AUTHOR Neil Gaiman has admitted travelling 12,000 miles from New Zealand to his Scottish holiday home despite lockdown restrictions.

The Good Omens and American Gods writer flouted Holyrood rules so he could “isolate” on Skye, leaving his wife and son in Auckland.

The English-born author wrote on his blog that he travelled to Scotland last week after he and his wife agreed "that we needed to give each other some space".

Gaiman said he flew "masked and gloved, from empty Auckland airport" to Los Angeles before heading to London. From there, he borrowed a friend’s car and drove to Skye.

The author wrote: "I drove north, on empty motorways and then on empty roads, and got in about midnight, and I've been here ever since.

"I needed to be somewhere I could talk to people in the UK while they and I were awake, not just before breakfast and after dinner. And I needed to be somewhere I could continue to isolate easily.

"It's rough for almost everyone right now – some people are crammed together and wish they weren't, some are alone and crave companionship, pretty much all of us are hurting in one way or another. So be kind."

READ MORE: Coronavirus death toll at Portree care home rises to 10

Gaiman, who has described Skye as his ideal location to write, made the journey despite a deadly coronavirus outbreak at a care home on the island. A total of 10 residents have now died at the Home Farm care home, with 29 staff members also testing positive for the virus.

Local MP Ian Blackford condemned the writer’s decision. He asked: "What is it about people, when they know we are in the middle of lockdown that they think they can come here from the other side of the planet, in turn endangering local people from exposure to this infection that they could have picked up at any step of the way?

"To descend on this island at this time, when we have a serious outbreak which has resulted in such tragic circumstances – it pays scant respect to the families of the bereaved and the people who live here."

READ MORE: Ian Blackford says 'stay away' after author's 12,000 mile trip to Skye

Gaiman was also accused of encouraging people to travel to their second home on Twitter.

One person wrote: "It is still lockdown here in Scotland... would love to be able to visit my family and friends... but can't and won't. Sorry but this is not on."

Another person wrote: "Whilst I appreciate you're going through relationships drama, I would have hoped that your common sense wouldn't have eluded you. Scotland is in lockdown, no unnecessary travel."

The author responded: "I'm currently a UK taxpayer and on the Scottish voting rolls. I went home."