Skye Trail Wild Camping and COVID-19

[erstudente]

Dear all

End of August we wanted to do the Skye Trail with our tents. Is it feasible due to the Covid-19 situation? We saw that campings are allowed to open, but most of them stay closed for the whole year. What about shops in small locations? How difficult is it to find water sources? What is the situation of B&Bs? Thank you for your advice!

[davekeiller]

In principle it's feasible, although you will have to wear a face covering when on public transport, and I would check the times of buses and trains as they will be running a reduced service if at all.
Shops are never guaranteed in rural locations, although I would expect them to be open as the people who live there need to eat!
B&B's are likely open, although I don't know whether they will have any spaces. August is peak holiday season, and places usually book up months in advance. This year, lots of people who would go abroad are holidaying in the UK, so I would expect that anywhere that's open is likely to be booked up by now.

[Caberfeidh]

Water from streams in the hills is usually ok to drink, just not downstream from buildings or farmland with cattle on the land. Shops for groceries are open, you must wear a facemask in such places. Public transport is haphazard at the best of times, and these are not the best of times. Best plan ahead and put up with walking long distances, or not walking anywhere... Where will you arrive from? September or October are better times; the midgies in August are horrific.

Ben Tianavaig

[erstudente]

Thank you both for your comments, very helpful. We are coming from Switzerland. The next problem is that I just read that the UK might put Switzerland on the quarantine list... therefore we are still waiting to book the flights. Regarding midges, understood...but what about the climate in September? We are equipped up to a minimum of 5 degrees / what are temperatures at night in September?

[jmarkb]

but what about the climate in September? We are equipped up to a minimum of 5 degrees / what are temperatures at night in September?

Average minimum temperature on Skye in September is around 7 degrees. If we get some cold weather it could go a bit below 5 degrees, but below zero would be very unusual.

[erstudente]

but what about the climate in September? We are equipped up to a minimum of 5 degrees / what are temperatures at night in September?

Average minimum temperature on Skye in September is around 7 degrees. If we get some cold weather it could go a bit below 5 degrees, but below zero would be very unusual.

Very helpful, thanks

[Caberfeidh]

If you mean that your sleeping bags are only good for five degrees at the lowest, simply wear your clothes to bed if it is cold, and drape your jacket over your head. Or use a space blanket.

[erstudente]

If you mean that your sleeping bags are only good for five degrees at the lowest, simply wear your clothes to bed if it is cold, and drape your jacket over your head. Or use a space blanket.

That’s true, Thanks!