I've never been to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The nearest I've come is the gorgeous road along Loch Linnhe (above) on my unforgettable Land's End to John O'Groats bike ride in 2002. So my decision this week to make a donation to support the ferry from Glenelg to Skye was unexpected.
I was prompted entirely by a tweet by Christopher Main (@RestlessNative2), retweeted by Nicky Campbell, showing photos of a man driving the same car onto the ferry in 1936 and 1992. You can see the two shots on the Glenelg Skye Ferry Blog. The ferries to Skye were threatened by the opening of the bridge to the island in 1995. (The bridge was controversial as it was funded by a Private Finance Initiative that imposed outrageous tolls. Devolution meant Scotland was able to buy the bridge and abolish the tolls.) The Glenelg crossing is unique, as it's a 'turntable' ferry, run and supported by the local community.
Ferries are special, especially when they cross small estuaries and sounds. I love cycling onto cross channel ferries (though it's over 10 years since I did this), and have long found the idea of island hopping by ferry very appealing. So I hope the Glenelg to Skye ferry lasts for many years.
I was born in Stein and moved to Manchester in 1975 for work. The last time I visited was for my 60th last year and stayed in a very nice little fishermans cottage. It's such a beautiful, peaceful and friendly area also no mobile phone reception where I was so not interruptions which was great. I can see from your blogs you seem to be into trains well I'm into helicopters and own many, many radio controlled helicopters (can't afford a full size one unfortunately) .I took one with me and I wasn't short on space to fly them, I also strapped a camera to it and have some beautiful aerial footage of the area which I'll have to post somewhere when I've gotten to grips with how I would do that. I would highly recommend you take a trip there one day, truly breathtaking.
Posted by: Radio Control Helicopter Fan (Bill) | April 25, 2011 at 08:17 PM
Ferries are great way to hop from one Island to another or from mainland to an Island. Ferries to England(prom do anglii)on the English Channel is a great way to reach UK from France. It's indeed sad to know that a bridge connects the Skye island now. Number of ferries plying will sure come down.
Posted by: Andrew | May 06, 2011 at 10:59 AM