Kylerhea
Kylerhea
| |
|---|---|
  Kylerhea Location within theIsle of Skye | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF SKYE |
| Postcode district | IV40 |
| Dialling code | 01599 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Kylerhea(Scottish Gaelic:Caol Reatha) is a village on the east coast of theIsle of Skye,in theScottish Highlands,overlookingKyle Rhea,astraitsplitting Skye from the Scottish mainland. The village is named afterRhea,a Celtic mythological hero.[1]A ferry service has linked Kylerhea withGlenelgon the mainland for centuries. The first car ferry[2]was introduced in 1935, with a turntable located on the boat. Despite the existence of the now toll-freeSkye Bridge,this ferry service, undertaken by theMVGlenachulish,still runs during the summer months, due to its popularity as the more scenic and traditional route between Skye and the mainland. This service is now community-owned but used to be run by Murdo Mackenzie for almost twenty years.[3]
For centuries, Kylerhea was the crossing point for cattle reared across the Hebrides on its way to the markets of the mainland. Drovers would reach the village and wait for suitable tidal flows across Kyle Rhea, often recharging with a meal or sleep in The Old Inn, situated close to the crossing point.
Kylerhea is well known for its otter sanctuary. Cars can be parked on top of the hill and then a gentle stroll taken through thepinewoods to theviewing hide,located in a good position overlooking the Kyle, the beach and the large whitelighthouse.Theottersare difficult to spot as they are more secretive than thegreyandcommon sealsthat can easily be seen basking on the shore. Birds seen around the bay arecormorants,herring gullsandgreat black-backed gulls.In theforestandmoorlandhigher up on the hill smaller birds are very common.European stonechats,willow warblersandwood warblerssing from perches just off the path but therobinsandchaffinchesare far bolder and will hop around the path just two feet away from human visitors.
Notes
[edit]- ^Forbes, Alexander Robert (1923).Place-names of Skye and Adjacent Islands: With Lore: Mythical, Traditional, and Historical. With Index.A. Gardner. p. 230.
- ^"Skye Ferry - Glenelg to Kylerhea".Archived fromthe originalon 15 September 2000.
- ^"On board the world's last surviving turntable ferry".BBC News.Retrieved3 May2023.
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