Skyetime

In the latest episode of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins visits Skye's youngest Distillery - Torabhaig - where the distillers are producing a heavily peated, single malt whisky in a beautifully restored farm steading overlooking the Sound of Sleat. It is expected that the first bottling of Torabhaig will take place next year after the first casks have been maturing for three years.
The Distillery also has a shop, cafe and visitor centre. Simon is taken on a tour by visitor centre manager, Anne O'Lone and meets some of the passionate staff eager to share their knowledge of the distillery.
This episode has been sponsored by Torabhaig Distillery.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins is in Portree for the historic unveiling of Skye's official flag. After a year long competition and public vote, the winning flag was finally raised by 9 year old designer, Calum Alasdair Munro from Kilmuir.
As well as hearing about Calum Alasdair's passion for flags and the inspiration behind his design, Simon talks to competition organiser, Keith MacKenzie of the West Highland Free Press, Alistair Danter of SkyeConnect and the Honorary Vexillologist with the Court of the Lord Lyon of Scotland, Philip Tibbetts.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins visits one of Skye's great social institutions, Seamus' Bar at the Sligachan Hotel. Simon meets directors, Deirdre and Gary Curley along with some of their staff, to talk about the history of the bar, its close affiliations with the climbing community, its support for Mountain Rescue volunteers and the challenges of operating a bar and restaurant in line with the Government's Covid-19 guidance.

In the latest edition of the Podcast, Simon Cousins take Skyetime on the road to visit a unique woodland outdoor learning centre - Corry Capers. The facility just outside Broadford is run by the Broadford and Strath Community Company. It provides free after-school and school holiday childcare. Corry Capers aims to allow local children to reconnect with nature and develop a greater awareness of the environment.  The project received over £160,000 of funding from the Aspiring Communities Fund. Eventually, the team plan to market Corry Capers as a commercial activity for families visiting the nearby campsite.
Simon meets the Outdoor Learning Centre Manager, Tracy Keenan along with play-workers, volunteers and, of course, the children who adore their woodland play and learning environment.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins talks to the newly appointed editor of the West Highland Free Press, Keith MacKenzie. The employee-owned newspaper has just re-launched its print version after three months of only publishing online after the Coronavirus lockdown hit sales and advertising.
In the interview, Keith talks about the challenges posed by Coronavirus and how the Free Press has covered one of the biggest stories on Skye in recent years with the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the Home Farm care home in Portree.
Keith also talks about his plans and aspirations for the newspaper as he publishes his first edition with a reassertion of the three key campaigning pillars of the West Highland Free Press - An Air, An Canan, 'S Na Daoine - the land, the language and the people.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins talks to the Chief Executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, Gordon Watson. In the interview Gordon talks about the development of the park over the last 18 years. He describes some of the tools the park uses to manage the visitor experience and deal with irresponsible or anti-social behaviour, and how some of these practices might be applied on Skye. He also explains the importance of investment in infrastructure and the vital role of the Ranger Service and volunteers in managing the visitor experience.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins reveals the results of a year-long economic impact assessment of the tourism industry on Skye along with detailed visitor, business and resident surveys.
Simon talks to the report authors, Professor John Lennon and Marina Martinolli of Glasgow Caledonian University's Moffat Centre - the UK's largest University-based research centre for the travel and tourism industry.
The research was commissioned by destination management organisation, SkyeConnect and Simon gets the reaction of Project Manager, Alistair Danter to the report's extensive findings. 

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins talks to hotelier, Clare Winskill about her varied career that has included time as an intensive care nurse and an insolvency lawyer in London. Her childhood love of the West Highlands eventually led her to Elgol where she runs Coruisk House with her partner, Iain. Clare is also a Director of SkyeConnect and has strong views on tourism post Covid-19.
Simon also talks to Sergeant Bruce Crawford of Police Scotland about the role of officers during lockdown and how they will be managing the increased population as visitors start to return to Skye.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins talks to two young stars of the Skye food scene - Calum Montgomery of Edinbane Lodge and John Coghill of the Hebridean Inn.
The two chefs reveal the career paths that brought them to where they are now and reflect on the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown that closed their businesses so soon after they had opened.
In the week when the Scottish Government relaxed social-distancing rules for the hospitality industry, Calum and John discuss their plans for re-opening their restaurants to customers.

In the latest edition of the Skyetime Podcast, Simon Cousins talks to Hugh Macleod of Dunvegan Castle and Gardens about the immense business challenges posed by Covid-19 and the plans for a partial re-opening of the visitor attraction this summer. The estate also runs the Glenbrittle Campsite and Hugh explains his tentative plans for the remainder of the year. Simon also meets Becky Milne of Camping Skye in Broadford, to discuss how the site will operate once it is opened. And, with an anticipated boom in camper-van visits this Summer and Autumn, Simon talks to Catherine Bunn about the work her company, Highland Campervans, is doing along with the industry body CAMPA to educate people hiring Campervans to minimise their impact on rural and island communities.