Isle of Skye part II

We're staying in a delightful B&B in Portree on the Isle of Skye.  The views are stuning and the grounds are very well manicured!

Our breakfast was delicious.  Marie and Ewan work  tirelessly to keep everything perfect.  Before we left home, everyone told us how cold and wet the weather would be.  Well, it's been just the opposite!  Sunshine, blue sky's and perfect temperatures. We have been so lucky!  Why did I bring this heavy coat and these wellies (rubber boots).
This morning, Andy, our driver picked us up at 8:30 sharp.  He's very punctual about his times.

All 16 accounted for, we set off for Lsalt Falls.  The walk was well worth the falls reward.

We drove all the way to the north end of the island to see the dilapidated Duntulm castle.  Built in the 14th century, it was the seat of the chiefs of the McDonald clan of Sleat in the 17th century.

Then southward to the cemetery were Flora McDonald is buried.  She is a national heroine, having saved Bonnie Prince Charles Stewart from the English.

Alexander McQueen noted fashion icon is also buried in the same cemetery.

We wrapped up the afternoon with a trip to Neist Point.  It is on Dunvegan Head on the western part of the island. There is a magificent view if you are willing to make the steep mile hike out to the end of the point.  We opted for the closer view which was equally stunning.

Did I mention all the sheep?  There are thousands of sheep on this island, hence all the beautiful woolen products.  The sheep and their lambs are everywhere.  And so captivating, we couldn't resist lots of pictures of them.  We want to bring a lamb home.

Our dinner this evening was at a wonderful seafood restaurant, the Cullicuan.  The fresh Scottish fish was superb.  I know I keep using the same adjectives over and over to describe Scotland, but that's just the way it was.

Isle of Skye

Friday morning we packed our bags and said farewell to our fabulous Edinburgh Heriot Row apartment.  Angus and Kirsty could not have been better hosts.  We loved everything about our  apartment.
We met our "Wee Red Bus" from Heart of Scotland Tours at 8:30 am and our driver tour guide Andy loaded up his sixteen passengers for the three day, two night site seeing trip north to the Isle of Skye.

Our first stop for coffee/tea and a pastry was at the quaint village of Dunkeld. After a quick stop for treats we walked up Main Street past the shops and the fountain at the end of the street to take a quick look at the beautiful Dunkeld Cathedral.

Back on the bus, we continued north into the mountains and a quick stop for a picture at the official entrance to "The Highlands of Scotland".

Andy gave us narration about the history of what we were seeing and made stops at interesting and picturesque sites along our journey.

A beautiful stream and water fall near Kinloch Loggan

A dam on one of the thousands of lochs (lakes) in the highlands

The Commando Memorial

A piper at a stop above another loch

Tradition has it that if you stack five rocks here at Invergarry you will Get your wish

Here are Betsy's five rocks

The loch at Kyle-Glenshiel

A group picture at Kyle-Glenshiel

Eilean Donan Castle at Kyle-Dornie

Site of many movies including "James Bond"

The Isle of Sky Bridge

We arrived at the village of Portree on the Isle of Skye about 6:15 with just enough time to check into "Green Acres", our beautiful B&B and make it to the village square for a quick dinner before retiring after a long day of beautiful site seeing.  Tomorrow is another day!

The Viking Coast and Alnwick Castle

Thursday morning we met the "Wee Red Bus" from Heart of Scotland Tours at Waterloo Place, bus stop number ZE.  The weather has been so perfect, but this was the day the rain came.  It was raining when we woke up and was raining when we went to bed.  Alan, our tour guide and bus driver loaded up his 16  passengers and we were off.

The green hillsides, yellow fields of rapeseed and pastures dotted with sheep were beautiful, even in the rain.

The first stop was in Lindisfarne for the first castle.  Lindisfarne ( also known as Holy Island) is the home of this 16th century castle.  We drove across a narrow causeway which is only accessible at low tide.  At high tide the road is under six to eight feet of sea water.  The abandoned castle was built out of stone from an eleventh century Priory.  We hiked up the cobblestone path to the castle.

The views were breathtaking inspite of the rain.

We quickly toured the castle as our time was limited and we had to get back to the bus.

On to the next stop, the very grand Alnwick Castle.  It is pronounced "Ahn-ick", with the l and the w silent.  First a quick lunch then the purchase of tickets for the castle and the gardens.
This is the castle were the Harry Potter films were made and several scenes from Downton Abbey were shot.  It is still a working castle where the Percy family, the Duke and Dutchess of Northumberland has lived for more than 700 years.  The rooms are elegant and historic.  The outside is twelfth century but the inside is spectacularly Italian renaissance. Again no pictures inside, sorry.

The gardens were spectacular with fountains, greenery and flowers.

Back on the Wee Red Bus and back to Edinburgh.  On our way home we passed a freshly mowed field that was full of beautiful pheasant, both the brilliantly colored males and females.  We were past them before we could get a picture.  Upon arrival at bus stop ZE we headed for the apartment to get ready for our trip Friday to the Isle of Skye.