We began our day with a lovely breakfast in the Skeabost dining room. Then we headed northwest thru countryside dotted with little white houses and stopped by the ruins of St. Mary’s Church. I went thru the kissing gate and was just beginning to explore when Ray shouted to hurry back to the car, we were about to get drenched. We made it jus tin time as the rain came pouring down bringing hail with it. So we decided to check out some campsites as we have decided that Glenbrittle is too remote for someone addicted to blogging and emailing—that would be me. Not even one bar on my cellphone!
There was the Kinloch campsite near Dunvegan that we liked very much, so we are keeping it in mind. We saw lots more sheep today—in the fields, on the road, jumping over each other to get out of the road. The baby lambs are so adorable--black faced, white faced. So cute.
We decided to head on out to Neist Point Lighthouse before another band of rain came through. This is the lighthouse that we came to see in December of 2006, I think, and a storm came up with winds so high that I couldn’t make my way down the path and the waterfall on the opposite shore got blown BACKWARDS back up the mountainside. Ray’s weather eye worked very well today and we had a lovely time climbing all the way down the cliff to see the lighthouse up close. Cold wind in our faces the whole way, but it was fun, even though it was a very long and steep way down and back up again.
There was the Kinloch campsite near Dunvegan that we liked very much, so we are keeping it in mind. We saw lots more sheep today—in the fields, on the road, jumping over each other to get out of the road. The baby lambs are so adorable--black faced, white faced. So cute.
We decided to head on out to Neist Point Lighthouse before another band of rain came through. This is the lighthouse that we came to see in December of 2006, I think, and a storm came up with winds so high that I couldn’t make my way down the path and the waterfall on the opposite shore got blown BACKWARDS back up the mountainside. Ray’s weather eye worked very well today and we had a lovely time climbing all the way down the cliff to see the lighthouse up close. Cold wind in our faces the whole way, but it was fun, even though it was a very long and steep way down and back up again.
Got to see sheep up close, took lots of pictures of the lighthouse, and courageously stood on the edge of the cliff to look down at the crashing waves. I think I read somewhere that the 100-year-old lighthouse walls are 3 feet thick and it stands 62 feet high and 140 feet above the sea. Before it was constructed (by a relative of Robert Louis Stevenson, no less) many ships crashed in this area. Now the light in the tower provides light equivalent to 480,000 candles and can be seen 24 miles away. You can’t go into the lighthouse as it is private property, but you can stay overnight in one of the cottages, but the thought of dragging luggage down the cliff doesn’t sound very appealing for me, and Ray doesn’t like to stay on the edges of cliffs, so we marked that off our list.
The rock formations here are very interesting, and it is said that, supposedly, the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland extends to here. We will be seeing that when we visit Ireland in October.
Stopped off at the Fairy Bridge. This is the bridge in the legend about the MacLeod clan chief who fell in love with and married a woman from the fairy people. Her father, the Fairy King, would only allow her to stay with the MacLeod chief for one year and a day. In that time, she gave birth to a child and when she had to leave, she was heartbroken. She crossed this bridge in tears. So her fairy father told her that if the baby ever cried and needed her, she could go to him. The legend says that once when the nursemaid was out of the room, the fairy mother heard her baby crying and returned to him. When the nursemaid came back into the room, she found the baby wrapped in a lovely silk fabric. This fabric has been known as the “fairy flag” ever since, and the legend says that it was promised to save the MacLeod three times if called upon to do so. It has been used twice already to help the MacLeods win battles.
Here at the Fairy Bridge is said to be dancing fairies that spook horses and sing to the cows. Three murders have happened here and it was considered an evil place at night until a minister held a large prayer meeting here and nothing spooky has happened since.
Headed to Uig to check out another campsite but didn’t like it very much. Another storm blew in bringing more hail while we were there. From Uig, we decided to take the secret road to Staffin. It’s not really secret, but most people don’t know about it and it isn’t named or numbered, so it is kind of hard to find. It’s a very narrow single-track road, only wide enough for one car, so when you meet someone on the road, one of you has to pull over into the “passing place” to allow the other to go by before you continue.
Our treat for going the back way? We came out right under the Quiraing! Standing at the northern end of the Trotternish Ridge, it is composed of basalt and landslips and centuries of weathering have resulted in fantastic rock formations and shattered pinnacles. It contains “The Prison,” “The Needle,” and “The Table” where up to 4000 cattle were once hidden from marauders. There are tales of ghostly sightings and giants who live here. Can’t wait to climb up for the amazing views.
We decided to try to find the Staffin Cottage we will be staying in at the end of May. We drove down what we thought was the correct road and found this horrible cottage all run-down, and I nearly freaked out until we realized that we forgot to make a turn. OUR cottage is very cute and very well taken care of. Looking forward to our stay here when we can do some hiking up in the Quiraing. Tried to find the owner’s (Paul & Helen Webster) house, but we were less successful. We have to meet them to get the key.
Saw the Old Man of Storr on the way into Portree to the Aros Centre. Here we set up the laptop and got online to check emails, etc. I bought a couple of books on Skye and we ate dinner at the restaurant—I ordered the open faced toasted panini with Cajun chicken once again. So good.
Back to the hotel for an evening of movies and snacks. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll do the hotel grounds tour.
***pictures from top: Cliffs near Neist Point, Neist Point Lighthouse sitting out on its peninsula, last part of the climb back to the top, the Quiraing
Headed to Uig to check out another campsite but didn’t like it very much. Another storm blew in bringing more hail while we were there. From Uig, we decided to take the secret road to Staffin. It’s not really secret, but most people don’t know about it and it isn’t named or numbered, so it is kind of hard to find. It’s a very narrow single-track road, only wide enough for one car, so when you meet someone on the road, one of you has to pull over into the “passing place” to allow the other to go by before you continue.
Our treat for going the back way? We came out right under the Quiraing! Standing at the northern end of the Trotternish Ridge, it is composed of basalt and landslips and centuries of weathering have resulted in fantastic rock formations and shattered pinnacles. It contains “The Prison,” “The Needle,” and “The Table” where up to 4000 cattle were once hidden from marauders. There are tales of ghostly sightings and giants who live here. Can’t wait to climb up for the amazing views.
We decided to try to find the Staffin Cottage we will be staying in at the end of May. We drove down what we thought was the correct road and found this horrible cottage all run-down, and I nearly freaked out until we realized that we forgot to make a turn. OUR cottage is very cute and very well taken care of. Looking forward to our stay here when we can do some hiking up in the Quiraing. Tried to find the owner’s (Paul & Helen Webster) house, but we were less successful. We have to meet them to get the key.
Saw the Old Man of Storr on the way into Portree to the Aros Centre. Here we set up the laptop and got online to check emails, etc. I bought a couple of books on Skye and we ate dinner at the restaurant—I ordered the open faced toasted panini with Cajun chicken once again. So good.
Back to the hotel for an evening of movies and snacks. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll do the hotel grounds tour.
***pictures from top: Cliffs near Neist Point, Neist Point Lighthouse sitting out on its peninsula, last part of the climb back to the top, the Quiraing
