Isle of Skye

We travelled today to the Isle of Skye starting with a ferry trip back over the water to Oban and then via road to our destination. The trip company had us catching 3 different ferries to arrive in the same place that we could drive to. When Peter was checking it out he thought that was fraught with danger because if you missed one then you would be buggered for the rest of the trip so opted for the road journey even though it took a little longer we felt it was a better option. 

On the way there was some spectacular scenery which we stopped to take a photo of only to realise a couple of hundred yards up the road was a big memorial with a parking area. we stopped there as well because it was very impressive looking. As we walked to it we found out it was a memorial to all the Commandos who had lost their lives in war. it was an impressive site looking out over the mountains. It is located there because it was near the first commando training school of the Green Berets. 

The view of Ben Nevis

The Commando Memorial

The Memorial Garden

It is dedicated to all the world’s commando forces not just the UK. There is a memorial garden which has the memorial plaques which families have placed there and they date back to the second world war but the first one I read is for a 23 year old killed in Afghanistan which brings tears to my eyes. Some have photos others just a name, date and message. Very moving. there is also an area where ashes can be scattered as well. There are a lot of people there so we take a few photos and get back on our way.

We continue along until we get to Loch Alsh Viewpoint which is the mainland side of the Skye Bridge and we take a couple of photos even though it is quite cloudy. 

View at the viewpoint

The view towards the Skye Bridge

By the time we get to Portree the main city on the IOS it is quite sunny. It is very pretty town with lovely buildings on the harbour and from where we have parked the car great views over the bay. We have some lunch and a walk around to get our bearings and then make our way to our accommodation, another B&B. We are met by Gavin the owner of the B&B and he is very nice. We get styled in and Peter goes for a walk while I do some of the blog. Great WiFi so it makes it very easy.

Portree Harboour

Portree Harbour

We make the trek into dinner which is about a 12 minute walk and have a lovely seafood meal at the Rosedale Seafood Restaurant right on the harbour. Back to our room for the night ready for tomorrow.

Day 2

Our day started with a boat trip to do some wildlife spotting. There are 9 of us on a boat called the Brigadoon. Not long after we leave the harbour dolphins are spotted by one of the ladies on the boat. I can”t see them until we are quite close because I forgot my distance glasses but that’s ok they come very close and there are lots of them. As we made our way around the scenery is wonderful. Big cliffs rising up from the water with lovely green grass covering them. It makes a pretty good site. I am not worried about not spotting more dolphins as the land scenery is spectacular. 

We made our way to an area where our guide says there are sea eagles. On  the boat trips they take out some fresh fish to tempt the sea eagle to swoop down and catch and take back to his nest. We do see a sea eagle and he does do a fly for us but isn’t tempted by the fish today but that’s ok we got to see him fly to another craggy rock on the cliff. 

We hung around a while longer to see if he returned but that looks like the one and only sighting for the day. We head off to another sheltered bay area where we saw some very cute seals who bob their heads up and down out of the water. It was very hard to get a photo as they were very quick. 

Another quick trip around on the water and we made our way back to the harbour. It was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. After lunch Peter took himself off to do a walk up to the the Old Man of Storr while I do the washing. I am not unhappy about this as it gave me a chance to do some blog and I chatted with some lovely people while the washing was doing. 

After the washing has finished I start the trek back up to the house with the laundry but thankfully Peter has finished and he picks me up before too long. He enjoyed his walk and says that it was a good idea I didn’t come as it was a bit of a steep trek up to the Old Man of Storr. So I am glad that domestics needed to be done as I would have felt obliged to go with him otherwise. Yay!

One of the things we have at times struggled with is finding somewhere to eat for dinner every night and tonight we were so lucky to have made it to a restaurant before they started telling all that followed us that it would be a 45 minute wait for a table unless they had a booking. Good timing is everything.