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Published: February 12th 2007
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It was hazy and cold Wednesday morning as we started out. We booked a Glass Bottom Boat Tour for 10:30am. We had to board a minibus to Broadford Pier. The boat was small and fit about 10 of us and went out in the bay. We didn't see anything too exciting, only small fish, plants and some birds, though the mountain scenery was very nice. Complimentary tea, coffee and shortbread were offered.
We got on the A87 past Portree driving the Trotternish Peninsula counter- clockwise, approaching the Old Man of Storr first. It is a rock formation that is 165 feet high. We took some pictures, then drove about 10 miles north to view the 300 foot tall Mealt Waterfall and Kilt Rock, which by the way, does resemble a kilt. This rock is made of black basalt columns that forms the pleat-like features. The viewing area was fenced off which means it must be dangerous because alot of places in Scotland doen't have fences or rails. We also heard a strange noise coming from the sea that was probably a boat but we couldn't see it and it seemed spooky. Driving further north we took a road at Staffin
Old Man of Stoer
The Trotternish Peninsula has some rugged and unique scenery. that went through the peninsula and we approached the Quirang: 950 foot mountains with weird formations. This road was narrow with hairpen bends. There was a small car park at the top and when we got out, we were literally pushed forward by the strong winds! The formations have names like The Prison, The Needle and a flat area in the middle called The Table. The scenery was desolate but spectacular and I could barely stand up because of the winds.
After here we drove to the ruinous Duntulm Castle that was home to the MacDonalds in 1732 and was abandoned because of ghosts. This was also a dangerous area and is supposed to be very haunted with 3 ghosts. One being of a nursemaid who held a baby boy out the window to see ships. She accidently dropped him to his death to the sea below!. This is why I don't like to hold babies! We parked along the road and took a muddy path and there is only a couple of walls standing but it is also in a dramatic position on a cliff beside the sea.
We drove the road from the Skye Museum to
Loch Ainart
View from our glass bottom boat tour the Cemetery and saw the graves of Flora MacDonald and an unfinished Piper's grave that was eerie to me. Flora is said to be buried in a sheet slept in by Bonnie Prince Charlie. We finished the peninsula and stopped in Portree for an earl dinner. That evening we went out to the Crowlin Bar again and we saw a guy that reminded us of our favorite actor, Sean Bean so we named him "Fake Sean". A guy came over to talk to us and then his 2 friends joined us. They were very nice and we chatted until the bar closed.
We were awoken early Thursday morning by the hard rain pounding on the sunroof right above our heads. We got on the A87 and it was still rainy and foggy but warmer. We saw a waterfall and rainbow on Loch Ainart before heaing on the A863 to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. Sitting by Loch Dungevan, this castle dates back to 1200 and is the only home in Scotland to have kept the same family name through the centuries. The attraction is the yellow, torn, silk Fairy Flag on display that dates back to the 4th and 7th
Isle of Skye
Near the sea chasm on the Trotternish Peninsula centuries AD. We got to tour 5 of the 6 areas because the family has offices in the 6th area. We also walked the gardens and the flowers were in bloom.
We stopped in a shop in St. Kilda and at Skye Silver. It was early when we returned to Broadford, so I did some laundry since we were on day 21 and we still had 9 days to go. There was also internet service here along with a supermarket beside it.
That night we again went out to the Crowlin Bar and saw alot of famous look-a-likes including a fake Nich Lachey, Brad Pitt, Alexei Morozov (hockey player), and another Sean Bean. We had a fun time and got back to the B&B around midnight.
Friday morning at breakfast, we met 2 girls both named Christine from Germany who were also touring the Highlands. We had a good laugh and they gave Suzi a book from the "Outlander" series. Thank you. Before leaving Skye, we made a visit to the Skye Serpentarium. It was a small building that had around 50 snakes, iguanas and frogs that had been rescued from abandonment or illegally imported. We got
Mealt Waterfall
It is falls 300 feet a Snake Handling Session and held a snake in our arms. She was warm and her name was Goldie, a tame Python. That was quite an experience!
The weather was rainy and cool as we crossed the Skye Bridge over the Kyle of Lochalash to Dornie. The most photographed castle in Scotland, Eilean Donan is here. It sits on Loch Duich and was built in 1220. There was an exhibition and then a self guided tour of the billeting room, banqueting hall, bedrooms and a recreated kitchen. What I love about this one is the long, stone causeway leading to the entrance.
We drove to Plockton because we read that is was a pretty village with palm trees by Loch Carron. We saw Loch Ewe on our way to Altbea to our hotel of the same name. We were playing a game of Frustration in the lounge when we heard the sound of bagpipes. Out the window was a woman walking the road playing bagpipes which was kind of different. It was an early night for us as the hotel bar only had a few people.
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