UK's Northern Gem: Scotland

The places we visited gave us a wonderful glimpse of Scotland's rugged beauty. It also made us realise that we would want to come back again.  We began our 3.5 day trek with a flight from Gatwick to Inverness. Our taxi cab ride was interesting. To say the driver had a communication problem would be an understatement.  Kat kept saying that he sounded like either some cartoon character (still to be identified) or someone speaking under water.  It was interesting that he was able to communicate 2 fare changes in the course of our 1.5 hr ride. Pretty difficult to enter into a discussion with someone you can't understand.  As it was he got us there at 8:20 AM and (wait for it) our flight was at 9:05 AM.  There was the mad dash across the airport to check-in, some tense moments when they confirmed whether they could re-open the gate to check my extra bag, and the "fun" of going through the final gate before boarding.  As we sat down in the plane we heaved a sigh of relief that contrary to Al's thinking (100%, we are going to miss this flight) we were in fact on board and ready to fly the 1.5 hr flight to Inverness. Once in Inverness we took the airport bus to the central bus station where we would pick up our tour bus. The plan was to take a 3.5 hr tour of Loch Ness, which would also include walking through the ruins of Urquhart Castle.  The timing was going to be tight as we were booked to bus for 3.5 hrs from Inverness to Portree and we didn't want to miss the last bus.  The beauty of a "plan" is being able to be flexible and not allowing "obstacles" to defeat you.  After all if we had given in to obstacles we would still be in that taxi from Southampton to Gatwick arguing with a taxi driver and still trying to figure out how in the world he gets through life.

In the end we took the 2.5 hr  Loch Nessa/Urquhart Castle cruise/tour and gave ourselves ample time to catch the Portree bus.  Sadly, there were no sightings of Nessie as we cruised Loch Ness, but the beautiful countryside that borders Loch Ness more than made up for it. Green rolling hills, picturesque houses (curiously, always white) scattered throughout and of course the never ending presence of sheep and more sheep.

Nature's beauty

Our bus driver didn't stop so we had to walk back to pick up our Loch Ness Tour

View from the boat

Roadside view

Clansman Hotel:  cruise starts here

Castle view

Urquart Castle still impressive even after all this time.

The next stop on our Scotland trip was Portree and the beginning of our discovery of Isle of Skye.  We booked  a Bed & Breakfast on line for two nights.  We were greatly anticipating this trip and things were looking up when the owner Gillian offered to arrange pick up from the bus station.  Her husband Gavin pulled up in a styling Audi and drove us to the B&B.  Turns out that in a small town of 2 - 3 thousand people most people know each other. It was no surprise that Mickey from M2 Motors (car rental) knew Gavin and called  Ballintoy (their B&B) to confirm he would pick us up the following morning.  We were up at 8 am for our wonderful breakfast and between Gillian and Gavin we were provided with a map and lots of advice on what to see in Skye.  Once we had signed all the paperwork with Mickey we had our Skoda automatic and we were ready to start exploring.  Originally we were supposed to have been part of  Skye Scenic Tours, but they had vehicle issues so we opted for plan B: car rental.  Again, by always being willing to be flexible things do have a way of working out.  Having a car at our disposal meant we could see everything at our own pace with  no fixed agenda.  Al and Kat seemed to have  no problem adjusting to right hand drive.  I, who mix up my rights and lefts at the best of time, was unwilling to try.  I was really proud of the way the girls stepped up because roads in Skye are narrow and winding and there were many "single lane roads". Yeah, I know, not one way, single lane!  Basically there are areas spaced through out the road where one car must pull over to give way to the other.  The Girls had no problem adjusting to the novelty of lane sharing and soon got into the road etiquette.  The only issues seem to involve sheep, oxen and the occasional cow who aren't as savvy and tend to walk, trot or lie where ever they please.  My best friend Janet toured Scotland for 3 weeks a few years ago.  Knowing that we didn't have a lot of time she advised me to try and see Isle of Skye.  I am so glad it worked out. I have seen the  majesty of the Canadian Rockies and the French Alps and parts of the world that are truly amazing, but seeing Skye the next morning (our arrival was under the cover of nightfall) took my breath away.  Our view from the Ballintoy was of the Cuillins, the mountain range which makes up the dramatic scenery that flanks Skye and contributes to its rugged, untouched beauty.  The total population of Skye is somewhere in the range of 9000 thousand.  White houses, B & B's, restaurants, and rolling fields of sheep, oxen and cows  blend seamlessly into the countryside.  These banal reminders of civilisation pale in comparison to the panorama that confronts you around every turn.   Skye's appeal lies in its untamed landscape and ocean view. I think this is what I loved so much about Skye; nature's raw, unspoiled beauty that requires nothing more from humans than admiration. 

