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dave_future_predatorThis is my Skye holiday post, whereupon we travelled very far away to a land of little internet.
We headed to Skye for a few days, it's a long drive from where we live, but we made a stop on the way to visit a couple of distilleries to pick up the Dalwhinnie 15-yr-old malt, and then next day passed through Glengarry, which is beautiful.
You can see what good weather we were having. It made up for realising just how far we were travelling. The sight of Eilan Donan castle was very welcome, as it's not far from where you leave the mainland and cross to the Isle of Skye.
Over the bridge to Skye and I was just gobsmacked by how beautiful it was. Been a long time since I've been. The hills are incredible. When we reached the campsite near Dunvegan we knew we'd picked a great spot. The view over the sea loch was perfect, and the first evening's sunset was spectacular.
The breakfast view was just as incredible.
Our first day we visited Dunvegan Castle, just a few miles up the road.
It's the seat of the MacLeods, and isn't the prettiest castle ever, but the setting is spectacular, and it has a curious artefact on display that I remember from when we visited Skye when I was about 5... The fairy flag. I don't think it actually is a flag, but it was incredible to see it. It's most likely a piece of 8th century Syrian silk, but it is most curious. It's practically in pieces, and has random red dots of embroidery on it. There are many tales of its origin and use, but I just love it, it's so old.
The boy and I walked round the back to get that picture and take a seal boat ride... Now this was cool. So close to the cute seals. Bless them.
Not far north of the castle is another curiosity - the coral beach. Among a coastline of black boulders, there's the most amazing pale beach.
It's made of bits of crushed up 'coral' and tiny, tiny shells. I've not seen anything like it. It's actually a coralline algae called maerl.
I was amazed at how well my camera took macro pics of the tiny shells. I sort of wanted to take them home but know they would have just got crushed up in a pocket, lol, so a picture is better!
We got another amazing sunset that night.
The next day we did another distillery (another stamp in the distillery passport, hahaha) and then found our way to the fairy pools. I had no idea what they were, to be honest, but it was amazing. The mist was down over the lonely valley, and you walked towards the Inaccessible Pinnacle (yes, really) and made your way up the stream, where you began to find views like this...
The water was so blue, the shapes in the rock very funny. Little round bowls, and deep pools. Plus scary bits...
And of course the thing to do is swim in the pools. Yes, it is freaking freezing. I thought my hand would drop off when I put it in the water for a few seconds. All the people we saw taking a dip with the faeries had wetsuits on *g* You can make out the bloke's head and feet, his dogs took a dip too, but the woman (in warm red) stayed out :)
Dave nearly took a dip...
Incredible place. And another sunset that night.
Our third full day we headed for Portree. Nice wee town. Finally some shops, omg. But we were heading north, on a dinosaur hunt. But first, a quick trip up to the the Old Man of Storr. You can't see it too well in the pic, but one of these bits of rock stands alone, so as you approach it looks like like a finger of rock. I think it's the triangle bit at the front. We decided to skip walking all the way up to see it from the side, but it was some place.
Up there we found one of the rarest plants in Scotland, Iceland Purslane. That'll be because it's so cold and remote up there, then!! MACRO pic *g*
Further up the spectacular coastline (I was driving, no pics! don't trust hubby to drive on wee windy roads like that... *g* ) we went down onto Staffin beach to look for the dino footprints. Of course, no one could see them. They were probably under the seaweed, wah! But you could see why that kind of rock would hold the prints. Here's other people searching too, lol. Dammit! All that way and no dino prints.
The next day we headed home, past the terrible hills called the Cuillins. From afar they look like something out of Lord of the Rings.
Closer up they are majestic.
And that was us then, just banging on down the road, did the return journey all in one day. We did stop to have lunch at Glengarry again, and had dinner past Glasgow where we stuck a candle in the yummy chocolate cake we'd bought at the Columba1400 cafe at Staffin and sang her Happy Birthday *g* We'd had the most amazing victoria sponge there (and free wifi that actually worked fast, unlike the campsite version, omg) and asked if we could buy cake to take away. The guy was so nice, he gave me a huge chunk of cake and charged me less than I'd expected, and even asked if I needed a candle! Bless. I'd taken our own candles and sprinkles, lol, so we were good. Brilliant chocolate cake!
