skye

Isle of Skye

I Crossed onto the Isle of Skye (the Misty Isle) at Kyle of Lochalsh. You used to have take a ferry but then they built a bridge to bring more tourists. At first they charged a toll but people complained the toll was keeping the tourists away and now no toll and more tourists.

Skye's Black Cuillin form the most challenging range of mountains in Scotland. Black barren and made of jagged rocks. They rise above the smaller red hills which are eroded granite.

This is the typical ground cover.

Often the heath turns into a bog - bring your wellies.









I drove north on a single lane road that followed the coast. The single lane roads are a single lane road with traffic in both directions with many pull offs to allow traffic to past. I had to pull over to let others by but everyone was friendly.

Curious Sheep

The scenery was shared with sheep all over the hills and fields.

The Old Man of Storr is like the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire that collapsed in 2003 but this old man still stands

Isle of Skye looking across the Bay of Raasay

River gorge waterfall

At one point on the road I stopped and walked past this river gorge to walk along the top of the cliffs on the coast.

An Cailc is a ruin at the bottom of the cliff. They used to dig out Diatomite (clay like substance), run it to the coast on a special railway and then cart it down the hill for drying before it shipped out. It was used insulation, filtration for beer, and dynamite. That beer must had a kick.

At Kilt Rock I found the waterfall I was looking for. I had seen photos but none specified where it was. It's right at the Kilt Rock overview.

Kilt Rock

I continued around the northern end of island past craggy peaks, sheep, and heath. There were some cattle and lots of white houses.

I stayed the night in a Skaebost Country Inn an old country inn with an elegant wood paneled library, snookers room, stylized whiskey bar, golf course, and a great restaurant. I dined on pigeon breast in tomato salsa, mushroom risotto with asparagus, Macleods ale, and a smooth but indistinct red wine. They had two common areas one classic sitting room with leather chairs and a new one with free wireless and a plasma TV.

Next stop Isle of Lewis

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