[Iain Macaonghais – Preseantair] Nise le seusan trang na turasachd a’ teannadh dlùth agus dha-rìribh a’ tòiseachadh airson cuid, tha iomadh gnìomhachas anns an Eilean Sgitheanach a’ dèanamh deiseil gus fàilte a chur air an tuilleadh luchd-tadhail. Bha uair ann nuair a bhiodh an sgìre air leth sàmhach taobh a-muigh mìosan an t-samhraidh, ach tha coltach a-nis gu bheil gu leòr àitichean fuirich agus eile a’ dol fad na bliadhna. Chaidh am fear-naidheachd againn Calum MacIlleathain gus faicinn mar a tha diofar ghnìomhachasan a’ dèanamh deiseil airson an t-seusain.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Seallaidhean an Eilein Sgitheanaich. ‘S e an cruth-tìre a thàlaidheas iomadach neach an seo. An-diugh, ged a tha cùisean fhathast nas sàmhaiche tron gheamhradh, thig luchd-tadhail anns gach ràith. Tha leabaidh is bracaist Ealasaid NicDhòmhnaill fosgailte fad na bliadhna.
[Ealasaid NicDhòmhnaill] Tha feadhainn ann is tha iad a’ tilleadh ann a h-uile bliadhna agus ‘s dòcha gu bheil, dhà no thrì thrupan sa bhliadhna. Bha feadhainn à Sasainn gu math tric a’ tighinn an seo trì no ceithir thrupan anns a’ bhliadhna. Tha mi smaoineachadh gum bi sinn làn a h-uile oidhche. Tha mi smaoineachadh, coimhead ris an leabhar, tha sinn gu bhith gu math trang.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Ann an Stafainn, tha Stòr MhicChoinnich, cuideachd fosgailte fad na bliadhna. Ach, ‘s ann as t-samhradh a tha iad nas trainge. A thuilleadh air a’ bhùth fhèin, thòisich iad air biadh teth a thabhainn. Le iomadh sealladh faisg air làimh, cha bheag an àireamh a thig seachad.
[Rhona NicNeacail] Oh tha sinn trang, tha sinn cho trang. Bidh e làn taobh a-muigh na bùtha ‘s bidh busaichean a’ tighinn ‘s càraichean ‘s bidh daoine feitheamh ach, tha daoine toilichte feitheamh ‘s tha iad toilichte àite-bidhe fhaighinn.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Ach tha duilgheadasan cuideachd an lùib àireamh mhòr de luchd-turais. Bha gainnead àitichean-pàircidh na thrioblaid an-uiridh agus tha poileas na sgìre a rabhadh gun tèid tiocaidean a thoirt seachad is carbadan an togail air falbh. Tha dìth thaighean beaga na dhragh cuideachd.
[Rhona NicNeacail] Tha e dona dona, daoine tighinn a-staigh faighneachd airson nan taighean beaga agus chan eil an t-àite as fhaisge, tha Hotel Flòdaigearraidh, Taigh-òsta Flòdaigearraidh, ceithir mìle sìos an rathad, tha sin fosgailte. Ach mu ochd mìle, ann an Ùige suas seachad a’ Chuith-Raing agus tha e dona nach eil taighean-beaga mun cuairt son daoine.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Tha planaichean san amharc, co-dhiù aig an Stòr, gus taighean-beaga a thogail. Tha e coltach gu bheil aimsir ainmeil an eilein cuideachd a’ toirt buaidh air gnìomhachasan.
[Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill] Tha mi smaoineachadh gur e an rud a th’ air tachairt ‘s e gu bheil barrachd dhaoine a’ tighinn dhan eilean, ‘s dòcha airson ùine ghoirid agus gu bheil iad a’ tighinn ‘s dòcha airson deireadh-sheachdain ‘s an uair sin a’ gluasad air adhart, ‘s dòcha gu meadhan an t-seachdain eadar Disathairne ‘s Disathairne. Ma tha sìde math, chan eil sinn a’ faicinn uiread a dhaoine a-staigh, ‘s fheàrr leotha bhith muigh, ‘s fheàrr leotha bhith sreap, coiseachd, a’ dèanamh rudan a-muigh anns an àrainneachd.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Ma tha cùisean mar a bha iad an-uiridh, ‘s e gu lèor a thig a thadhal anns an eilean as t-samhradh. Calum MacIlleathain, BBC An Là, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach.
