Having put off writing this post for a while -not through any particular reason, just a mulling over period- we are going to finally share where we are and what we’ve been doing. We moved to Skye!
That’s right, in midsummer, between trips to Languedoc in France and the Faroe Islands we moved our small raft of things up to the far northwest of Scotland, onto Skye. First, we were in a tiny bothy (it’s a Scottish word for stone shed. Or in this case a euphemism for shoebox). Then later into a 100-year-old cottage with sweeping views of the sea. Even as we sit here now in our country kitchen, we can see out the window a storm rolling over the water towards us.
It’s times like these we sit back and realise: it’s a place to dream of living in.
Why did we move to Skye?
We began to think we needed a base at the beginning of this year. A home and a bit more of a plan. Although we have lived in London we weren’t sure we could go back there, and spells in rural Italy left us wanting to live somewhere a bit more adventurous and outdoorsy.
Then Luke found a job on the Isle of Skye. Not office-based but on the road, requiring him to roam around the island and beyond. And there a small window of opportunity opened up.
We thought about it. We’d been to the island a few times, most recently in 2018 on a trip to find the best short hikes on Skye. It as been one of our favourite places to visit, it has actually been named as the most desirable place to live in the UK, so why not live there for a while? Somewhere with adventure and beauty on our doorstep, walks and boat rides and road trips. Why not take the leap?
O readers of the internet, this is what we did.
Our first few months on Skye
It has been both more awe-inspiring and more difficult that we’d imagined. On the one hand, we still cannot believe that the Isle of Skye, with its black and red mountains, waterfalls and burns, lighthouses and crofts, is our backyard. That we found and live in a historic cottage of whitewashed walls on crofting plot where deer roam at night.
Over the months we’ve got to know Skye’s windy roads and trails, where to go for sunrise, for a good cup of coffee, or for the crackliest fire. We’re even working on liking whisky (er, it’s an acquired taste, particularly as Skye whiskey like Talisker is some of the smokiest around).
But, yes challenging too. Juggling the demands of full-time work with keeping up regular hiking and blogging has, obviously, proved a struggle. We’ve spent a fair amount of time off the island on work trips away to different parts of Scotland, and carving out the time to slowly travel and report back like we always want to has been hard.
But as we reflect on our first few months after moving to Skye, we’ve realised that we’ve been able to see and explore more than we ever could just visiting. And our curiosity and love of not just Skye but the Outer Hebrides, the highlands and the Northern Isles is as strong as ever.
So it’s time to pull our socks up. We’ll be sharing what we have found from all the places we’ve been since we moved to the Isle of Skye, starting with these three of our favourite and easy hikes on Skye: the Quiraing loop, the coastal Brothers’ Point and the most spectacular of day trips, the Loch Coruisk boats and hike
We’re hoping you’ll stay for the adventure. You can subscribe at the bottom of the page, and let us know in the comments what you’d like to know about the Isle of Skye!
This is so evocative and should be on the Isle of Skye Tourist Board website…..packing my bags already……or perhaps springtime!
Always welcome on the Isle!
It’s been too long since I’ve been on Skye, something I’ll have to address soon, though this year is getting busy already with trips to Portugal, then the Robert Louis Stevenson and Cathars Trail in France, then Tanzania in September. I’ve read your accomadation guide for the Cathars Trail which is very useful thank you. We did a trip in 2016 up the West Coast of Scotland staying at Dry Island near Badachro there is some beautiful walking up there if you haven’t been and also visit Inverewe Gardens they grow some incredible things there thanks to the Gulf Stream. Thank you for providing this great resource and I will follow your posts with interest.
Fantastic to hear from you Jim – and great to hear you’ll be walking the Cathar Way later this year. We will be posting more about the trail later in the year, so stay tuned. Tanzania sounds amazing too – are you climbing Mt Kilimanjaro?
Funny you say you stayed at Dry Island, because I know Ian McWhinney the owner. It’s a magical spot with so much wildlife around.
Thanks for your message Jim,
Luke
Loving your blog…..so would you have recommendations for the best communities on Skye to live in – where are all the artists, writers, dreamers and poets hiding out? We’re considering a move to Scotland and would love to add Skye to the shortlist.
That’s a really good question! Creatives are hidden and not so hidden all over the place. All corners of the island have studios and galleries. Whenever you go to a local market, arts & crafts fair, or other local event you always meet people doing various different creative pursuits from all communities across the island. Add it to the shortlist, you won’t be disappointed!
I’m just looking at relocating to Skye with my young family next year. I spent some time on the island in my younger days- a prior boyfriend’s family lived in Isle Ornsay. I’m thrilled to have stumbled across your blog!
