Ardnamurchan Point, 5 Bikers and 7 Trees

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We were up at 8am for breakfast Tuesday, and took the 8007, mostly single track road to Ardnamurchan Point Lighthouse. It was a long, desolate but beautiful drive, taking a couple of hours to reach the most westerly point on Great Britian. The road was narrow so Suzi (or the other driver) had to pull to the side of the road for the other to pass (and usually with a wave). It was very foggy when we arrived but made the lighthouse look mysterious. Our guide took us to the top and told us its history; which was built in 1849 by the Stevenson family. We saw the engine room, foghorn, keepers cottage and exhibition centre. While we were at the top, the fog lifted and the weather was clear and warm. The isles of Muck, Eigg and Rhum were finally visable to us.

We got back on the road and while I was videotaping from the passengers seat, there were bikers on the right hand side. They were waving for us to stop. Thank goodness we did. All of a sudden a sheep came out of nowhere to our left and passed in front of the car. Good thing they warned us or there would have been road kill. The bikers were the only other motorists we saw on the way back and we saw them a couple of times. We got on the A861 north and stopped to view the 7 Trees located by Loch Moidart. It is a row of beech trees representing the 7 Men of Moidart that accompanied Bonnie Prince Charlie on his journey during the 2nd Jacobite Uprising in 1745. Only 5 of the 7 trees remain but were in poor condition.

We caught the car ferry in Mallaig that took us over to the Isle of Skye. Guess who were on the ferry and sat right behind us? The 5 bikers. I couldn't help but keep staring since I was facing them. I regret not talking or attempting to talk to them. We think they may have been German. We got off the ferry in Skye, headed north and stopped for a couple of reasons, one being that Suzi had to use the pay phone. We found the Limestone Cottage B&B in Broadford which we would be staying at for 3 nights. Yea, 3 nights of not packing! It was ivy covered and ended up being one of our favorites. Our 2nd floor room had a slanted ceiling with a sunroof.

For dinner, we went to the Claymore Restaurant. We were enjoying our meal when we heard the sound of.... motorcycles! We of course peered our heads out the window and the 5 of them zoomed by! We really thought it was a sign! That night we walked down the road in the rain to Dunollie Hotel's Crowlin Bar. There were mostly couples. We were hoping to see the bikers there. We thought for sure we would see them again to talk. But alas, it wasn't meant to be. We never saw them again.

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Photos

Lonely road of Ardnamurchin Peninsula
Another road of desolate and dramatic scenery.

Ardnamurchin Point
This was the view from the parking lot of the road we traveled.

Ardnamurchin Point Lighthouse
Before the fog lifted.

At the top of the lighthouse
It was even foggier at the top. Suzi and I couldn't see the isles.

The fog is lifting
Around the lighthouse. This was really cool as we watched.

Ardnamurchin Point Lighthouse
The fog has lifted! This is the only Egyptian style lighthouse in the world. (according to sources)

The 7 Men (Trees) of Moidart
Only 4 are actually intact.

Sound of Sleat
On our way to catch the ferry we saw some pretty scenery like this.

Off a road on The Isle of Skye
This was where we stopped and used a phone right in the middle of nowhere!

Loch Ainart
This was the view from our Glass Bottom Boat Tour.