Directions
The Address is
The Old Croft House
Colbost
Dunvegan
Isle of Skye
IV55 8ZT
How to get there
Once over the Skye Bridge take the A87 towards Portree. There is a choice of route at Sligachan. To take the
direct route turn left onto the A863, sign posted Dunvegan. Just before Dunvegan, as you reach the first
building, turn left onto the B884 to Colbost.
If you want to stop in Portree, continue on the A87 and then turn left onto the A850 to Dunvegan. When you
get to Dunvegan, turn left at the T-junction onto the A863. Just before you reach the last building (a church) on
the way out of town, turn right onto the B884 to Colbost.
Follow the wiggly road to Colbost – drive slowly, as the sheep lurk round every bend. Go through Colbost,
past the Museum and the Three Chimneys restaurant and on for about a mile. Slow down when you spot a
telephone box on the left, just before a left hand bend in the road. Carefully take the right fork marked Husabost
instead of going left round the blind bend. The cottage is the first building on the left. Don’t worry about
missing the turning you will know immediately that you have gone wrong, as you will be driving up a steep hill
with a craft shop (Skye Silver) to your right.
Map (Grid Ref NG204499, OS Explorer407 or OS Landranger23)
A863
Internet Link
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newprint.srf?x=120420&y=849840&z=3&ar=Y&searchp=newprint.srf&mapp=ne
wmap.srf&dn=846
On Arrival
Safety
 A torch is useful if you arrive at night so you can open the gate and see to unlock the front door.
 I recommend reversing into the drive as it is hard to see when coming out on to the narrow road.
 Do NOT stand on the metal drain cover just outside the front door, as it is very slippery when wet.
(Peter has cuts and bruises to prove it)
 The hot water is slow to get hot but gets very hot the longer the tap is on. Be careful when running
baths, especially for children.
 There are several cleaning products in the cupboards under the sink and no locks on the doors, so small
children should not be left unattended at all.
 Be careful of your head going up and down the stairs, the clearance is not good for tall people. The
steps are also a bit narrow, so go slowly.
Switch On
The electricity will be on. When you come into the hall, the light switch is shoulder high on the wall to your
left. The kitchen is to your left. You will need to switch on the cooker, toaster, microwave and the hot water.
You will also need to switch on the heated towel rails in the bathroom. The switches are low down just outside
the bathroom door. Please switch all these off when you leave.
Kitchen Layout
Switches
Cooker Microwave/Fridge
Kettle/Toaster Hot Water
The fuse box is high up on the wall beside the fridge.
Heating
Control knob
When you arrive turn the downstairs heaters to 5 and the upstairs to 3. Because of
the thick walls the house takes a while to heat up, but stays warm and keeps
getting hotter, so the next day turn the heaters down to 4 & 2. Before you leave
please turn them all back to 1.
Heater
Provisions
There is tea, coffee, sugar and a few other things in the cupboards, which you are welcome to use when you
arrive. Please restock before you leave so that the next visitors have something for their arrival. You only
really need to bring milk and bread.
The House
Kitchen
 The light switch for the kitchen is the right hand switch in a set of three on the wall at the bottom of the
stairs.
 Instructions for all the appliances are in the top of the corner wall cupboard.
 The oven door needs to be shut for the grill to operate.
 Please leave the fridge and freezer on. Any items that will not last should be thrown away before you
leave.
 As well as cutlery and cooking utensils, the drawer unit also contains:
1. Carrier bags for bin
2. Cling film, foil etc
3. Tea towels, oven gloves, place mats etc.
4. Spare bulbs and candles
 There is an iron in the bottom corner unit and a small ironing board on a hook in the hall.
 Everyday tools are in a tool box in the hall.
 A spare key for the cottage is on the mantlepiece in the kitchen. Please ensure that you leave it behind
when you leave.
Sitting Room
 The settee is a bed settee and is fairly easy to operate.
 A sewing kit and stationery are in boxes in the bureau.
 Please leave the air freshener plugged in and on.
 The fire is best used with wood or peat. If you use coal it must be smokeless.
 Please leave the door of the fire open when you leave.
 Should an inspector call, the TV licence number is 3662077699.
Hall & Stairs
 We have used light coloured carpet to try to keep the place bright and airy. Please leave your outdoor
shoes in the hall. We recommend taking your slippers as the stairs are rough on bare feet!
 The stairs are unusual! They are narrow and shallow making them a bit difficult to get used to at first.
If you are over 5’ 9” mind your head on the lower steps as there is not much headroom and you may
burn your ear on the light.
 There are coat hooks in the hall and on the back of most of the doors.
Bathroom
The bathroom has been recently renovated. The shower is operated by the pull switch between the bath and the
basin. The switches for the heated towel rails are at floor level just outside the bathroom door.
