The Road tp Skye

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The Isle of Skye -- September 9, 10, 11, 2009
To visit Scotland is also to visit the Highlands. Early on the 9th we set off with Highland Experience Tours, which included an excellent guide (who had lived in Montreal & Toronto for 5 years before returning to Scotland) and a small number of other travelers. First we journed through Rob Roy territory, passing Stirling Castle, which is one of the most photgraphed castles in Scotland. and up to the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor to Glencoe. We travlelled past Fort William (It was considered that whoever controlled Fort William controlled Scotland) and along "The Road to the Isles" and finally over the bridge to the Isle of Skye.

The next day we travelled around the island taking in some fantastic scenery, the Cuillin Mountains, the Quiraing and Trotternish penninsula. Our departure from the island was via a road that only a small vechile could manage down to a small ferry. We continued onward towards Loch Ness stopping at Eilean Donan Castle.

On day three we took a boat cruise on Loch Ness. Our skipper had participated in most of the scearches for Nessie the Loch Ness Monster. His explainatiions of the searches, the photos of the monster and very plausable explainations for each of the photos was very convincing that there was no monster. Never-the-less people will continue to hope that Nessie really does exist. We continued our journey through Inverness, stopping at Culloden Battlefield. (Where the Scots under Bonnie Prince Charlie lost to the English). In the town of Pitlochry some of our group went off for a tour of whiskey tour; we passed I have been on enough wine tours that I'd rather settle for just tasting the final product.

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Photos

Robert the Bruce
This is a statue of Robert the Bruce who eventually defeated the English

Commando Statue
In the 2nd World War British Commandos were trained in the Scottish Highlands. This Statue commerates their sacrific and bravery

Town in Scotland
This was one of the tows we stopped at on our way to Skye. Looking out over the harbour to the sea

Fairy Land
One of the spots we stopped at on the Isle was said to be inhabited by Fairies.

Isle of Skye
Rolling landscape carpeted in green

Isle of Skye
One can see how the winds have shaped the land

Fishing Village
We stopped here for luch and were served the largest fish and chips we have ever seen. One serving would feed 2 people comfortably.

Heather
No matter where one looks in the Highlands you will see heather

Loch Ness
This Castle was destroyed by the English after the Scot lost at the Battle of Culloden

The Battle of Culloden
On the battle field one can see where the English were positioned and where the Jacobites were plus where various leaders of scottish clans fell

An Ancient Cairn
There are a number of ancient cairns ins Scotland built 3 to 4,000 years ago. They were burial places. This is a shot looking inot the centre of the Cairn.

Ancient Cairns
This sign provides some history about the cairns. Unfortunately little is known about the people who built the cairns.