The alarm went off at 6:30 in the morning and we quickly got ourselves dressed, packed and out the door by 7:35 heading towards the Isle of Skye. The scenery as we drove was just breakthtaking! We even saw a few rainbows! We stopped several times to take pictures.
 |
| It was not as dark as this picture seems. |
Just before we got to Skye we stopped to take a tour through Eilean Donan Castle. The Castle was beautiful and the setting surrounding it was even more spectacular!
 |
| Eilean Donan Castle |
We stopped at a gin and whisky distributor and David bought some of both.
Then we headed north, passing right by the hotel we're going to check in to later and also passing through the very small town of Portree which is a small town but it's the biggest town here on Skye. We went all the way to the Northern end to view Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, and then stopping off at Leant Falls. On the way there we passed by the "Old Man of Storr" in both directions.
 |
| In the northern part of Skye (and next picture) |
 |
| Near Mealt Falls |
 |
| Mealt Falls (I was afraid to hold my phone way out). Kilt Rock is the section of rock by the horizon that kind of looks like a kilt |
 |
| Kilt Rock |
 |
| Looking south by Mealt Falls |
 |
| Lealt Falls (in the crack in the land) |
 |
| These people went out on the cliff edge to take pictures. There's a sheer edge and a huge drop behind them |
 |
| Old Man of Storr - no idea why it's called that |
 |
| Sheep and cows everywhere. |
We then headed back down to Portree where we had a chance to sit and have some lunch.
 |
| This is haggis, neeps and tatties (haggis, turnips and mashed potatoes). Actually quite delicious!! |
After lunch, back in the car and west to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. The castle was lovely. It had beautiful furnishings inside and all kinds of historical artifacts. Outside there were multiple, beautiful gardens. There was the Round Garden and the Walled Garden and many other different garden areas that we wandered through for a while. We enjoyed the beauty and peace of the place.
 |
| Dunvegan Castle |
 |
| Inside Dunvegan Castle (this and next two pictures) |
 |
| This is "Bonny Prince Charlie" (right) and Flora MacDonald (who helped him escape) |
 |
| Dunvegan Gardens (this and next two pictures) |
Next on our agenda were the Fairy Pools. We drove on a very narrow one lane, two way road up through the mountains, winding back and forth. Beautiful scenery but a little scary driving! We finally arrived at the Fairy Pools. We could see a long line of people hiking downhill from the parking lot to where the Pools were. I had read a post about someone who had come here and realized it was too far for them to walk. At this point, it was really too far for us as well. The post had said that if you continue about a mile further up the road there's a hostel and right across from it there are other fairy pools right near the road. So we decided to try and do that. It turned out it was more like 2 miles up the road. We were about to give up and turn around when the hostel came into sight. We parked right by the hostel and immediately across the road was a beautiful waterfall and a beautiful blue pool at the bottom of it! Plus, we were the only ones there and we didn't have to hike down and up miles of mountainous land! So we took our pictures and then headed back to check into our hotel for the evening.
We went to the Hotel Sligachan and got our room. Then we went to the bar, cause we're in Scotland. Across from our hotel is a beautiful aqueduct and a rocky stream. It's just beautiful here, and there is absolutely nothing around but this hotel!
 |
| This is directly across from our hotel |
After showering and changing, we drove back to Portree and found our restaurant in the Rosedale Hotel. We had a table near the window overlooking the Portree Harbor. Food was delicious!
 |
| Portree Harbor area (and next picture) |
 |
| Cocktails! |
 |
| Fish cake appetizer |
 |
| Fish Chowder appetizer |
 |
| David's lamb shank |
 |
| My monkfish with scallop sauce (to DIE for!!) |