Exploring in November means you may encounter 4 seasons in one day.  When we began our drive it had begun to rain, followed by hail and as we approached Old Man of Storr the sun began to come out.  We parked and began hiking up, up (around 30-40 minute) Storr to reach the Old Man.  I must admit I made it most of the way but as clouds began to threaten I decided to return to the bottom.  Al and Kat continued to the top.  

Rocky path we travelled for 30 minutes going up!

Spectacular!

Al is that you?

Keep hiking, more to come!

View as we are climbing

Back drop of  Storr behind

You made it:  Old Man of Storr

From Old Man of Storr we stopped at Lealt Falls.  The lookout was A-mazing, as well as being incredibly windy. The pictures do not give you the sense of how strong the winds were, but let's just say we weren't tempting Mother Nature by getting too close to the edge.

Path down to Lealt Lookout. Sheep not bothered by the wind!

View from Lealt Lookout

Wind beneath us!

So moving from this windy perch we continued our road trip; next stop the Quiraing; the northernmost submit of the Trotternish Ridge.  It was a long, circuitous route, as Kat navigated the twists and turns and single lane roads towards Quiraing.   

Long and windy road

Keep driving

Stop and enjoy the view

Wait for me, Al.

Didn't  matter where we were, black faced sheep were watching!

Up close and Personal

White faced sheep too!  Chilling roadside.

Unbelievable, these two are giving way on a single lane road.

Check it out.  Sheep leaving home on a mission.

From Quiraing we drove east to resume our circular trek towards the northern limits of Isle of Skye.  The views never get old.  

Driving North

Al and Kat: Top of the World

Along the way we stopped for lunch at Flodigarry Country House Hotel.  The food was wonderful and the view was just another amazing Isle of Skye memorable moment. 

View from Flodigarry Country House Hotel, northern tip of Isle of Skye

As we finished our northern circuit we drove south in search of the Fairy Pools.  Along the way, we encountered some local residents who weren't all that talkative and at times seemed reluctant to give us the right of way.

Who has the right of way?

On our way home. Watch out for our Buddy down the road.

I would know, IF I could see pass my bangs.

Move it, please. I'm late for the hairdresser.

The Fairy Pools was worth the drive.  It took a while and the light was fading, but we were still able to snap a few pics.

Easy does it Al, don't slip.

View from the pools

One of many pools that form the Fairy Pools

The following morning we made our way to Edinburgh.  Edinburgh would mark the end of my UK adventure. We arrived late and after checking into our B & B we went for our last dinner together at  a Chinese restaurant called Cool Jade.  We hadn't left ourselves sufficient time to do Edinburgh justice, but from what we did see, Edinburgh will require a return visit at another time.  

In the meantime, it was time, after being away 3 weeks to return to Paul and Lexxie in Ethiopia.

Mickey and Minnie Halloween 2013

Monument outside Princess Park

View of Old Town from Princess Square

View of  Old Town from Princess Square

View from Park

View from Princess Park

Princess Park

Thanks for the memories!!

So this concludes my UK adventures except for my next blog which will include the many "signs" I read along the way.