[Iain Macinnes – Presenter] Now with the busy tourist season almost upon us and indeed, already under way for some, many businesses on the Isle of Skye are preparing to welcome an influx of visitors. There was a time when the area would be exceptionally quiet outwith the summer months, but it seems now there is plenty accommodation and other facilities which are open all year round. Our reporter Calum MacLean went to see how different businesses are preparing for the season.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] Isle of Skye scenery. It’s the landscape that attracts many people here. Today, although it’s still quieter in winter, visitors will come in each season. Elizabeth MacDonald’s B&B is open all year round.
[Elizabeth MacDonald] There are some who return each year and sometimes even two or three times a year. There were people from England who would often come here three or four times a year. I think we’ll be full each night. I think, looking at the book, that we’ll be very busy.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] In Staffin, MacKenzie Stores are also open all year round. But they are busier in summer. As well as the shop itself, they have started to offer hot food. With plenty scenery close by, there are a great number of passers-by.
[Rhona Nicolson] Oh we’re busy, really busy. It’ll be full outside the shop, buses and cars will arrive and they have to wait but people are happy to do so, they’re just happy get somewhere to eat.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] But problems do arise from such large numbers of tourists. A lack of parking spaces was a problem last year and police in the area have warned parking tickets will be issued and vehicles will be towed away. The lack of toilets is also a concern.
[Rhona Nicolson] It’s really bad when people are coming in asking for toilets and the nearest place open is the Flodigarry Hotel, four miles down the road. There are others eight miles away, in Uig up past the Quiraing. It is bad that there aren’t toilet facilities around for people.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] There are plans, at The Storr anyway, to build toilets. It seems that the renowned island weather also affects businesses.
[Donald MacDonald] I think what’s happening is that more people are coming on short breaks to the island, perhaps for the weekend and then moving on. Perhaps in the middle of the week between Saturday and Saturday. If the weather is good we don’t have many people coming in, they prefer to be outside climbing, walking, undertaking various outdoor activities.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] If last year is anything to go by, the island will see a great number of visitors in summer. Calum MacLean, BBC An Là, the Isle of Skye.
[Iain Macaonghais – Preseantair] Nise le seusan trang na turasachd a’ teannadh dlùth agus dha-rìribh a’ tòiseachadh airson cuid, tha iomadh gnìomhachas anns an Eilean Sgitheanach a’ dèanamh deiseil gus fàilte a chur air an tuilleadh luchd-tadhail. Bha uair ann nuair a bhiodh an sgìre air leth sàmhach taobh a-muigh mìosan an t-samhraidh, ach tha coltach a-nis gu bheil gu leòr àitichean fuirich agus eile a’ dol fad na bliadhna. Chaidh am fear-naidheachd againn Calum MacIlleathain gus faicinn mar a tha diofar ghnìomhachasan a’ dèanamh deiseil airson an t-seusain.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Seallaidhean an Eilein Sgitheanaich. ‘S e an cruth-tìre a thàlaidheas iomadach neach an seo. An-diugh, ged a tha cùisean fhathast nas sàmhaiche tron gheamhradh, thig luchd-tadhail anns gach ràith. Tha leabaidh is bracaist Ealasaid NicDhòmhnaill fosgailte fad na bliadhna.
[Ealasaid NicDhòmhnaill] Tha feadhainn ann is tha iad a’ tilleadh ann a h-uile bliadhna agus ‘s dòcha gu bheil, dhà no thrì thrupan sa bhliadhna. Bha feadhainn à Sasainn gu math tric a’ tighinn an seo trì no ceithir thrupan anns a’ bhliadhna. Tha mi smaoineachadh gum bi sinn làn a h-uile oidhche. Tha mi smaoineachadh, coimhead ris an leabhar, tha sinn gu bhith gu math trang.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Ann an Stafainn, tha Stòr MhicChoinnich, cuideachd fosgailte fad na bliadhna. Ach, ‘s ann as t-samhradh a tha iad nas trainge. A thuilleadh air a’ bhùth fhèin, thòisich iad air biadh teth a thabhainn. Le iomadh sealladh faisg air làimh, cha bheag an àireamh a thig seachad.
