To the Isle of Skye

October 13, 2012

We had a lovely day of driving.  We left Oban with slightly cloudy skies with a little drizzle, but later it turned sunny.  We made our way along Loch Linnhe and Loch Lochy to Fort William via Connel, Benderloch, Barcaldine and Appin.  We saw Picot Castle Stalker down in the flats, Duror, Kentallen, Onich, and finally Fort William. 

We drove through the Highlands from Fort William to Corpach, Kinocheil, Glenfinnan, Lochailort, Airsag, and Morar to Malliag.  From Malliag we took the ferry to Armadale to the Isle of Skye.  The ferry was very nice, the scenery was beautiful.  Once off the ferry we drove through Kilbeg, Kilmore, Duisdale More, Ghlais, Harrapool, Broadford, Strollamus, Dunan, Ard Dorch, Luib, Sconser, and Sligacham to Portree.

The scenery on our drive today was breathtaking.  I know we’ve said the scenery is beautiful everywhere we’ve gone, (except Belfast) but the drive today was stunning.  Here are some pictures bc took.

You know how sometimes you’ll tell a little fib?  Just to make someone feel better.  Then it turns into something like a lie?  Remember when I told bc that the waterfall we saw in the Kerry National Forest in Ireland was the Torc Waterfall?  Well, now whenever he sees a waterfall he says “Is that the Torc Waterfall?”  I always say “yes”.  And yesterday we saw so many Torc waterfalls that I told bc that Torc means “moving” in Gaelic.  It just slipped out so easily the little lie.  Oh well.  He’s happy with all the waterfalls and they really are beautiful.     

Outside of Portree we found our way to the B&B “The Spoons.”  We are in the lap of luxury here.  We have the most amazing view from our room.   

We went to a local Inn for dinner.  The Edinbane Inn is a restyled farm house.  I had the best salad for dinner.  Warm spinach with chickpeas (garbanzo beans) and grilled halloumi.  Halloumi is a firm cheese.  The chickpeas weren’t all dry and boring; they were marinated in vinaigrette.  The whole thing was fabulous.  Bc had loin of lamb which was cooked to perfection.  We were celebrating Mike and Jenn's 5th wedding anniversary.  We waited and waited for them to show up for dinner.  But I guess they couldn't get a babysitter.  

After dinner we went into the little pub attached to the Inn and talked with the locals.  We met Mary Dougherty MacSwan and John Macraild.  Claire Marriott is the bartender.  Mary is quite the character.  We sure loved sitting and getting to know her.  She has 5 children all over the place.  Mary comes in to the bar every night to have a vodka and water.  When I asked her what kind of vodka she prefers she said “the cheapest.”  She rolled her own cigarette and we followed her outside to get a picture.  John drinks one orange soda per evening.  This is what is so wonderful about going on your own to new places.  Mary told us that she didn’t like the schools in Glasgow so she moved her kids up here to the Isle of Skye.  She wrote to tell her husband but the letter didn’t get to him.  So when he went home to Glasgow the neighbor told him, “Your family moved.  That’s not your house anymore.”  Love it!

Today we are out and about to visit the sites around here.  Tonight we will eat at the 3 Chimneys.  It should be fun. 

Take care, bc and gc