Touring Scotland with the EV - Day 11

Day 11 (Wednesday, 12th October)

Travelled to the north of the Island today for a good look at several different places. Our aim being to get to Glendale where we were promised lots of local crafts including weavers of Harris Tweed. 

On the way into the village we found Colbost Croft Museum and stopped off to have a have a look at this fascinating piece of history - life of the crofters in the 19th Century. 

There was a little shed where you paid your entrance fee of £1.50, add your name to the visitors book and take your own ticket. This event needs it's own blog post, which I will try to get around to doing later!

We went on into the village looking for Red Roof Cafe Gallery which was highly recommended - but saw a sign saying it was closed for the season. 

photo from Red Roof Cafe website

We found a real treasure of a cafe for lunch called at Cafe Lephin which also had a display of local craft work, and the most delicious lunchtime snacks and a very cosy atmosphere.

photo from Trip Advisor

We have been amazed throughout this trip at the number of post offices and post boxes in the remotest of places, compared to our experience at home. We no longer have a post office in Crayford at all!

We took a ride up the hill where the Red Roof Cafe was situated and stopped for a couple struggling across the road with some chickens, - it was the couple from the cafe, they were moving the chickens to a new home for the winter season, but stopped to chat about the business and life on Skye. They hold workshops and fitness events in the cafe in winter.

Our next stop was Skye Weavers, from the sign on the side of the road I followed a steep track down hill to find a cottage and a series of workshops.  It is a small weaving and sewing business buying woollen thread to weave into cloth on their pedal powered loom. I was taken through the whole process starting with threading the loom up to weaving some scarves - I even had a go myself. 

Last stop at Glendale was a place called Dragonfly Studio. The friendly owner, her family and friends made everything sold in the shop, including knitting & crochet, sewing, jewelery and wood turning. 

A crafty day in a beautiful place.

Thanks for looking

Lynn x