And that was it! A great holiday. So relaxed (except when trying to use wifi) and lovely weather and not many midgies. I really enjoyed it. And I hope you liked seeing my pics :D
We headed to Skye for a few days, it's a long drive from where we live, but we made a stop on the way to visit a couple of distilleries to pick up the Dalwhinnie 15-yr-old malt, and then next day passed through Glengarry, which is beautiful.
You can see what good weather we were having. It made up for realising just how far we were travelling. The sight of Eilan Donan castle was very welcome, as it's not far from where you leave the mainland and cross to the Isle of Skye.
Over the bridge to Skye and I was just gobsmacked by how beautiful it was. Been a long time since I've been. The hills are incredible. When we reached the campsite near Dunvegan we knew we'd picked a great spot. The view over the sea loch was perfect, and the first evening's sunset was spectacular.
The breakfast view was just as incredible.
Our first day we visited Dunvegan Castle, just a few miles up the road.
It's the seat of the MacLeods, and isn't the prettiest castle ever, but the setting is spectacular, and it has a curious artefact on display that I remember from when we visited Skye when I was about 5... The fairy flag. I don't think it actually is a flag, but it was incredible to see it. It's most likely a piece of 8th century Syrian silk, but it is most curious. It's practically in pieces, and has random red dots of embroidery on it. There are many tales of its origin and use, but I just love it, it's so old.
The boy and I walked round the back to get that picture and take a seal boat ride... Now this was cool. So close to the cute seals. Bless them.
Not far north of the castle is another curiosity - the coral beach. Among a coastline of black boulders, there's the most amazing pale beach.
It's made of bits of crushed up 'coral' and tiny, tiny shells. I've not seen anything like it. It's actually a coralline algae called maerl.
I was amazed at how well my camera took macro pics of the tiny shells. I sort of wanted to take them home but know they would have just got crushed up in a pocket, lol, so a picture is better!
We got another amazing sunset that night.
The next day we did another distillery (another stamp in the distillery passport, hahaha) and then found our way to the fairy pools. I had no idea what they were, to be honest, but it was amazing. The mist was down over the lonely valley, and you walked towards the Inaccessible Pinnacle (yes, really) and made your way up the stream, where you began to find views like this...
The water was so blue, the shapes in the rock very funny. Little round bowls, and deep pools. Plus scary bits...
And of course the thing to do is swim in the pools. Yes, it is freaking freezing. I thought my hand would drop off when I put it in the water for a few seconds. All the people we saw taking a dip with the faeries had wetsuits on *g* You can make out the bloke's head and feet, his dogs took a dip too, but the woman (in warm red) stayed out :)
Dave nearly took a dip...
Incredible place. And another sunset that night.
Our third full day we headed for Portree. Nice wee town. Finally some shops, omg. But we were heading north, on a dinosaur hunt. But first, a quick trip up to the the Old Man of Storr. You can't see it too well in the pic, but one of these bits of rock stands alone, so as you approach it looks like like a finger of rock. I think it's the triangle bit at the front. We decided to skip walking all the way up to see it from the side, but it was some place.
Up there we found one of the rarest plants in Scotland, Iceland Purslane. That'll be because it's so cold and remote up there, then!! MACRO pic *g*
Further up the spectacular coastline (I was driving, no pics! don't trust hubby to drive on wee windy roads like that... *g* ) we went down onto Staffin beach to look for the dino footprints. Of course, no one could see them. They were probably under the seaweed, wah! But you could see why that kind of rock would hold the prints. Here's other people searching too, lol. Dammit! All that way and no dino prints.
The next day we headed home, past the terrible hills called the Cuillins. From afar they look like something out of Lord of the Rings.
Closer up they are majestic.
And that was us then, just banging on down the road, did the return journey all in one day. We did stop to have lunch at Glengarry again, and had dinner past Glasgow where we stuck a candle in the yummy chocolate cake we'd bought at the Columba1400 cafe at Staffin and sang her Happy Birthday *g* We'd had the most amazing victoria sponge there (and free wifi that actually worked fast, unlike the campsite version, omg) and asked if we could buy cake to take away. The guy was so nice, he gave me a huge chunk of cake and charged me less than I'd expected, and even asked if I needed a candle! Bless. I'd taken our own candles and sprinkles, lol, so we were good. Brilliant chocolate cake!
And that was it! A great holiday. So relaxed (except when trying to use wifi) and lovely weather and not many midgies. I really enjoyed it. And I hope you liked seeing my pics :D