The washing machine and tumble dryer in the small room next to the bathroom are very easy to operate. If you
have time before you leave, please wash the bedding and hang it on the towel rails in the bathroom. If not,
please leave the dirty linen by the washing machine. If you use the tumble dryer, please make sure you clean
the filter.
Landing
The spare linen is in the chest of drawers by the double bedroom. Double and single are in separate drawers
(labelled). Please change the beds you have used before you leave.
The cupboard next to this has spare towels.
The chests next to this contain blankets, a sleeping bag, a duvet and a spare bath mat.
There are spare pillows in the blanket box.
There is also a Z-bed if required.
There is a hairdryer in the top drawer of the chest of drawers by the bedroom with single beds.
Information
General
 Doctors
There is a surgery on the way into Dunvegan (6 miles) just before the town
 Telephone There is a public phone about 200 yards away back on the road towards Colbost
 Shops
There is a small but extremely well stocked shop in the Post Office in Glendale, 2 miles
over the hill. There are a number of small village shops on the road into Dunvegan. The
Fasgadh Stores stocks most things you may need. The nearest large supermarket is the Coop on the road into Portree (25 miles).
 Contact
Peter’s mobile is 07739364573
 Emergency In an emergency our cousin, John Macaskill, lives across the road.
Places to eat
 The Red Roof Café in Glendale does excellent lunches and cakes. CLOSED FOR 2017 SEASON
 Reasonably priced is the “Old Schoolhouse” also on the way into Dunvegan.
 Edinbane Inn has recently improved its menu and is very enjoyable.
 If you want to splash out, “The Three Chimneys” in Colbost is expensive, but well worth it. You will
need to book in advance. 01470 511258.
 Stylish, expensive and good is Ullinish Country Lodge, just before Struan.
 Similarly the Greshornish House Hotel, off the Portree road, just before Edinbane.
 The Loch Bay Restaurant at Stein has recently been taken over by Michael Smith, formerly chef at the
Three Chimneys. 01470 592235.
 The Stein Inn, signposted at the Fairy Bridge on the way to Portree, serves good pub food at lunchtime
and in the evening.
 Good lunches and evening meals can be found at Skeabost House Hotel off the main road from
Dunvegan to Portree.
 Lochside Crafts and Tea Room in Dunvegan is great for coffees and lunches.
 Café Lephin in Glendale on the road to Neist Point is also good for coffees and lunches.
 In Portree The Skye Bakery Company does excellent bread, pies, lunches and cakes (located behind
Howden’s).
 Jann’s Cakes in Dunvegan makes amazing chocolates and cakes. She also sells homemade meals (curry,
casserole, tagine) to eat in or take away. They are pricey, but delicious.
 Further away on the Trotternish Peninsula is the Single Track Café at Kilmaluag.
 Also on the Trotternish Peninsula is The Skye Pie Café, serving wonderful sweet and savoury pies, to
eat in and take away.
Tourist Information
 There is a black folder in the hall with walks and other nearby attractions in it.
 There are some books on birds, local history and short walks in the sitting room with some maps.
 Beware of Sundays, most place are shut as they take the Sabbath seriously on Skye.
 Locally there is a gallery and museum back in Colbost (2 miles).
 If you take the road above the house it goes to Glendale and on to Neist Point Lighthouse, well worth a
visit for spectacular views of cliffs.
 On the way you will pass Skye Silver in the old schoolhouse that Peter’s mum went to.
 Back in Dunvegan there is an excellent castle with gardens which is well worth a visit.
 On a sunny day it’s worth taking a picnic to the coral beach which is a 1 mile walk from a car park at
the end of the road past the castle. You can see the white strand of the beach across Loch Dunvegan
from the house.
 There are seals on the tidal islands in the loch and boat trips go from near the castle.
Mobile Phones
Reception is poor in the house. To get a better signal try the following options: Lean out of an upstairs window
 Stand in the middle of the road
 Go up to the bus shelter
You can receive text messages if you leave your phone against the kitchen window.
Broadband Charges
We have a minimal use contract for our slow broadband. The phone can be used for short UK calls before we
have to pay extra. The Wi-Fi (BTHub4-T593p) is suitable for checking e-mail and sending messages. Large
downloads and streaming incur extra charges. Please keep within the free limits. If you exceed these you will
have to pay the charges.
Bins
Please put your rubbish in plastic bags before you throw it in the green wheelie bin. Please make sure the bins
are tied down so they don’t blow around. We don’t use the blue bin - there are recycling centres at Struan,
Broadford and elsewhere on the island.
Help Us
Please keep the front door and the gate shut as the sheep get in. Please tell us if you notice anything we should
add to these instructions or find there are items that we need to get for the house.
We hope you enjoy the stay at our cottage.