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The Skye Bridge is 75 miles northwest of
Fort
William, 81 miles southwest of Inverness, 33
miles south of Portree, largest Town on Skye, built
in 1995. Postcode: IV40 8BH
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The image top is from the old Ferry Slip at
Kyle of Lochalsh looking north to the
Skye Bridge. Before the Bridge was built in
1995, this was the main Ferry crossing to the
Isle of Skye, from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin
village on Skye, about a 1 mile crossing.
Part of the Bridge was built on Eilean Ban Island, once home of the
Author Gavin Maxwell,
best know for the book and film Ring of Bright
Water. The Island is now a Visitor Attraction
that can be visited by appointment.
Skye Bridge History
1746 - the Battle of Culloden by Inverness
was the final defeat for the Jacobite's, last
major Battle on the British mainland.
Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped Government
Troops at Culloden by traveling by Boat to a
number of Islands, including the Isle of
Skye.
Flora MacDonald from Skye helped him return
to safety in France. This romantic event led to
Skye becoming the most famous Island in
Scotland.
1819 - the Road from Inverness was completed
to Kyle of Lochalsh.
1842 - Queen Victoria took the first of many
tours of Scotland, giving top Reviews, leading
to more Tourists.
1884 - the Skye Boat Song was published
including the section - Speed bonny boat like a
bird on a wing, Onward the sailors cry. Carry
the lad thats born to be King, Over the sea to
Skye. Many people visiting the area were
inspired to do so by this song.
1897 - the Railway from Inverness reached
Kyle of Lochalsh, through one of the most
remote and scenic parts of Scotland.
1914 - Gavin Maxwell was born in southwest
Scotland at Monreith in 1914.
1930 - the first Car Ferry began running
between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin taking
one car at a time.
1956 - Gavin Maxwell acquired a Cottage in
the very remote area of Sandaig, 28 miles south
of Kyle of Lochalsh. Maxwell had an Otter he
found while on a trip to Iraq. This led to him
writing a top selling book about Otters named
Ring of Bright Water, that lead to a Film.
1960s - Car Ferries on this route could
carry 6 cars at a time, with long queues of
Cars waiting to board in summer, up to 12 hours
waiting time.
1968 - Gavin Maxwell's Cottage burned down,
with him then moving to a Cottage on Eilean Ban
Island at Kyle of Lochalsh.
1969 - Gavin Maxwell died, with Eilean Ban
Island then becoming a Tourist Attraction.
1969 - the Film named Ring of Bright
Water was released with the actors Bill
Travers and Virginia McKenna.
1970 - new Larger Ferries were added to the
Isle of Skye crossing that could carry 28 Cars.
These Larger Ferries were soon struggling to
cope with the vast numbers of Tourists visiting
the Island in summer.
1995 - the Skye Bridge was completed costing
around £25 million, leading to the end of
the Kyle of Lochalsh to Isle of Skye
Ferries.
The Skye Bridge is about one and a half
miles long, with the main span about 500 metres
long, 35 meters / 115 feet in height.
The Bridge was built with private money,
with Tolls set so the money could be recouped
by the builders.
1999 - the Scottish Parliament was set up to
deal with local issues, with the Skye Bridge
Toll being one of the top issues of the
time.
2004 - the Toll to cross the Skye Bridge had
increased to about £6 each way, leading to
the Islanders protesting more and refusing to
pay. The company running the bridge was accused
of having made about £33 million on Tolls
by that time.
2004 December - the Scottish Parliament
stated they had bought the Skye Bridge for
£27 million, with the Tolls stopping
immediately.
2005 - Luann Nichols from Oklahoma could not
believe there was a Bridge to the Isle of Skye.
One of her main reasons for wanting to visit
Scotland was to get the Boat to Skye, as in the
song.
There is still a Ferry from
Mallaig
on the Mainland to Armadale on the south of Skye,
for those who just have to visit the Island by
Boat.
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