Skye
Monday 27th May
We woke to sunshine and the promise of a fine day. Skye is very much an island of peninsulas and as it is mountainous, the road follows the coast. Uig, the ferry port where we stayed overnight is located on the Trotternish Peninsula.
Not far north from last night’s camping spot was the Museum of Island Life. This consists of a cluster of thatched blackhouses, some of which are furnished to display how people lived and worked a hundred years ago. There was a wealth of information to read and lots of old photographs. The setting, on a hill overlooking the sea, was beautiful. Just up the hill from the museum was an ancient graveyard. Flora MacDonald, who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape following the defeat of his army to the Jacobites, is buried here.
We woke to sunshine and the promise of a fine day. Skye is very much an island of peninsulas and as it is mountainous, the road follows the coast. Uig, the ferry port where we stayed overnight is located on the Trotternish Peninsula.
Not far north from last night’s camping spot was the Museum of Island Life. This consists of a cluster of thatched blackhouses, some of which are furnished to display how people lived and worked a hundred years ago. There was a wealth of information to read and lots of old photographs. The setting, on a hill overlooking the sea, was beautiful. Just up the hill from the museum was an ancient graveyard. Flora MacDonald, who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape following the defeat of his army to the Jacobites, is buried here.
|
|
|
|
|
Nearby, Duntulm Castle, or rather the remains of it, are falling into the sea. A short walk to it gave dramatic views of what had once been a formidable fortress.
From here we continued clockwise along the scenic single track road to reach the Kilt Rock viewpoint. Here the rock forms pleats like on a kilt and the Mealt falls “sing or hum” as they plunge to the sea below. In the car park, a man in a real kilt was playing the bagpipes.
From here we continued clockwise along the scenic single track road to reach the Kilt Rock viewpoint. Here the rock forms pleats like on a kilt and the Mealt falls “sing or hum” as they plunge to the sea below. In the car park, a man in a real kilt was playing the bagpipes.
|
|
|
Our final stop for the day was at the Lealt Falls whose waters were once harnessed to power a factory (now in ruins) where dynamite was once produced.
Our night halt overlooking the Sound of Raasay with far reaching views to the Cullin Hills can only be described as awesome.
Our night halt overlooking the Sound of Raasay with far reaching views to the Cullin Hills can only be described as awesome.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday 28th May
Just passed where we stayed last night was one of Skye’s most famous natural sites, the Old Man of Storr. This is a column of rock that was left behind after a massive landslip. It is also one of Skye’s most visited sites and parking, even first thing in the morning was impossible. In any case, the walk from the car park is hard and steep and John’s legs would not have been up to it. We had to make do with photos from a distance!
We fared better for parking in Portree where we found a spot right by the water’s edge. We visited the Information Centre to access wifi and pick up information for the next stage of our travels – Scotland’s route 500. We fancied Fish & Chips for lunch, but unfortunately they'd had problems with the gas supply at the Fish Shop and were not open today.
After stopping at the co-op we headed on a circular route that would take us past the impressive jagged topped Culin Mountains. It was on a viewpoint car park that we found our stopping place for the night.
Just passed where we stayed last night was one of Skye’s most famous natural sites, the Old Man of Storr. This is a column of rock that was left behind after a massive landslip. It is also one of Skye’s most visited sites and parking, even first thing in the morning was impossible. In any case, the walk from the car park is hard and steep and John’s legs would not have been up to it. We had to make do with photos from a distance!
We fared better for parking in Portree where we found a spot right by the water’s edge. We visited the Information Centre to access wifi and pick up information for the next stage of our travels – Scotland’s route 500. We fancied Fish & Chips for lunch, but unfortunately they'd had problems with the gas supply at the Fish Shop and were not open today.
After stopping at the co-op we headed on a circular route that would take us past the impressive jagged topped Culin Mountains. It was on a viewpoint car park that we found our stopping place for the night.
|
|