[Rhona NicNeacail] Oh tha sinn trang, tha sinn cho trang. Bidh e làn taobh a-muigh na bùtha ‘s bidh busaichean a’ tighinn ‘s càraichean ‘s bidh daoine feitheamh ach, tha daoine toilichte feitheamh ‘s tha iad toilichte àite-bidhe fhaighinn.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Ach tha duilgheadasan cuideachd an lùib àireamh mhòr de luchd-turais. Bha gainnead àitichean-pàircidh na thrioblaid an-uiridh agus tha poileas na sgìre a rabhadh gun tèid tiocaidean a thoirt seachad is carbadan an togail air falbh. Tha dìth thaighean beaga na dhragh cuideachd.
[Rhona NicNeacail] Tha e dona dona, daoine tighinn a-staigh faighneachd airson nan taighean beaga agus chan eil an t-àite as fhaisge, tha Hotel Flòdaigearraidh, Taigh-òsta Flòdaigearraidh, ceithir mìle sìos an rathad, tha sin fosgailte. Ach mu ochd mìle, ann an Ùige suas seachad a’ Chuith-Raing agus tha e dona nach eil taighean-beaga mun cuairt son daoine.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Tha planaichean san amharc, co-dhiù aig an Stòr, gus taighean-beaga a thogail. Tha e coltach gu bheil aimsir ainmeil an eilein cuideachd a’ toirt buaidh air gnìomhachasan.
[Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill] Tha mi smaoineachadh gur e an rud a th’ air tachairt ‘s e gu bheil barrachd dhaoine a’ tighinn dhan eilean, ‘s dòcha airson ùine ghoirid agus gu bheil iad a’ tighinn ‘s dòcha airson deireadh-sheachdain ‘s an uair sin a’ gluasad air adhart, ‘s dòcha gu meadhan an t-seachdain eadar Disathairne ‘s Disathairne. Ma tha sìde math, chan eil sinn a’ faicinn uiread a dhaoine a-staigh, ‘s fheàrr leotha bhith muigh, ‘s fheàrr leotha bhith sreap, coiseachd, a’ dèanamh rudan a-muigh anns an àrainneachd.
[Calum NacIlleathain – Neach-aithris] Ma tha cùisean mar a bha iad an-uiridh, ‘s e gu lèor a thig a thadhal anns an eilean as t-samhradh. Calum MacIlleathain, BBC An Là, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach.
[Iain Macinnes – Presenter] Now with the busy tourist season almost upon us and indeed, already under way for some, many businesses on the Isle of Skye are preparing to welcome an influx of visitors. There was a time when the area would be exceptionally quiet outwith the summer months, but it seems now there is plenty accommodation and other facilities which are open all year round. Our reporter Calum MacLean went to see how different businesses are preparing for the season.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] Isle of Skye scenery. It’s the landscape that attracts many people here. Today, although it’s still quieter in winter, visitors will come in each season. Elizabeth MacDonald’s B&B is open all year round.
[Elizabeth MacDonald] There are some who return each year and sometimes even two or three times a year. There were people from England who would often come here three or four times a year. I think we’ll be full each night. I think, looking at the book, that we’ll be very busy.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] In Staffin, MacKenzie Stores are also open all year round. But they are busier in summer. As well as the shop itself, they have started to offer hot food. With plenty scenery close by, there are a great number of passers-by.
[Rhona Nicolson] Oh we’re busy, really busy. It’ll be full outside the shop, buses and cars will arrive and they have to wait but people are happy to do so, they’re just happy get somewhere to eat.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] But problems do arise from such large numbers of tourists. A lack of parking spaces was a problem last year and police in the area have warned parking tickets will be issued and vehicles will be towed away. The lack of toilets is also a concern.
[Rhona Nicolson] It’s really bad when people are coming in asking for toilets and the nearest place open is the Flodigarry Hotel, four miles down the road. There are others eight miles away, in Uig up past the Quiraing. It is bad that there aren’t toilet facilities around for people.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] There are plans, at The Storr anyway, to build toilets. It seems that the renowned island weather also affects businesses.
[Donald MacDonald] I think what’s happening is that more people are coming on short breaks to the island, perhaps for the weekend and then moving on. Perhaps in the middle of the week between Saturday and Saturday. If the weather is good we don’t have many people coming in, they prefer to be outside climbing, walking, undertaking various outdoor activities.
[Calum Maclean – Reporter] If last year is anything to go by, the island will see a great number of visitors in summer. Calum MacLean, BBC An Là, the Isle of Skye.