Wa oot ... in teuchter land...
Trip Start
Apr 28, 2007
1
40
65
Trip End
Oct 26, 2007
Loading Map
Show trip route
Hide lines
Skye, United Kingdom
Monday, August 20, 2007
En route to Isle of Skye we spotted a walking track up a hill beside the loch to Cairn o "something" that we don't remember, and climbed for an hour or so to the first cairn. Then onto Skye which turned out to be Scotland's tourist capital with European number plates and many nationalities everywhere, especially at Portrees which is a picturesque fishing village where we stayed for just one night. The bonus there was free wi-fi, and the weather was now bonnier and temperatures in the mid teens.
Skye is the home of Scotland's Gaelic renaissance. There is a Gaelic university there and the road signs are in Gaelic, though usually spelt out in English too for those of us who are less well educated. Interestingly, 60% of the names in Skye are Nordic in origin. The heather was glorious and the Highland sheep gigantic. Brian even entered into the spirit of it all - see photo! Some might say "a right soss", which is Scots for a "proper mess" and in need of a comb.
Dunvegan Castle is in the north west corner of Skye, and has been home of the McLeods for the odd generation or two - 29 at the last count. We did the tour, and were told it is a castle still occupied by the McLeod laird. It comes complete with its own dungeon now equipped with mannequins which moan groan and cough as they lie dying. Clearly in long past previous generations, the dungeon was used as it was intended.
The west coast of Scotland is so very different from the east coast where Jen had spent so much time previously. Both Lavender and Ros had encouraged us to visit this side of the country, and we left very glad we had been and seen. It is magnificent wild scenery, and whereas the east coast is characterised by granite-y hewn stone buildings, the west coast buildings, though still stone, are whitewashed and simple.
