Looking down on Stein.
Stein from the ruined croft.
Trumpan Church.
The view from Dun Hallin.
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Stein:
The village was originally established by the British Fisheries Society in
1786 as a model fishing village along with Tobermory & Ullapool. Stein
was designed by Thomas Telford but, on Skye, the brave venture failed and
the buildings of Stein were left to slumber on for two centuries, forming
a fascinating contrast with the grandiose scheme in Telford’s master
plan.
As a result, the village and its buildings are little changed, most
of them being listed of architectural and historic value (including The
Captain’s House). The village is also a Conservation Area with an
idyllic setting on the shore.
Activity: There
are plenty of fine walks, long and short in Waternish alone. The area is
rich in wildlife and flowers, with eagles, otters and an abundance of
orchids. It is also a good base from which to explore North West Skye and
visit the Cuillins. There is also a diving centre (Dive
& Sea the Hebrides) and a jetty, plus locally run boat
trips to see the spectacular coastal scenery and marine wildlife
including whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Eating & Drinking: Stein
is well served for visitors. It is home to the oldest pub on Skye, the
Stein Inn,
which offers real ale, a fine selection of whiskies and good food in the
bar and dining room, all within the setting of a sensitively restored 200
year old building of great charm and character. 100m away at the other end
of the village is the well known Loch Bay Sea Food
Restaurant. Other
establishments a little further afield include the fine cuisine of the restaurant
at the Greshornish House
Hotel, the traditional music and warm Highland welcome at the Edinbane
Hotel, or the acclaimed award-winning menu of The Three Chimneys.
Leisure: Many
of Skye’s craft workers are in the North West and should not be missed. In
Waternish there are the SkyeSkyns
tannery & shop, Dunhallin Crafts, the Halistra
Pottery,
Shilasdair
Yarns knitwear, Brae Fasach Ceramics & Painting Studio, Marion
MacPhee Printmaker and Three Camuslusta Workshop & Gallery.
And, of course, Dandelion
Designs craft workshop and Images Gallery on the ground floor of
'The Captain's House' itself! Nearby are Edinbane
Pottery, and the Croft Studio at Dunvegan,
Interest: The
history and folklore of Waternish encompass a romantic and turbulent past
ranging from the Clan Wars of the MacLeods and MacDonalds, through the
supernatural to the tragic and intriguing tale of Lady Grange, secretly
imprisoned in the Hebrides for 15 years by her Jacobite husband, she was
buried at Trumpan.
Local historic sites abound, including a number of ancient monuments
such as Trumpan Church, scene of
a bloody battle when, on a Sunday in 1578, the Clan Macleod were surprised
at worship, locked in the church and burned alive within, by the
MacDonalds of Uist, who were themselves massacred within hours on a nearby
shore! Others include Dun Hallin and several famous Clan
battle sites, as well as the village of Stein itself.
The rest of North West Skye is readily accessible
from Stein and well worth exploring. Dunvegan is no more than 15 minutes
drive away and offers food shops, petrol, crafts and a good choice of
eating places as well as Dunvegan
Castle,
the seat of the Clan MacLeod, and probably Skye’s main visitor
attraction.
You can find out more about visiting
Scotland in general on the 'Welcome to Scotland' website by clicking here
(http://www.welcome-scotland.com) and on the Blue Riband Accommodation
website (http://www.blueriband-accommodation.com).
You will also find the Captain's House on The Good Holiday Cottage Guide.
Member of www.HolidayHomeRental.co.uk
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