After our all too brief time in Oban and on Mull and Iona, we traveled north to the Isle of Skye. A lunch stop along the way was at Fort William where we visited the local Scottish Episcopal Church (St. Andrew’s).
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Fort William, Scotland
We were fascinated by the church’s baptistry and the tiles around the altar, which depicted various biblical tales. Our photos of the church are here.
Along the A87 roadway from Fort William to the Isle of Skye, we encountered this lay-by where many people have built small stone cairns. We have tried to find out what this is all about … but alas, no luck.
Small Cairns along side A87 Highway in Scotland
In any event, these small piles of stacked stones are fascinating. Here are the pictures.
Just before crossing over to the Isle of Skye (on a bridge, which some argue renders Skye no longer an island but now a headland), one passes through Kyle of Lochalsh where Eilean Donan Castle is located. We stopped and toured the castle – unfortunately, one cannot take photographs inside the castle. (This is true of many Scottish castles.)
Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
Our photos of the outside (and some parts of the interior were photos are allowed) are here.
Arriving at our B&B, we checked in and then wandered down into the village of Portree to have an excellent dinner at a local pub called “The Isles”. The next morning our B&B host (Bob) asked what our plans were, and we asked his advice. He recommended that we go north to Uig and, on the way, visit what he called “the Faerie Glen” – an area of miniature trees, miniature hills, and a small loch. It is unsigned, so he gave us directions – one takes a single-track road through someone’s farm yard, around a bend with “crash barricades” and then (said Bob) “You’ll know when you’re there.” And, indeed, we did.
The Faerie Glen, Isle of Skye
It is a very lovely, very strange little place … and apparently it is unique; so far as Bob knows, there is no other place like it on the whole of Skye. Here are our photographs of the Glen.
After visiting the Glen we drove into the village and visited the Uig Brewery and the Uig Pottery. Unfortunately, the brewery offers neither tours nor samples… but the pottery is wide open to public view and makes exquisite hand-thrown, hand-painted porcelains. We bought a fruit bowl!
Castle Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Scotland
And then we drove back south turning west before reaching Portree and visited Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. Again, interior photos were not allowed. Here are our photos of the exterior and the grounds. I’m sure these gardens are exquisite in the spring!
Next on our route around the Isle of Skye was our first visit to a whisky distillery – Talisker. This was a real take-you-through-the-plant tour – not an “experience” such as Jemison’s in Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland. Our guide, Pat, was really good and explained the process of whisky making very well. And, of course, we got a taste and Evie discovered she likes smokey Scotch whisky (she’d already discovered – back in Glasgow – that she likes Drambuie, a sweet liquor made from Scotch). Here are the photos of Talisker. Unfortunately, none of them are of the interior of the distillery. Pat explained that digital photography and cell phones are not allowed in the distillery because such devices can set off explosions in the alcohol-drenched atmosphere of the plant! So no photos and cell phones have to be turned off. (The same thing was required at another distillery we later toured.)
Talisker Distillery, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Once we were done at Talisker, it was time to go on back to Portree. The landscape of Skye is dramatic and it was a very picturesque drive. Unfortunately, my camera just doesn’t do landscapes very well (or maybe its the photographer), so we have no photos of the Skye countryside. We wandered around Portree for a while, visiting souvenir shops (but not buying anything) and eventually having dinner at the Bistro in the Bosville Hotel. Then it was back to the B&B and to bed.
The next day we left for Inverness – and that will be in another blog entry.
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