ProDave
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Our recent trip took us to the Isle of Sky. With no research and on the spur of the moment, passing the Sconser ferry terminal we decided to visit the isle of Rassay. So this is a bit of a summary for anyone planning to go to this less visited island.
For a 6 metre motorhome and 2 occupants, the ferry was £14.10 each way. This is a service where you buy your ticket and take your turn in the queue, you don't book a specific crossing. The ferry sails roughly once an hour with a break at lunch time but only 3 crossings on a Sunday. We didn't have to wait and got on the first available crossing that was only half full. There is a specific price band for motorhomes, and the good news, for this year motorhomes are charged the same as for a car. In previous years they have been charged twice the rate of a car.
First impressions of the island were not good. Having disembarked, had some lunch, visited the island shop for provisions we set off on the road to the east of the island to Fearn, Once out of the village, the road was "substandard" to say the least. I questioned many times, are we actually on the public road. In places we were grinding along in 1st gear trying not to shake the demountable off the back of the truck. 3 miles later we reached the end of the road and had a really good walk along the coast. There is a level car park there where we could have stopped the night, but it was a bit too early. We met the owner of the last house by the car park and he said he had no problem if we wanted to stop the night. This car park in on the POI's.
Then we had our slow bumpy ride back to the village. Next to explore was road south to Eyre. Again out of the village the road surface became just as poor and at the end of the road there was nowhere to park.
We returned to the ferry terminal and spent the night there. We had been advised this was acceptable and the preferred option, you are close to the only public toilets on the island and water is available at the harbour, but no waste disposal options at all on the island.
It was actually a nice spot for the night, quiet, good views, and level. And free.
There are two places to eat and drink within a short walk, the Raasay house Hotel and the Distillery that is also a hotel. In true island fashion Raasay house hotel is closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which are the only 3 days the distillery is open. But you need to book in advance for a meal and there was no space for us so self catering.
Second day we explored the road to the north and "Calums Road" The road surface was much better though when you get nearer the end, you find stretches of poor road interspersed by stretches of good road. Needless to say the locals are not very polite about Highland Council and their road maintenance. You can drive right to the end of Calums Road to a car park at Armish where there are good long walks right to the north of the island. We chose to drive back and spend a second night in the ferry terminal car park.
There are a lot of well maintained footpaths all over the island and we only walked a few, including a lot of paths starting from the village. Lots more to explore and I am sure we will be back. Pick up the leaflet from the village shop showing all the roads and footpaths on the island.
For a 6 metre motorhome and 2 occupants, the ferry was £14.10 each way. This is a service where you buy your ticket and take your turn in the queue, you don't book a specific crossing. The ferry sails roughly once an hour with a break at lunch time but only 3 crossings on a Sunday. We didn't have to wait and got on the first available crossing that was only half full. There is a specific price band for motorhomes, and the good news, for this year motorhomes are charged the same as for a car. In previous years they have been charged twice the rate of a car.
First impressions of the island were not good. Having disembarked, had some lunch, visited the island shop for provisions we set off on the road to the east of the island to Fearn, Once out of the village, the road was "substandard" to say the least. I questioned many times, are we actually on the public road. In places we were grinding along in 1st gear trying not to shake the demountable off the back of the truck. 3 miles later we reached the end of the road and had a really good walk along the coast. There is a level car park there where we could have stopped the night, but it was a bit too early. We met the owner of the last house by the car park and he said he had no problem if we wanted to stop the night. This car park in on the POI's.
Then we had our slow bumpy ride back to the village. Next to explore was road south to Eyre. Again out of the village the road surface became just as poor and at the end of the road there was nowhere to park.
We returned to the ferry terminal and spent the night there. We had been advised this was acceptable and the preferred option, you are close to the only public toilets on the island and water is available at the harbour, but no waste disposal options at all on the island.
It was actually a nice spot for the night, quiet, good views, and level. And free.
There are two places to eat and drink within a short walk, the Raasay house Hotel and the Distillery that is also a hotel. In true island fashion Raasay house hotel is closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which are the only 3 days the distillery is open. But you need to book in advance for a meal and there was no space for us so self catering.
Second day we explored the road to the north and "Calums Road" The road surface was much better though when you get nearer the end, you find stretches of poor road interspersed by stretches of good road. Needless to say the locals are not very polite about Highland Council and their road maintenance. You can drive right to the end of Calums Road to a car park at Armish where there are good long walks right to the north of the island. We chose to drive back and spend a second night in the ferry terminal car park.
There are a lot of well maintained footpaths all over the island and we only walked a few, including a lot of paths starting from the village. Lots more to explore and I am sure we will be back. Pick up the leaflet from the village shop showing all the roads and footpaths on the island.
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