this year, it has been very mild, with some rain, but not much wind. Last year was wet, wet, wet. It started raining in October and didn't stop till March. The year before we had several weeks of snow and temperatures well below freezing. There doesn't seem to be a 'normal'.

Skye residents are mostly impervious to the weather. Everyone has waterproof jackets and trousers. All manner of headgear is employed to prevent chilly ears or rain down the neck. Stout footwear is the only kind of footwear one sees. There's no place here for haute couture!

Interestingly, our winter photographs over the last four years show very little difference in the colour of the landscape or vegetation (other than the obvious exception of the snowy ones...!). Everything turns a thousand different shades of brown. (Thanks to Sue for the photos).