Читать книгу The Isle of Skye. Graded walks and scrambles throughout Skye, including the Cuillin онлайн

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There is no compromise with Skye; you either love it or hate it, but, if you are still making up your mind, be advised, persistence does pay off. Tales of outrageous weather, days and days of a rain-lashed island, blasted furiously by winds that are as strong as any in Britain, are grossly exaggerated – true, but exaggerated. Come to Skye expecting and equipped for wind, rain and cold, and anything else is a bonus. But what a bonus!

To truly appreciate the charm of Skye you must see it in all its moods, and you must accommodate those moods, leaning on the wind, walking through the rain, and your reward will be bright, clear days of vibrant colours, of seemingly infinite interest, way beyond your wildest imagination. And you must be patient. Do not be put off – come again, and again.

But the weather is only one influence on the remarkable persona of Skye. Its geology and land forms are so diverse that the student of morphology and the landscape will find endless days of wonder here, while around its tortuous coastline the ubiquitous seas have taken their toll, and fashioned their own contribution to the Island’s grandeur. The Island’s history is a microcosm of human enterprise and endeavour, of resilience and mutual reliance on neighbours and fellow men – you don’t fall out with neighbours if tomorrow you may need them to save your life.