Chapter 2-DAY 8-Wick to Skye

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WICK TO SKYE

Today we left the north eastern top of Scotland (Wick) and headed across country (and down) to the western Inner Hebrides island of Skye. Conditions when we started we reasonable and we were able to see a few of the massive North Sea Oil Riggs on the horizon. After about half an hour we hit the bad weather, in particular heavy rain and mist. After initially retracing our steps down the coast we turned inland and headed for Shin Falls.
The country was beautiful, with lush forest and plenty of ferns and other greenery. For much of the trip we were flanked by rivers and or streams. In a way the drive was more spectacular because of the amount of water, the streams, rivers were running fast and high and there were many small streams and waterfalls cascading down the hillsides.

SHIN FALLS
At Shin Falls we stopped to look at the falls and river. Although we didn’t see any the river was one that salmon run up when they return to their spawning grounds. On a slightly bizarre note there was a life size wax figure of Mohamed Al Fayed in full Scottish regalia (kilt and all) in the middle of the gift shop. Mac Fayed owns an estate nearby – castle and all. We purchased a stone plate that was made locally in the Highlands and has a real sense of Scotland (we think) and then headed for the small west coast fishing village of Ullapool where we had a very nice fish and chip lunch before continuing our journey south to the Isle of Skye-the misty island.

ISLE OF SKYE
The Isle of Skye is connected to the mainland by a bridge, so no drama getting across.
We stayed in the capital city (town of 7000 people) Portree and our accommodation is interesting to say the least, its upstairs in an old Pub in the centre of town. We had to pack an overnight bag because our suit cases wouldn’t fit up the stairs or in our room so they had to stay on the bus! Needless to say the rooms aren’t huge! A few people were a bit grumpy about it but we don’t care – it’s all very new and exciting for us, and staying in an old style traditional Pub (with all its quirks) on the Isle of Skye off the Scottish coast is pretty cool
After dinner, despite the terrible weather we headed off on a tour of Skye with local guide John, who as an aside had the biggest ears I’ve ever seen (cartoon characters excluded)! He was a real character and gave a colourful and at times hilarious account of the life and history of the Island and its people. The tour took two hours and it was two hours very well spent.
The Orkneys were flat, with lush productive land covering much of the Islands, they had very few trees. By contrast Skye is rugged and mountainous with only small tracts of fertile lowland. It was a very tough existence for the crofters (tenant farmers) in the early years until they too we forced off the land and to immigrate like their northern brothers .
Weather-wise Skye is right in the Gulf Stream so winter temperatures are relatively kind (still can get to negative degrees), it is however extremely windy with gusts approaching 200 miles an hour recorded! Oh and it rains a lot-the misty Isles!

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Photos

Mac Fayed
life size wax figure of Mohamed Al Fayed at Shin Falls gift store in the Highlands

Crofters Cottage
Typical cottage that was lived in by tennant farmers and their families - often families of 10 people lived in these one room dwellings.

Isle of Skye
spectacular scenery - very wet!

Comments

[Terence]

Beer
Whilst in Scotland if you got to a bottlestore or supermarket try a Fraoch Heather Ale. Brewed in Scotland since 2000BC, I remember I had one whilst I was on the Isle of Skye. Oh and Fenson is your captain, didn't have money on my phone to text you back.