Breath-Taking Scenery

 We left the pretty town of Oban in the morning to slowly make our way to our next stop - just out of Fort William.  Before getting there we had a few short walks, lots of photo stops and many opportunities to admire breath-taking scenery sometimes made more magical by the mist, rain and dark clouds.

The first of those stops was an abandoned castle from the 15th century. The Campbells left it to move on to a better location.  It is definitely a fixer upper with a fantastic view.  

Gift shops everywhere even in the middle of no where but it wasn’t open

Several stops simply left us in awe.  Flowers blooming, the Heather is still around, so many different shades of green, waterfalls, lakes or lochs, the sea and even a piper in the middle of no where.  Lots of people with big backpacks hiking the extensive trails.

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Our stop at the Glencoe visitor Centre was brief but enough time for lunch and a good laugh.

The final stop before the hotel, a drive out to Glen Nevis but unfortunately the mountain, the highest in Scotland, was largely covered over in cloud. Did catch a good shot of a cooperative sheep - the others all gave me their back side as soon as the camera was pulled out.

One spectacular day of scenery followed by another as we left for the Isle of Skye.  We enjoyed a couple of photo stops to admire the sights and see the monument to Bonny Prince Charles before catching the ferry in Mallaig.  Another smooth sailing but this time on a much smaller ferry.  The views were great and the weather cooperative.

Monument to Bonny Prince Charles

As the weather changed from cloud to sun several times, we had lots of opportunity to see the island in many different lights.  We marvelled at the scenery as we went by.  Lots more fields of heather still in bloom.  Many fields in green and some mountains, often very rocky.  Some parts even looked similar to the Okanagan. And then of course there were all the mostly white dots in the fields or fluffy creatures on the road side - sheep, sheep, and more sheep. There were also lots more opportunities to see the hairy coos, cows for those of you not speaking Scottish!

We did not have near enough time on the island and only had time for Portree and a trip around the Trotternish Peninsula with photo stops at different sites.

Old Man of Storr

Kilt Rock

Monument and grave of Flora McDonald - she saved Bonny Prince Charles

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We The return trip was over the bridge connecting the isle with the mainland and then a long bus ride back to the hotel.  One more stop for a photo of Eilean Donan Castle.