Isle of Mull or Skye

eyeofskye said:
I had two otters in the garden pond a few weeks ago. I was only 15ft away from them but 100ft and a flight of stairs from the camera :(

They just looked at me and went about their business of clearing the pond of wildlife and then getting out and preening before heading off up the drainage ditch. We have up to 75 pet hens loose in the garden and I was pretty nervous about them.

Skye is quite quiet at the moment if that sways you at all. If you get a chance try and take the walk onto Oronsay island near Struan (you will walk past the gate at the bottom of my garden). The view from the top of the sea cliff is amazing (as is the drop). The causeway that connects it to the shore is tidal so watch the tide ( you only get cut off for 2 hours if you get it wrong). We rescued a loggerhead turtle there a couple of years ago. It flew to the Canaries last year (in a plane).

Hot news, we get a Tesco next year. Whoopee!!!!
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You are so lucky to be able to see otters like that. The only think I ever had in my back garden was the neighbors cat. I did not think otters would take a chicken out. But saying the they are big enough.

Must have been great feeling knowing the turtle was released well having rescued it. I've seen them in the wild once, while diving in the red sea, absolutely brilliant animals to see.

Tesco, damn thought I was getting away from civilisation :(
 
KayJay said:
It's amazing how many people are so keen to leave Scotland when going on holiday despite the fact that such beautiful places as that exist right on their door steps.
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Aye, it's a sun thing!
 
EdinburghGary said:
Skye due to the ferry hassle really would be my preference. It will hammer Mull in terms of Landscapes, and do Birds of Prey not emigrate? I know the Ospreys have buggered off for the season...

Gary.
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Ospreys migrate not many of the others do Gary :) The Eagles definitely dont, neither do female Harriers, the males are probably on the Isle of Man lol :)

The road to Kilchoan is a nightmare specially if towing it isnt just the narrow bits, its very windy and uphill/downhill etc, so may make it tricky, although there is a caravan park along there. Mull is also very narrow and winds about a bit in places too.

I am definitely coming back here, and will probably go up to Skye too :) if its even close to Mull it will be breathtaking ! :)

Oh, very important if driving, petrol and diesel are about 20p a litre dearer on Mull than the mainland ! Worth remembering if spending some time on here.
 
aberal said:
The roads on Mull are pretty narrow - a lot of single track which can be a bit hairy on a bike. I've been across several times and have always left my car in Oban and gone as a foot passenger and taken the local buses. They're relatively cheap but are obviously quite restricting. But they do take you to the important places.
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Well I wasn't expecting there to be buses :eek: Not as remote as I have imagined in my head it seems which is a relief! I live on public transport (not in a hobo kind of way...) so it wouldn't take me long to adjust...:lol:
 
eyeofskye. There is a program running on the server which looks for specific words, and links them. Something to do with site funding. Buying after clicking on these links.

Aberal, cheers for the info on the roads. Thats why I'm pulling up next to the ferry terminal. I can see what you mean about the bikes. It'll only take on idiot to try and squeeze passed you. Buses might be an option, I'll check them out when I get there.
 
taxi said:
Cheers Gary, I've found a camp site about a mile away from Craignure, which I'm going to use as a base. NOt the most central, but it is convienant for the van.
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Hope you enjoy it.

With a client meeting tomorrow first thing and not a lot or work on the horizon right now - what I wouldn't give to be stuck with choices about where to head tomorrow - Skye or Mull.....:)
 
IanC_UK said:
Ospreys migrate not many of the others do Gary :) The Eagles definitely dont, neither do female Harriers, the males are probably on the Isle of Man lol :)

The road to Kilchoan is a nightmare specially if towing it isnt just the narrow bits, its very windy and uphill/downhill etc, so may make it tricky, although there is a caravan park along there. Mull is also very narrow and winds about a bit in places too.

I am definitely coming back here, and will probably go up to Skye too :) if its even close to Mull it will be breathtaking ! :)

Oh, very important if driving, petrol and diesel are about 20p a litre dearer on Mull than the mainland ! Worth remembering if spending some time on here.
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Cheers Ian. I hope you had happy hunting with your birds of prey.

Thanks for the heads up on the petrol. I'll make sure I fill up in Oban before crossing
 
Hey! As an afterthought - check out the Les Routiers listed fish and chip van on Tobermory pier. Loads of people have paid homage, including Prince Charles.
 
aberal said:
Hope you enjoy it.

