Skye Shepherd Huts

It only seems fair that to discover a country’s most breathtaking scenery you’re sometimes required to trek right to its remote, outer edge, where turbulent seas and moody skies mold masterpieces of geology. This is certainly true of Skye, whose multitude of feathery peninsulas are fronted by Atlantic battered cliffs and a thousand sheltered bays, while inland dramatic mountain ranges rise like jagged teeth from boggy peat moors. It’s the sort of place that reminds you just how beautiful and wild the natural world can be.

Bang in middle of all this, Janet Ward's Skye Shepherd Huts gaze out onto grass-covered moorland and a shimmering lochan backed by a low fringe of mountains. There’s a truly wonderful sense of isolation here – silence, but for the wildlife, and starry nights that much of the rest of the UK simply can’t compete with. There are just two huts on the site, and Janet does everything she can to make a stay here truly special, arranging a time that’s convenient for breakfast and appearing with a tray laden down by whatever selection of goodies you’ve chosen from the menu – including porridge with Talkisker whiskey, eggs from her own hens, local organic sausages and bacon, Stornaway black pudding and more. Janet’s home is really just an extension of the campsite: the shower and toilet are in the hallway of her house, just a scamper down the white pebble path from your hut, and her barbecue is available to use if you want. Each of the huts sleeps two in a double bed; they have hot water and electricity and drying facilities, and there's an extra toilet in the summerhouse. If you want to eat out, there are lots of places in Broadford (about 5 miles to the north, where there are lots of other amenities, including shops), as well a few places for which you may need to don your gladrags, namely the foodie hotel, Kinloch Lodge, in nearby Sleat, and the excellent Michelin-starred Three Chimneys in Dunvegan on the west coast of the island. 

For outdoor enthusiasts this really is paradise. Walking routes range from easy ambles along the coast, to challenging scrambles among the menacing Cuillin range, while mountain-biking and sea kayaking are just beyond your doorstep. Dog-owners are also in luck – Janet loves dogs and welcomes them just as much as any human (providing them with extra blankets and treats) She’ll even offer to dog-sit if you fancy heading out for dinner. But all this is mere detail: the great thing about staying here is the location, which is truly spectacular. Whatever you do, though, don't just stick around here, however comfortable you get – the whole of Skye and its glorious wildlife is out there waiting for you. Just walk out into the wilderness to enjoy it.