The Isle of Skye

From Glen Shiel we crossed the narrow strait, now bridged, at the Kyle of Lochalsh to a self catering flat at Broadford where we stayed for a week from 9 August. Each day short trips were made to various points and it was not long before most roads had been traveled. Here is a very brief precis.


 

The alternative access to Skye, and only way before the bridge, was by ferry from Mallaig to Ardvasar.   The latter is close to the Macdonald stronghold on Skye, of Armadale where the ruins of the castle have been stabilized and an interesting museum established. 

The grounds have old exotic conifer plantings very well maintained even if some are of poor form.

 There are frequent streams coloured by the peat bogs from which they flow.

Crofters cottages abound many of which have been maintained.  Ownership by non residents or people who have moved to the isle.

No not a rice paddy but looks like it.  A natural wetland with a rice like grass.

 Skye has many people traveling there for outdoor recreation and it appears has a proficient search and rescue service.

 On the north western shores of the island the sea can be rough and the land misty and wet.

 Even these calves a looking a little chilly while the cow feeds on good pasture.

 While there are relatively small areas of good pasture much of the land is natural grassland or woody species.

 Shown here a mix of pasture and natural landscapes, generally crofts.

A few waterfalls add the the variety of water features.

 Higher slopes provide rough grazing,  In this case a few sheep graze.

While other softer types would prefer to be inside.

 Typical of a large part of the land in the central part of the isle.

 The an occasional building is located. Note electricity is widely reticulated.

A more hardy type happy with his environment.

 A closer view of the cottage above.

 Outside a community hall where crafts were being sold.

Another view of a farming area.

Although the vegetation was heather dominant it was being grazed by cattle in good condition as seen below.

 One of the larger streams...

... clearly showing the amber colouring from the peat swampland source.

 The next day, by this time the 14th August, we head toward the northern most part of Skye.  However on the way come across this little chap with his hairy mother.

 Once following the coastal inlets discover a variety of settlements and views.

 An un-grazed patch of heather displays its full colour.

The ferry terminal at Uig.

 Another view of Uig.  It was here we learned the electricity had gone off over the whole of Skye.  A cold salad was the order of the day at a very friendly cafe.

The Flora MacDonald saga is played out on the tombstones in the Kilmuir graveyard on the northern tip of Skye.  She died March 1790 aged 68.  In 1955 her great,great grandson placed a brass plaque recording the family members interned in the family mausoleum at Kilmuir to replace a marble one that had been taken away piece by piece by tourists - so recorded on the brass plaque.

Cliffs in the vicinity of "The Storr" just west of the road along the Sound of Raasay.

Another view of the jagged formation.

Further south the more typical rounded hills, under 720m above sea level (asl).

Saturday 15th August was the last full day on Skye, so something a little different.  At the end of a narrow road leading out from Broadford to Kylerhea this conning tower of what may have been a submarine.

It was not the only vessel that may have met misfortune in the vicinity. In the centre of this photograph the skeleton of a wooden craft.

A few cattle graze in the bay overlooked by a small settlement.

The forces of nature at work splitting the rock.

 The view looking north from the road on the return to Broadford.

The next day we leave Skye and our hosts Alan and Margaret Humphrey to continue our journeying in northern Scotland.