Isle Ornsay is lovely, we live fairly close and visit the bar when open! Glad you found us, thank you for the message. Good luck researching your move
L&N
I have a few questions about how you found a place to live on the island. I have the chance to move to Skye and work as a nurse, but I haven’t been able to find much in the way of housing. Can you tell me how to find options? I’d really appreciate any insight you can give me. Thanks!
Mikala, sorry this is delayed! It is really, really difficult. We found where we lived on a Facebook Group, and it was very lucky indeed to find. Things do become available, but you have to move fast. The fact you are a nurse will work in your favour in finding somewhere, I think. Good luck, but I hope you have found somewhere already 🙂
Hi Guys
I was wondering if you had any advice about moving to Skye in this current climate. We have never been to skye and would like to travel up there before we commint to the move but were not sure about where to stay? do they have any caravan sites?
Sorry for the delayed reply, we’ve been offline! Hope you figured out your move and it went well for you.
Stumbled across your blog today. What a delight to read.
We are considering a move to live and work up in the Hebridees, Argyll and have Skye well up on our list.
Im genuinely intrigued as to just how cloudy and wet it actually is year round.. like do you get to actually see it in its full glory?!
Sorry for the delay, Alison, we’ve been offline! Skye is wet a lot of the time, and the winds get up almost all the time too. However, there are still, clear days. And sometimes stretches of calm, clear, warm weather. When those days come, I can honestly say Skye is possibly the best looking place in the world..! You wander around in awe.
Happy planning,
Luke
I’ve stumbled upon your blog and love the aesthetics and stories of what seem to us city folk as far away land. I wanted to know if you are still there and what life has been like for the last 12-18 months. Thanks. JF
Hi James, sorry for the delay in replying to you. We went offline for a few years getting on with other work and life! We left Skye in October 2020 and moved to Inverness. I worked all over the Highlands & Islands, so it was actually a better base, and thankfully amazing landscapes were only a few minutes outside the small city. We’re now in Glasgow, so Loch Lomond & The Trossachs are our go-to! Hope you and yours are well.
Luke
Love your blog! How do you find travelling to other areas of the country for work?
I’ve been looking at trying to keep my ‘mostly’ remote job and move to Skye but would need to get to Birmingham and London once a month minimum.
Well, Jack, we don’t live on Skye anymore(!). We lived in Inverness for a while afterwards, and now we’re in Glasgow. All to do with work really. It’s a wonderful place Skye, but not easy if you regularly need to travel down south. Also, Inverness to Birmingham flights aren’t cheap. London connection much better though. If you want to get out and up to the Highlands, Id’ recommend the wild places on Inverness’ doorstep – therefore you can get to the airport within half an hour, or catch the sleeper the night before you’re due in Birmingham/London.
Really enjoyed reading your article. My wife and I moved to Skye in April, with our dog and have loved the summer season so far. Slowly exploring the island as well as a very convenient jumping off point to the Outer Hebrides has been awesome. Totally agree that Loch Coruisk is one of the most spectacular hikes. I’m looking forward to reading that article next.
Cheers, Jon. Hope you’re enjoying yourselves and exploring the Hebrides!
We were in Scotland and the Isle of Skye last fall and fell in love with it. With things being as they are in the U.S. and we are Wallace’s we have been wondering about moving to Skye. I don’t know how difficult it would be but it would certainly be an adventure. Lots of questions though, can I be a dual citizen, can I work, what about health care on the Isle, water quality, pollution, cost of living etc. Would love to hear a lot more. We have titles now Lord and Lady Wallace, doubt it that helps?
Lord and Lady Wallace, very nice to hear from you. Do excuse this delayed reply. I can’t for one moment admit to being an expert on moving cross border to the UK, so I encourage you to explore official channels. Good luck finding your way back (possibly permanently) to the magical isle!
Thank you for this article! We are planing a trip to Skye this summer and all your tips are very helpful. Also for the last year it’s my dream to move to Skye.. really tiered of London, if you know what I mean!
But what about winter time? Is it so challenging and windy?
Are you still happy to live there?
Full disclosure, we don’t live there anymore! However, it’s a fantastic place to live. And the memories from our years there are very clear in my mind. It’s a very special place to live, and friendly too. Windy, rainy, sometimes bleak – yes, but that’s part of the character and it’s still fantastic when the weather is bad. The only real challenge moving to Skye is finding a place to live! Good luck 🙂
Hello friend, appreciate your blog. I’m seriously considering moving to Skye from the other side of Scotland. I know what I’m looking for but wondering, how quickly properties get snapped up?
Good luck Aaron, it’s a tough market – but at least you’re relatively close, so you can hop in the car and get viewings in whereas lots of people purchasing / renting are much further afield. Good luck!