Royal National Mòd to kick-off in Paisley
Folk band of the year, Breabach will kick-off this year Royal National Mod at the opening concert in Paisley tonight.
Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival returns to Paisley for the first team since 2013
Competitors from a range of ages from Skye, Raasay, and Lochalsh will be taking part including choirs from Strath and Portree.
In 2022, singers Ruraidh Gray from South Uist and Annie MacDonald from Staffin claimed the prestigious Mod Gold Medals.
The annual celebration of Gaelic linguistic and Cultural heritage was first held in 1892 and has taken place each year in October since with the exception of during the two world was and the Covid Pandemic.
Police enquiries into all-terrain vehicle damaged in Kingsburgh
Police Officers in Skye are appealing for information concerning damaged to an all-terrain vehicle in the area of Kingsburgh Common Grazing.
A local crofter left his Can Am All-Terrain vehicle parked and secured on the hillside due to technical issues.
On returning, the owner discovered the vehicle severely damaged at the bottom of a nearby cliff.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area between 29th September 2023 and 3rd October 2023.
If you have any information about this incident, you can contact the police on 101 or via the contact form on the Police Scotland
Or you can report anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
Skye and Raasay National Park status to be explored
The Skye and Raasay council ward is one of 10 areas to have submitted early expressions of interest in becoming a National Park through a representation made by local councillors.
The process to determine the location of Scotland next National Park has begun with communities and organisations being invited to submit their proposals.
Nominations for a new Park will be driven entirely by local communities and organisations, and all areas of Scotland are eligible to submit proposals.
Councillor Calum Munro told Radio Skye that the councillors had submitted an expressions of interest to found out more about the process including all the pros and cons of National Park Status so that local people could have an informed discussion on the matter.
A committment made through the Bute House agreement means at least one new National Park will be designed by 2026
Breakish Wind Farm Q&A to take place on Radio Skye
Radio Skye is set to host a question and answer session on plans for a new 20-turbine wind farm in south Skye
On next Thursday’s breakfast show (19th October) we will be hosting a question and answer session about proposals for a new wind farm in Breakish.
Lomond Energy are finalising designs for the development on behalf of Swedish company Arise AB. If approved the site would comprise 20 turbines, 180 metres in height.
Steve Macken, the co-founder of Lomond Energy will be in the studio in person from 8.30am to 9am and we will put your questions to him about the proposal.
To submit a question, you can email adam@radioskye.com or send a message or voice note by WhatsApp to 01478 611234 starting the message with Breakish Wind Farm.
Please submit questions before 12noon on Wednesday 18th October.
You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh live at the times below by clicking on the banner. 
Breakish wind farm events to be held next month
A series of public drops event concerning proposals for a new 20-turbine wind farm in Breakish will take place in south Skye next month.
At present Lomond Energy, which is working on behalf of Swedish company ARISE AB, is finalising its design for the development, which would comprised 20 turbines 180 metres in height.
Lomond Energy have stated that the wind farm would generate benefit fund of £500,000 annually for local communities.
The Breakish Wind Farm Action Group, which is made up of local residents who are opposing the plans, argue that the development would have a profoundly damaging impact on the environment, wildlife and the economy.
The site for the proposed development is to the southeast of Breakish within the common grazings which form part of Fearann Eilean Iarmain.
The public events will take between 2pm and 7pm at the following venues in November:
- Monday 13th – An Crubh, Sleat.
- Tuesday 14th – Breakish Hall
- Wednesday 15th – Kyleakin Community Hall
- Thursday 16th – Broadford Village Hall
Lomond Energy has stated that it is expects to submit a full planning in January/February 2024.
Highland Council gears up for winter maintenance
The Highland Council’s winter maintenance programme starts on 14 October 2023 with the local authority geared up to treat more than 6,700km of roads.
Operations will take place from Monday to Saturday – 6am until 9pm. There is no overnight service, and on Sundays and days classed as public holidays a restricted service will be provided which starts at 7am.
The fleet includes 105 gritters, 42 footpath tractors and over 200 staff providing winter maintenance services.
The council has said it has adequate salt stocks for the region of 34,000 tonnes for the start of the main winter season and that there are no concerns about future provision of deliveries from the council’s supplier
Chair of the Highland Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “We have the supplies and resources in place to provide a winter service according to the Council’s policy.
“Council roads and pavements are gritted as specified within the council’s agreed winter maintenance policy. Details of the council’s highland wide and local area gritting policies and maps are on the council’s website.”
However, he added: “Salting will not prevent roads from icing up in extreme conditions. This is particularly relevant on low traffic roads where there are insufficient vehicle movements to aid the interaction between the salt and the ice crystals so we urge drivers to be extra careful driving in these conditions.”
The Council has advised that:
• Drivers should take account of prevailing weather and road conditions.
• Winter weather conditions within the Highlands can be very localised.
• Black ice can be a particular danger. You cannot see it and it can still be there even after treatment.
• Dawn frosts can also catch drivers unaware. At first light a clear sky will allow heat to radiate quickly from the road surface causing icy patches to form on wet or damp roads.
Community groups, volunteer groups and individuals who require further information or are wanting to access the Winter Resilience Programme can contact their area roads office by email – details are available on the council’s website.
Glenelg Ferry season end early due to weather and dwindling numbers
The Glenelg to Skye turntable ferry service has closed for the year ahead of its expected end of season.
The popular attraction was due to finished for the year on Sunday 15 October but the operators said that it could not continue to run until then due to most unfavourable weather and drastically dwindling passengers numbers.
Early this year from the MV Glenachulish vessel, which was built in 1969, received a red wheel emblem from the National Transport Trust to acknowledge it status as the last turntable ferry in the UK.
Portree Medical Centre staff raise £2,000 for MacMillan
Local community members including business owners, and staff from Portree Medical Centre have raised £2,000 for a leading cancer charity
Funds from the coffee morning held in Portree on Saturday 30th September will go directly to the MacMillan team here on Skye.
The team at the Portree Medical Centre put on record their thanks to everyone involved for their “fabulous support in making the coffee morning such a huge success.”
You can listen to the latest local news for Skye and Lochalsh live at the times below by clicking on the banner.