Day 26 Castles sites & the Isle of Syke

Friday 13/04/2018 Dingwell The Royal Guest House Room 35

Up really early today to get away as a big day ahead of us.... had the breaky did my own today so not to upset the tummy, seemed to work...

Set off for Eileen Donna Castle first up.... sadly the day is another dreary fog filled day again........
went through Strathpeffer again today, Jane Parker grew up here, and we stayed here 2 years ago.... Shame we didn’t have time to stop.....
back to Eilean Donan Castle..... having seen her 2 years ago on the Bus trip but at a distance she has alluded me to the point I must see her close up.... so today I finally get to do that and she didn’t disappoint at all...... The bridge across sets her scene drawing you in, once inside the outside parts aren’t as amazing g as I had thought they would be, but her inside was unreal, done up and I tact since her last refurb....
The name Eilean Donan, or island of Donan, is most probably called after the 6th century Irish Saint, Bishop Donan who came to Scotland around 580 AD. There are several churches dedicated to Donan in the area and it is likely that he formed a small cell or community on the island during the late 7th century. For the best part of 200 years, the stark ruins of Eilean Donan lay neglected, abandoned and open to the elements, until Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911. Along with his Clerk of Works, Farquar Macrae, he dedicated the next 20 years of his life to the reconstruction of Eilean Donan, restoring her to her former glory. The castle was rebuilt according to the surviving ground plan of earlier phases and was formally completed in the July of 1932.

So with that little bit of background history, now for my views.... The part of the tour I loved the most was how they had done up the kitchen, with model maids, props of food, cats, mice, dead bunnies, birds, etc the whole thing was just so well displayed you could feel yourself step back in time to watch them prepare the days feast.... sadly our time came to an end after looking inside and out and getting as many outs as possible....

Then off to the Isle of Skye, first stop was Castle Moil a ruin we also saw 2 years ago, Hoping to get closer but once closer realised she was on a small Island so a couple of pics and off we go....

The Island herself is really not that pretty, and after what would appear she has been pretty much covered with snow everything hasn’t sprung to life yet...... so dead looking but also awe inspiring with her craggy Mountains and low valleys. snow still dotted on her mountains, and water flowing in streams and off her hills as the snow melts.... just awesome to see....

We make our way up the East coastline falling up an unreal old bridge at Sligachan turns out this must a very popular spot as there heaps of photographers all dotted on the small rise opposite the bridge, many you could tell were professional with all their gear set up, tripods in place and a look down their noses at an amateur like me.... still I didn’t let it stop me and proceeded to move around them to get my shots... as I am entitled to take ours just like them... no sign that said otherwise.... The scene at the Bridge was unreal with a huge snow capped mountain in the background... a fast flowing stream and small waterfall from the melted snow... to be honest my ours certainly didn’t show how unreal it did look, I am sure those professionals pics did though.... ohh well can’t get it all... I am happy with my lot for at the end of the day they really are only for me....

Onwards to Portree for lunch, seeing unreal coastline, houses dotted along the coastline as we drive north. Rivers and streams running into the ocean, massive mountains going into the sea, huge ranges to drive over all adding to the spectacular views as we drive in...

Once at Portree we drive around looking for a park spotting some people standing outside a fish and chip shop decided that’s what we will do for lunch... found the park and then down the very high steps down to the street below to the fish and chip shop.... there was still another level below this and 2 levels above us where the homes sat..... getting our lunch we sat on a seat on the edge of a 15 ft drop hoping not to fall over we gobbled down the very hot yummy fish.... sitting with the freezing cold air around us.... brrrrr.....

One thing I keep forgetting to mention is the sheer number of BnB’s, Guesthouses, Lodges and Hostels in Scotland it really is mind boggling just the sheer number of them wherever we go.... we will ask our friends when we stay with them about it.... Tourism must be No1 business here I am sure.....

Finishing lunch we walk around the street discovering like every small town a number of charity shops they all have more than one.... so a look in all then onto to the car to head over the mountains a different way from Portree to Glengrasco to Uhinish or not quite there but close the turn off was just before back along a very narrow road up in the very high mountains..... the views were just unreal.... you could see from just the shirt time we are here for the adventure seeker The Isle of Skye would meet their needs with mountain climbing, photography, skiing and of course hiking.... massive mountain as that draw people to explore and valleys to walk along.... I am guessing in a few weeks it might look very different to know....

Off the Island our last stop was Urqhart Castle sadly it was closing time so we had a look over the car park fence down into it.... We saw it from the water 2 years ago now from above... one day maybe close up....

Got my shots then off home it’s been a huge day, didn’t get back until nearly 7 pm, still daylight so not too bad.... Again a tin of soup plan was to phone the family.... but just too tired so off to bed we went just after 9pm....
We leave again tomorrow head to Johns family history area Cruden Bay staying at Petershead not far from it....

My wing for staying here was that they not once come into our room and it was part of the deal, rubbish is piled up and not that I mind making the bed but nothing was done I had to nick next door to the breakfast room to collect more tea and coffee... and the rooms walls paper thin you could hear everything all the other rooms where doing ......l so not a lot of sleep here, still the bed was comfortable and great shower so can’t have it all.....Read more