Cal-Mac Ferry
The Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry from Uig to the Western Isle leaves from Uig twice a day sailing directly from Uig Bay right into the Minch. From the hills above Uig you can watch the ferry leave and see the hills of Harris across the Minch.

Uig Waterfall
Take the Staffin road by the Police house in Uig. Before you get to the bridge over the river Rha you will find a stile on the right hand side of the road. If you cross over the stile and follow the path it will take you into a deep glen with a magnificent double waterfall. Be careful to stay on the path, particularly in wet weather, as the banks above the waterfall can be very slippy and dangerous.

Waterfall on the Rha

Fairy Glen
Take the road which goes to Sheader and runs up behind the Uig Hotel. This leads to a glen which at the top end has a number of small lochs, and small conical shaped hills, which give the appearance of a miniature landscape.You can also get a good overall view of the Fairy Glen from the Glen Conon road. You will find the entrance to this road opposite the post office in Uig. While using these roads for sightseeing remember that local people are also using these roads to go about their daily business so be careful not to block the road for others.

      View from Glen Conon - The Fairy Glen

Uig Tower
You will see this Norman style tower as you drive down into Uig from the Portree road. This is not an early Norman Tower it is a much more modern ruin. It was built by Captain Fraser, a notorious landlord of the Kilmuir Estates during the period of the Highland clearances, and was indeed originally used to collect rents from the local crofters.This building was used to house a family in Uig into the 1950s.

Fraser's Folly

Clach Ard Uige
(The high stone of Uig) This is a relic of an ancient stone circle which stood on the hill just above Uig. This single stone remains in this prominent position up on the hill by the Youth Hostel. It is said that in the old stories of the area great disaster will befall the community if this stone should ever be moved.

Caisteal Uisdean
(Hugh’s Castle)  This old 17^th century castle is interesting in that it shows the style of the early castles in Skye which used the sea as their main highway. Many castles in Skye, including the famous Dunvegan Castle were originally designed with their main entrance to the sea. Hugh’s castle has no entrance at all on the ground floor. Entrance could only be gained by a stairway which was raised and lowered from the second floor level, and again the main means of transport to and from the castle was by sea. If you want to go and have a close look at this castle you should go down the Cuidrach Road where you will find a footpath which will take you to the castle.

Castle Uisdean

Piping Memorial
At the top of Glenhinnisdal just before the last house there in a small memorial at the roadside to mark the place where Donald MacDonald was born at a croft there in 1750. Donald MacDonald was a famous piper, and bagpipe maker, and a pupil of the great MacArthur pipers who had a piping college at Hungladder in Kilmuir. Donald’s main claim to fame however is that he was the first to put the Famous Piobaireachd, or “Ceòl Mòr” into notation for others to read. His own book of early “Ceòl Mòr” tunes are still used today and are played at the Skye games piobaireachd competitions each year by pipers from all parts of the world.  

Piping at the memorial

Museum of Highland Life
These are just some of the things of interest in Uig district itself, but of course the surrounding area is full of places of historical and natural interest. The Skye museum of Island life is just a short distance to the north of Uig in Kilmuir, and is a must for any visitor to the area, and the little book “Discovering Skye” by Jonathan MacDonald, which can be bought at the museum, is an excellent way to get an introduction to the rich history of the Island if you are here on a short holiday.

Museum of Highland Life