IT is the height of the tourist season and visitors are lured over the sea by its romantic Fairy Pools, the drama of the Cuillins and its sandy beaches.
But as these pictures show, the Isle of Skye is at risk of becoming overrun with tourists as its population soars six-fold over the summer.
Thousands of tourists clogged the narrow roads as the island – experiencing one of its busiest summer spells ever – struggled to cope.
It has become increasingly popular with “Instagrammers” as travel surveys regularly place its 639sq miles of wild coastline, castles and majestic scenery as among the top islands in the world to visit.
A combination of a rise in stay-at-home holidays and easy access to the island – the £11.40 return toll was scrapped in 2014 – has left it bursting at the seams.
As its summer population soars from 10,000 to more than 60,000, hotels and campsites have had to turn away guests, while some businesses have complained about day trippers who arrive for just a few hours, cramming roads and overflowing car parks, before leaving without spending a penny.
There have also been claims that tourists have caused more damage to the island’s fragile landscape over the past two years than in the previous 50.
It has led to calls for a tourist tax aimed at generating income to help provide infrastructure upgrades.
But Highland Council official have said a change in law would be needed – an option not available.
The local Federation of Small Businesses has rejected the tourist tax suggestion, arguing it would be wrong to tax the island’s customers.
The influx has led to calls for a 30-year strategy to help create a modern infrastructure and island facilities to cope with the rising numbers of visitors.
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