Our Adventures in England: Isle of Skye ... again :)

As we get near the Skye Bridge we pass Eileen Donan Castle .

On a recent bank holiday weekend we decided to make a return visit to the Isle of Skye. We had been here before, a few years ago, in absolutely dreadful weather. Our return trip was blessed with warm sunshine so we were able to get out and enjoy the sights, and managed a couple of nice hikes as well.

There are many stories about Skye. The island has a permanent place in the history of Scotland as the location where Flora MacDonald helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape as he fled the English army after the battle of Culloden. Skye also has a rich history of folklore, especially stories of fairies. We explored a fairy glen, hiked to the fairy pools, and even saw a fairy flag at Dunvegan Castle. As usual, Scott took some outstanding photos to help tell the story of our visit to Skye.

Kilt Rock is actually a sea cliff! It’s name comes from the shape of the vertical rock. With a little imagination one can almost picture a kilt here…

The Mealt Waterfall flows from the cliffs here, and drops a breathtaking 60 meters!

We arrived on Skye around noon, and decided to go for a drive to Neist Point Lighthouse. We learned just how big the island is! Neist Point is the most westerly point on Skye. After driving for over an hour, often on single track roads, we reached the car park and began a hike to find this beautiful place.

The magical formations of the Quiraing were formed by a land slip. In fact, the land is still moving and the road requires repairs each year.

We have met some folks originally from Skye and they told us we must take a trip on “The Bella-Jane”. The boat ferries passengers across the water to the remote Loch Coruisk, a fresh water loch at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains. Getting from the boat dock to the Loch required a bit of a hike, but it was well worth the trip! Supposedly a water horse lives in this loch. No sign of her today, though :)!

Watching for wildlife on our return trip. We did see some lazy seals.

I have not forgotten about the fairy stories, mind. Towards the end of the day we set off on a hike to find the fairy pools. It was a long, hot hike, but the pools were breathtaking in the late afternoon sun

The walk to find the Fairy Pools starts here.

Whilst our walk to the fairly pools began with a steep downhill walk and then, a mostly gentle, uphill path, that could not be said for the walk back, which somehow seemed longer and mostly uphill, lol. Surely the fairies could do something about that? And, yep, those boulders ARE the way across!

Strange land formations and other odd sights that defy explanation can only mean one thing…we have found the Fairy Glen!

Our second day on Skye we had signed up for a tour, which allowed Scott to enjoy the beautiful scenery rather than concentrate on the largely single track roads. At one point we split up; he returned to Neist Point for a long hike and some more photos and I chose to explore Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. It is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, and the home of Clan MacLeod. The gardens were just amazing and I definitely enjoyed a beautiful late spring afternoon wandering here.

Dunvegan Castle is also home to a “Fairy Flag”. No one really knows the origins of this flag which now is quite worn and tattered. Most of the stories have something to do with a gift from the fairies, and magical powers have long been associated with it.