With a client meeting tomorrow first thing and not a lot or work on the horizon right now - what I wouldn't give to be stuck with choices about where to head tomorrow - Skye or Mull.....:)
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Its a hard life I lead at the moment ad thanks for the tip on the grub
 
taxi said:
You are so lucky to be able to see otters like that. The only think I ever had in my back garden was the neighbors cat. I did not think otters would take a chicken out. But saying the they are big enough.
(
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Otters are easily big enough. I talked to a crofter recently who lost 2 geese to an otter which beheaded them. We have lost 2 hens to a weasel but the cat got the weasel 2 days later. Otters typically destroy the entire flock.
 
I can now see why you where worried. Would they just kill the lot and leave or would they destory it over a period of time and eat the chickens?
 
taxi said:
I can now see why you where worried. Would they just kill the lot and leave or would they destory it over a period of time and eat the chickens?
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They seem to go bonkers and kill everything handy, much like foxes, and then just eat to satisfy. . The hens are also pretty nervous when the hen harrier pays a visit and the sparrowhawk which eats the visiting pigeons. Curiously they recognise the difference and completely ignore the buzzards of which we must have hundreds. The sea eagle passes by regularly on patrol but we've never had a golden eagle over the garden so far.
 
Dunvegan campsite, off season.

campsite.jpg
 
EyeofSkye - my sister has a campsite too - at Camus More, north of Uig. Her son lives at Kensalyre, Duncan - everyone knows Duncan the mechanic!
 
Lensflare said:
EyeofSkye - my sister has a campsite too - at Camus More, north of Uig. Her son lives at Kensalyre, Duncan - everyone knows Duncan the mechanic!
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Sadly I didn't know Duncan the mechanic last year when I wanted one :(
Does he work at Highland Motors?

It's Camas Mòr and I have a picture from there on my website. I didn't see the campsite though. I shall have to go back and pay a visit. The slipway there is a very nice place to go and have a picnic, very peaceful.

Do you visit her often?
 
Back to the food, the Criagnure Inn does a fantastic steak and ale pie, and the Clootie Dumpling is brilliant. The grandfather also says that the whisky from the distillery in Tobermory is he best he has ever had, and he has had a few in his years..
 
Eyeof Skye. I haven't seen her for about 3 years......but the campsite is on the right just before you go over the stream on th ebottom bend. The last house (sorry, croft) on the right before the slip. Iain was the H&I councillor until the last vote, when they changed the rules and instead of having one from N. Skye and one from S. Skye, they just had 2 Skye councillors - so with the population all in the south they now have 2 south councillors.

he also does gaelic teaching and translates for the Gaelic TV, radio and papers. He does some script writing for them too. McCurdie's Exhibition is also them. Same place. I had hoped to get up there this year and kayak across The Minch from their place to Harris, Shiants and back. I am going to Monaco and Tuscany instead!

Sea Eagles nest on the cliffs round the back each year and thye lost their ducks to the otter the other day. Otters often in the sea under the cliffs to the right side of the bay. Also black guillemots there.
 
Try both one this and the other next...the order in which you visit -up to you.

Mark
 
Joe T said:
I suggest you mull it over for a while before making a decision.
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:shake::shake::shake: Thats just bad Joe. :lol:

Ian thanks for the Advise.

Went over to Skye yesterday, stunning. Caught the ferry from Malliag to Armadale and drove to elgol. Managed to see common some seal and red deer. Although missed out on an otter as to busy talking and not looking round. Crewman on boat told us, after we left the pier. Not happy to say the least.

Cuillin's are stunning and will have to spent some time there next year.
 
taxi said:
:shake::shake::shake: Thats just bad Joe. :lol:

Ian thanks for the Advise.

Went over to Skye yesterday, stunning. Caught the ferry from Malliag to Armadale and drove to elgol. Managed to see common some seal and red deer. Although missed out on an otter as to busy talking and not looking round. Crewman on boat told us, after we left the pier. Not happy to say the least.

Cuillin's are stunning and will have to spent some time there next year.
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Good choice, did you get many landscapes? I am DYING to go to Skye.

Gary.
 
EdinburghGary said:
Good choice, did you get many landscapes? I am DYING to go to Skye.

Gary.
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I did Gary but they are crap. :'(:'( Just not happy with what I got. :( All I can say is jump is point your bongo towards Skye and off you go.
 
Anyway, I made my way down to Mull and had a good time, but the weather was 'orrible. No landscapes to speak. But for those of you interested and after some prompting from aberal. The only decent photos I took while on sky can be found in the following threads rowing boat and birds on mull.

Enjoy the photos
 
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