Uig Bay is situated at the northern tip of Skye surrounded by picturesque hills that dissolve into the coastline like watercolours on a canvas. The ferry crossing provides a vital link to the Outer Isles giving access to some of the most beautiful landscapes ever encountered.
The Isle of Skye lies off the north west coast of Scotland. It is a large island being 48 miles long and 24 miles wide at it's widest part. The name 'Skye' derives from the Norse meaning the 'clouded isle' or 'cloud'. The Gaelic name for it is 'Eilean a Cheo' meaning the 'isle of mist'.
Where the mountains meet the sea
The landscape on Skye is wild but beautiful. Much of it is empty of habitation. Near the centre of the island are the Cuillins, craggy mountains which form a 10km curved ridge of twenty peaks, fifteen of them over 3000feet and forming a spectacular skyline. In the west are flat-topped hills called Macleod's Tables and in the north, in the Trotternish peninsula, are huge pinnacles of weathered rock and cliffs. Townships in Skye tend to be small and centred on crofting. There are many ruined houses as a result of the failed rebellion under Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 and the Clearances in the 19th century. The amazing scenery and the history of Skye attract many visitors each year.
White houses, white horses
The village of Uig lies on the shore of Loch Snizort, Skye's largest sea loch off the Atlantic, where gales can often bring in the rolling white horses on the crest of waves breaking onto the rocks off Skye. The name is pronounced 'oo-ig' and comes from the Norse meaning a 'bay where boats could be dried out on a spring tide'. It is one of the most beautiful bays in Skye and is sheltered by high basaltic cliffs. Viewed from the sea the white houses dotted about on the green hillside are very attractive. Along Glen Uig is a special place called the 'Fairy Glen' which has many small conical hills clustered together with weird shapes of rock, a collection of caves and a lochan.
Our village
In the village there are 2 churches, 2 pubs, 1 hotel, 2 shops, a brewery, a pottery, a marine engineer, a filling station which now supplies LPG motor fuel and the ferry terminal to the Outer Isles. Uig is a fishing village and a regular sight and sound in the summer months are refridgerated lorries which transport prawns, crabs and lobsters to a variety of destinations in Europe.
On the south side of the bay there is a small round tower which is known as Captain Fraser's Folly apparently having been built with no specific use in mind in the mid 19th century. This Captain Fraser also built a large house called Uig Lodge which was destroyed by the torrential waters of the River Conon following a stormy period in 1877 when the river burst its banks and flooded the surrounding area. Around the place where the Lodge stood there is a small mature woodland of Scots Pine, ash and beech trees - a rare sight on Skye.
Flora and Fauna
The wildlife of the area includes golden eagles, sea eagles, many birds and waterfowl including the rare corncrake, and, off the coast, pilot whales, seals and dolphins are often spotted. There are also many species of flowering plants and ferns. There is a lovely woodland walk which is open to the public.