Waternish - Skye Skyns and the Stein Inn 29th Dec 2019

The weather was again atrocious - so the boys decided to stay in today. Vince and I were determined not to waste a moment, so although we forewent our initial plans to try the Duntulm Beach shot again (due to the dangers involved) we did head out for some “indoor” scenery at Skye Skyns on the Waternish Peninsula.

We stopped briefly to try to take some shots from the cliff towards Duntulm Castle (Vince had to hold on to me so I wasn’t blown off by the gale force wind), and at the Museum of Island Life (which was closed) before heading into Uig and down towards Duntulm. This turn off also goes to the Waternish Peninsula. Along the way we passed signs for the Skeabost Hotel, where we will have our wedding reception dinner on 1.1.2020.

Mike from Skye Skyns was most informative on the free tour, and initially it was just

Vince and I but we were soon joined by 2 French couples. Downstairs was the tannery were Mike explained and demonstrate the 14 processes they use for each skin. They get their lamb skins from an abattoir in Dingwall (so they are using by product from the meat industry) already salted a they purchase them in the Winter but process skins all year.

Upstairs was the showroom and shop, it was very well laid out and the fleece were very soft and had a wide variety of options. I was particularly taken with a bicolour spotted fleece from the Mimosa range (195 GBP) but as we already have marino sheepskin at home I didn’t indulge. I was also fascinated by the Reindeer skins (175 GBP), so light! Mike explained their hair shaft is hollow (like a polar bear) which is why the pelt is so light, but also it means you can’t sit on it or stand on it as it will damage, so they are only for home decoration rather than any practical use.

From Skye Skyns we followed a road down past an iconic house called Bayview Lodge, that reminded us of scenes from Outlander. At the end of this road was a little hamlet and some very old buildings (1790) including the oldest pub/inn on Sky, the Stein Inn. So we popped in for a drink and some lunch by the roaring fire. We decided to treat ourselves and both had sirloin steak - it was absolutely delicious (25 GBP each). We chatted with Sarah the raven haired barmaid and Charlie the owner from London. Charile’s friends own the Bayview Lodge and when the Inn came on the market the contacted her (she was on holiday in Greece at the time). So they took over in June this year and love it!

We also stopped off for a quick look at the Skeabost Hotel where we will be having our reception dinner and staying the night.

The weather was still blustering wind and rain, so we decided to call it a day even though it was only 2.00pm and head home.

It was a quiet day and we were well full from lunch so we indulged in an afternoon nap for a couple of hours.

I made Chicken parcels stuffed with cheese served with mixed veg and gravy for dinner and we watched yet another James Bond movie.