Up north in Scotland - Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye

Lissa and I spent one night in Isle of Skye. We arrived late, checked into our hotel and ventured out towards the closest town. On our way we saw this sunset, so we decided to stop on the side of the narrow road and watch the sun disappear and the longer we waited, the richer and darker the colors got until the night was black.

That evening we decided we would sleep early and wake up before the sunset. Our destination being the Elgol, which is at bottom point of the Island (30 minute drive), hoping we would see the sunrise and be back in time for breakfast at 8:30 am.

The sun was set to rise at 7:30, we got there at 7:45 and we didn't see a sunrise, because it was hiding behind Scottish clouds. Not that we didn't enjoy the drive, it was very interesting. The area is so remote. It seems like a very quiet life living in those mountains, and at 7:45 in the morning it's almost too quiet. Only a few houses in so much wilderness.

The main industry in the area...

and a highlander cow...

When we got to Elgol (the south point of the Island), this was the sunrise...

I was expecting a town, with a harbor, there isn't much there, but I'm sure the locals don't mind it. The 40 minutes of drive was on a one lane highway, but with rest-points so you can let someone pass you. We saw two cars in during our whole drive.

A notable picture that Lissa took.

Back at our hotel, this is the view from our room. A small harbor, some boats and a castle ruin in the background that belonged to one of the Mac. familys. I think it was the Mackenzie's. There were 3 rival clans on this island. The Mackenzie clan was said to be the very passive of the 3 clans on the Island. The last castle to remain that is still owned by a clan on this island is the Macleod Dunvegan Castle. It's still occupied by someone from that family.

Our breakfast was amazing. If anyone is going to Isle of Skye, stay at the White Feather Hotel in Kyleaiken.

And this is a better view of Kyleaiken. I shot this picture from the bridge that joins the Island to the mainland.

We happened upon Isle of Skye during nice weather.

Another nice portrait of Eilean Donan Castle

This time we saw the inside. It's not much. Just look at the outside when come.

Some more nice weather...

But we knew the clouds would be coming...

"There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." Bill Conolly (Scottish Comedian)

Scotland Fog - In the Highlands

Scotland Fog and the Highlands

Thanks for reading this blog. We really enjoy sharing our experience with our Family and Friends. We miss our Family and our Friends, but are very blessed to be able to do this trip and this blog is a great way to let you guys know what we've been up to and also remember what we've done on this trip for when we move onto our next part of our life.

This latest blog is about our drive up to Isle of Skye into the Highlands. This is one of our most favorite parts of Scotland. I keep thinking of William Wallace and wonder how they kept dry living in huts. It's very wet in the highlands. This is the map of our journey and it shows where Isle of Skye is. Just to save you from Googling it yourself:)

More specifically our drive to Isle of Skye was especially our favorite, again it's the HIGHLANDS in Scotland. Such an incredible drive. We've seen so much mountains, hills, trees and lakes on our previous 60 hour road trip through the US and Canada, but the Highlands is unique in itself.

It's mostly wilderness, so many Lochs (Lakes) and mountains (most of them being large hills).

The highest mountain is Ben Nevis at 4400 feet (Ben Nevis is probably Gaelic for Mountain Wiskey, or Scottish Pride, or a clan that fought someone). Anyways, that is almost as high as the foothills in BC, but it's still the high (tallest in Great Britain). The only problem was I don't think we saw it. We were watching for it, but the fog was thick and we just didn't know which mountain would have been Ben Nevis. We thought a sign would have been helpful. 'This is Ben Nevis'. We might have seen it and didn't know it.

The Fog was so cool that day. It wasn't raining most of the time, it was just Fog and it didn't cover everywhere, it stayed in patches making the mountains look oh so cool. We were able to snap some awesome pictures.

Here the fog looked like a massive waterfall coming down between two large mountains. (see picture).

I don't think this is Ben Nevis, but it's a cool range and this is a great picture of my gorgeous wife!

Sailboats

Random pics of Sailboats. My dream hasn't come true yet, but it's to have a sailboat with Lissa and travel the world of Great Lakes in Ontario.

Eilean Donan

This Castle was a ruin for 300 years or so until the 1930s when someone from the Clan of McRae somehow managed to fund and rebuild this castle almost completely from nothing. Its' amazing. This castle is the most photographed Castle in all of Scotland. It's amazing to see. Monty Python was here. In one of his movies. The Castle is comfortably located between Loch Douich and some other Loch.

