Population est. 620 (2006) Council area Highland Country Scotland Local time Saturday 1:05 AM Number of airports 1 | OS grid reference NG642234 Lieutenancy area Ross and Cromarty Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 01471 Civil parish Strath | |
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Weather 5°C, Wind NE at 16 km/h, 74% Humidity | ||
Broadford (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Àth Leathann), together with nearby Harrapool, is the second-largest settlement on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Broadford is within the parish of Strath.
Contents
- Map of Broadford Isle of Skye UK
- History
- Geography
- Geology
- Wildlife
- Economy
- Road
- Water
- Air
- In popular culture
- References
Map of Broadford, Isle of Skye, UK
History
Like many places in Skye, Broadford derives its name from Old Norse. To the Norsemen this was Breiðafjorðr - the wide bay. The Gaelic name is of modern derivation and assumes that the "ford" element meant a river crossing.
West of Broadford in Glen Suardal, on the lower slopes of Beinn na Caillich, is Goir a' Bhlàir, 'the field of battle' (grid reference NG624234 ). The battle concerned was apparently a decisive action by the Gaelic Clan Mackinnon against the Norsemen.
Broadford was a cattle market until 1812, when Telford built the road from Portree to Kyleakin. Veterans of the Napoleonic Wars settled during the first half of the 19th century. Writing in the middle of the 19th century, Alexander Smith said, "If Portree is the London of Skye, Broadford is its Manchester."
Legend holds that the recipe for the liqueur Drambuie was given by Bonnie Prince Charlie to Clan MacKinnon who then passed it onto James Ross late 19th century. Ross ran the Broadford Inn (now the Broadford Hotel), where he developed and improved the recipe, initially for his friends and then later to patrons. Ross then began to sell it further afield and the name was registered as a trademark in 1893.
Geography
Broadford lies on the south-west corner of Broadford Bay, on the A87 between Portree and the Skye Bridge. The settlement is overlooked by the eastern Cuillins, Broadford is in a beautiful tranquil area as well as having many services available.
Geology
The mineral harkerite was first found near Broadford by the geologist Alfred Harker. The areas around Broadford, Kilbride and Torrin are renowned for their fantastic exposures of Tertiary intrusive geology. The area is famous for university undergraduate dissertation mapping.
Wildlife
A variety of marine life can be seen at Broadford Bay including otters and occasionally orca whales.
Birds that can sometimes be spotted at the bay include the whooper swan, brent goose, red-throated diver and the black-tailed godwit.
Economy
Broadford is a key service centre for southern Skye. Services include the Co-op supermarket combined with a 24-hour Gulf Oil garage, a few restaurants (including the Broadford Hotel, Claymore, Dunollie Hotel, Hebridean Hotel and Red Skye), and a youth hostel. The local hospital, the Mackinnon Memorial Hospital, has a small ward and casualty department.
Road
The A87 travels through Broadford, on its route from Invergarry to Uig. The A851 begins at a junction with the A87, towards the east end of Broadford, and continues to Armadale. Meanwhile, the B8083 begins at a junction with the A87 at the western end of Broadford, and continues to Elgol. There is also a coastal road, (a left turn at Killbride) which can be found halfway along the B8083, this takes you down to a viewpoint at Loch Slapin. Public are able to catch either the 155 or 55 bus along this road.
Water
There are two piers within the vicinity of Broadford. One is at the east end of the village by the war memorial, the other and larger at Corry, at the north west end of the bay. It's common to see rainbows over Broadford bay, caused by the high moisture content of the air above it.
Air
Broadford Airfield (IATA: SKL; ICAO: EGEI) is located at nearby Ashaig. The single asphalt runway is 793 m (2,602 ft) in length and oriented at 07/25.