Lizards, snakes, turtles – right in the middle of the Scottish Highlands. The Skye Serpentarium is home to animals confiscated by customs at airports or abandoned by their owners. The owners also run a breeding programme for rare species.
UPDATE: Unfortunately, the Serpentarium has been permanently closed to visitors since October 2015 and now exists only as an animal rescue centre. The building itself is now home to a very good takeaway.
The people who work at Reptile World care about one thing above all: giving visitors an understanding of the fate of animals that are smuggled or killed for bags, shoes and belts. Alongside the living animals, there’s therefore also a curious display of boots and similar – mostly rather tasteless – items of clothing made from them.
Here you learn, for instance, that turtles are smuggled in huge numbers. The animals are packed shell upon shell – and the ones at the bottom are often crushed.
Personal note: unassuming but varied
This certainly isn’t a major attraction you’d spend hours at. But it’s charming and varied. I enjoyed it so much that I became a sponsor for one of the turtles on the spot, and have since received regular (genuinely worthwhile) updates about the Skye Serpentarium.
By the way, don’t be surprised that only one exterior photo exists here. Photos of the animals would only have worked with flash – and we didn’t want to do that.
Did you know: privately run
The Skye Serpentarium has existed since 1991 and is run by the Shearer family. Luck hasn’t always been on their side: a fire once destroyed the entire breeding facility (not the building housing the exhibition) along with the animals in it.
Tips: a snake in your arms
If you’re genuinely interested in the stories behind the lizards and Reptile World, you might be lucky enough to be allowed to hold a snake.
Next door there’s a coffee shop called “The Watermill”, in case you get hungry.
Getting there:
Coming along the A87 from the Skye Bridge and Kyleakin, the building is on the left near Broadford. It’s marked with a large, colourful sign, so it’s hard to miss. There’s a free car park right outside.