We didn't get there until it was closed, so we couldn't go in this time, but we did on our way back from the Isle of Skye.

This is us! We are the Gatekeepers of this great Scottish Castle. Too bad they don't know I'm German.

Say tuned in for Isle of Skye...

St. Andrew's Cathedral

After Jay and I meandered around the St. Andrews golf course we made our way to the Cathedral and castle ruins. The castle was already closed for the day but we did get a few nice shots of the castle from the outside. One of the most beautiful ruins I have seen. From tombs, to great walls on the coast.

The St. Andrew’s Cathedral was the headquarters of the medieval Scottish Church, form the 12^th century when it was built on to the Protestant reformation of 1560. The site itself is aid to have been used since the 8^th century, when the relics of St Andrew (Scotland’s patron saint) are said to have been brought to the site. History is so much deeper here!

The graveyard is massive, the pictures we have only catch a small bit of them.

The sun was just starting to go down so it made for some smashing shots.

Castle Ruins

Nothing like the sound of waves while overlooking a castle ruins.

Cathedral at Sunset, incredible

One of the many tombs, inscribed on the side, "This grace slab in the only surviving part of the heightened medieval floor in this area of the cathedral. It has been moved back to show the coffins beneath."

A small glimpse at the gravesite, it was huge.

Some kind of deep dark hole....be a good girl at church is all I gotta say.

Overview of the cathedral from outside the walls.

One of the many University buildings, met a few Americans, loads of internationals in this city.

Jaysons favorite subjects...

Golf is even quieter when you are at the game. Imagine that.

It was hard not to squeal with delight while being the St. Andrew’s Olde Course, the fatherland of golf. I am not even a golfer. But for any of you who know my dad…well he happens to be lets see, what is the best way to put this… he’s a bit of golf junkie. Either way it was incredible being there, the entire time we thought about all the people that would be loving this…a sunny day (not a small feat in Scotland) and a game!! So to all you avid golfers out there that we know, someone at the St. Andrews course thought of you, hope that helps.

We managed to catch the “Alfred Dunhill Championship” There are some hard core golf watchers…they have these cool little walking stick/stool/umbrellas transformer thingies that they take everywhere with them on the course. And don’t make a peep. You will get 10+ grey haired golf connoisseurs immediately glaring at you. There is almost a reverence in the crowd. After being there for a bit you start to see the incredible importance of being quiet, (I also learnt this lesson when going along on golf trips with my dad), there is some serious concentration required, they have cameras right on them, microphones and loads of people staring at them. Golf is hard enough let alone with your every move being broadcasted around the globe. It is quiet enough that you actually hear the golf ball fall in the hole. Amazing.

I won’t chat along too much on the course…the pictures say a thousand words. We also went to the Cathedral ruins, we’ll post more on that tomorrow.

Oh! And this was our first go at driving on the left hand side…or I should say Jay had a go at it. I am not sure what is more stressful, driving or being the ‘passenger seat’. Jay did really well and by the end of it we almost felt normal (I know, we are the ones that drive on the wrong side, lol).

Heading out on the road, on the left. At every turn it is always a repetition game: Left, Left, Left...

Eeeek! The Entrance! It said 'Road Closed' but we got in;)

The Olde Course Hotel

Olde Course Pro Shop

The Olde Jigger Inn Pub, dates back to the 1850's when it was the station master's lodge.

Concierge - always had the game playing.

The wall listing all the champions since the 1860's. They also have a similar board with a sketching of each of the winners.

More of the beautiful hotel.

Golfers walking to the next hole! You are actually close enough when they tee off if feels like if they shanked it you would get hit!

A flippin' gorgeous day! Every one of the staff we spoke to was amazed at how nice it was. We just said, no problem, we can bring it with us anytime.

More of the grounds.

Teeing up, chatting with their caddies.

The Scoreboard, you golfers out there might recognize some of the names.

Moving towards the 18th and the gallery.

Chipping in .

Where the winners claim their prizes and their Volvos.

The Swilcan bridge in the background.

The 18th coming near the greens.

Photo credit goes to Jay on this one. Incredible.

We will probably go back, it is a beautiful city, so far our favorite.