News From The Isle of Skye

Welcome to our News Page to inform you of "What's On" during your Isle of Skye Holiday. We will be updating this page on a regular basis to help you plan what to do during your Isle of Skye Holiday

Update from the Isle of Skye – March 2010

Skye has surprised us with some snowy weather for the first time for several years. In January, heavy snow was forecast. A few days later, I found myself driving very slowly to work in bright sun, on a wonderfully clear day, trying to enjoy the fantastic sight of ice on the loch and thick white snow on the hills all around me while trying to avoid skidding on the very dangerous icy roads. As in the rest of the UK, we suffered with icy roads for a couple of weeks but there was the opportunity for some fantastic photography on the sunny days. After a short break the wintry weather was back for a few days but now we are now back to normal temperatures and our usual share of wind and rain but there are snowdrops out and the green shoots of daffodils and crocuses are starting to, so there is a feeling of spring on the way.

This the time of year when many people start planning spring breaks, and Easter and summer holidays. Our website reflects this with increasing numbers of at this time of year. To be sure of getting your desired week or weeks booked at our popular Taigh na Traon holiday house contact us as soon as possible –or risk disappointment.

Whatever the weather, you can be sure to find an almost endless choice of visitor attractions to suit all interests and ages. And with a warm centrally comfortable fully equipped self-catering house to come home a perfect Isle of Skye holiday is guaranteed. If you don’t feel much like cooking while on holiday in Skye there is a great range of eateries from world-class restaurants to more homely cafés and takeaways. In our self-catering holiday cottage “Taigh na Traon” you can find plenty of information about where to go, what to see and where to eat out with our own particular recommendations.

Young children love the Serpentarium at Broadford where you can handle the snakes and buy discarded snakeskins as souvenirs. Everyone enjoys the Toy Museum at Glendale, where you are encouraged to play with the toys and there is plenty of interest for those with a most historical bent.
For older children the Museum of Island Life at Kilmuir provides an insight into what it was like living inside a traditional Skye cottage. The Giant MacAskill Museum in Dunvegan, the Environmental Centre in Broadford or Dugald's Fossil Museums in Staffin are fascinating for older children with accessible, well-explained exhibits and informative guides.

Skye has several castles and whether ruined or restored, they provide the perfect place for exploring the past that makes Skye and Lochalsh so intriguing in the first place. Don’t miss Dunvegan Castle, seat of the Clan MacLeod, for a look at an inhabited castle, and take the opportunity to do a seal boat trip to visit the famous Dunvegan seals. At Armadale Castle you can stroll around the beautifully landscaped gardens and learn about the history of the Gaels in the excellent audio-visual exhibition.
There’s plenty of entertainment - films, concerts, drama…see below for listings. These are updated every month.

Finally, don’t forget a visit to the island's only Distillery - Talisker, located in the sleepy village of Carbost on the north west of the island. Take home a bottle and savour the intense but smooth peaty flavour at home to remind you of your self-catering holiday on the Island of Skye.

AROS PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Here's the latest Tachartasan/What's On for Talla Shomhairle at the Aros Centre in Portree, taking in the film programme until the end of September 2006, together with the concert and theatre programme over the next few months. There will be more events with more details added as time goes on and we will keep you informed. Most of these events are on sale now and we would encourage you to book early.

Check out NEW website http://www.aros.co.uk

Call 01478 613750 to book tickets for all events, or for information

MUSIC AND THEATRE
National Youth Pipe Band presents ‘Dragon’s Lair’
Saturday 6 March @ 7.30pm. Tickets £8 and £5
The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland is a noncompeting cutting edge performance pipe band for 10-25 year olds. Launched in 2002, it is the first and only organisation of its Kind to bring together Scotland’s most talented young musicians at a national level. Young pipers and drummers come from an array of different pipe bands and musical backgrounds, brought together as a collection of the very best performers. The National Youth Pipe Band has toured the world and has appeared on Blue Peter and travelled to Mexico to perform with the Galician piping star Carlos Nunez at the Chihuahua Festival. The band offers a dynamic, exciting and modern spin on the traditional pipe band experience that is guaranteed to delight the audience.
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Wednesday 17, Thursday 18, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March @ 7.30pm and also Sat. 20 @ 1.30pm.
Tickets £8, £6 and £5 under 16.
Portree Community Panto Group presents ‘Snow White’
The group returns to the stage this year to bring you Peter Denyer's 'Snow White’. This updated version tells the story of a young Princess, Snow White and Wicked Queen, Morgiana. Who sends her henchman, Herman, into the forest with Snow White to kill her. However, he is unable to carry out the task and this leads to Snow White being banished to the forest forever. Join Snow White as she begins her adventure through the enchanted forest, her encounter with the seven dwarfs as they rescue her and give her a new home, safe from the clutches of the Wicked Queen, (or so they think!). The Magic Mirror reveals that Snow White still lives and the enraged Queen sets out on a mission to find her. Will Muddles and Herman find Snow White before the evil Queen does? Will Prince Lorenzo find his 'one true love'? Will Fairy Goodheart put an end to Morgiana's evil treachery? Come along and join us on the quest to see if good will triumph over evil in true pantomime style.
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FILMS FOR MARCH

Sat 27, Sun 28, Mon 29 and Tues 30 March @ 2.15pm.
‘The Princess and the Frog’ (U – 95 mins)
Voices of: Keith Anthony, Kwesi Boakye, Roger Brown.
Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical ‘The Princess and the Frog’, an animated comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. From the creators of ‘The Little
Mermaid’ and ‘Aladdin’ comes a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana, a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Watch out for a trumpet-playing alligator, a Cajun firefly and an old blind lady who lives in a boat in a tree! A great film for children.
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Saturday 27, Sunday 28 & Monday 29 March @ 7.30pm.
‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’ (15—113 mins)
Andy Serkis, Naomie Harris, Ray Winston, Olivia Williams.
The film covers the colourful and fantastical story of Ian Dury, one of Britain’s most original and influential singersongwriters of the last 30 years. Crippled at the age of ten by the debilitating disease, polio, and told he would amount to nothing, Dury’s dogged determination, perseverance and wit led to him becoming one of the founders of the punk movement in the 1970s. Much of the film’s success lies with Andy Serkis’s performance (touted as a BAFTA winner) as the late Essex singer who fought addiction, depression and illness en route to becoming a national treasure as gravelvoiced frontman of ‘The Blockheads’. This is a fearless performance which brings Ian back to life with a fiercely charismatic turn that perfectly mirrors his snarling ferocity and earthy humour.
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