Elgol, Broadford, and icy water at Torrin pools

overview over Elgol
Elgol

Via Broadford – for some shopping – to Elgol.

There, the locals walk with mosquito nets covering their faces. We soon notice the reason: very small mosquitoes—fortunately not much trouble. We make a small journey along the coast over not very well-trodden paths.

To Torrin pools. Here, a river flows from the steep slope into Loch Slapin. The walk along the cascades of fast-flowing water is very pleasant. Some try to bathe in the small pools below the falls. The icy water almost hurts from shrinkage.

Back to Broadford. Walked to the pier. There is not much more to see than breathtaking views and fishermen—enough to do it for.

In the bar, Gabbro, we have a beer. Make plans for tomorrow.

Schotse Hooglander
Somewhere between Elgol and Broadford

Portree, Shakespeare in McLeods castle, sheep

Breakfast is barely inferior to dinner.

Portree

First, we go to Portree, the main town of the Isle of Skye. It is a nice, small, partly very colorful port town (where not colorful also equals concrete gray). We look around in the drizzling rain.

portree
Portree scotsman

On to Dunvegan castle of the MacLeods. Painted portraits on the wall of the Chiefs van de MacLeod clan show stout men with thick sideburns. However, the last scion of the MacLeods family to be portrayed here is a sweet old lady, Chief Dame Flora, who has managed to bring the feuding chiefs back together.

dunvegan castle
dunvegan castle library

The castle has an extensive library, where I discover Shakespeare and our own Grotius (Hugo de Groot).

We check out the bay by the castle and the garden.

We drive back home through the rain, and we still have to get out of the car to take pictures, among other things, of stubborn sheep complainingly bleating as they cross the road.

dunvegan castle
dunvegan castle
portree
portree

Thurso naar Sconser; and Cranachan for desert

Yesterday, from Thurso to Sconser on the Isle of Skye. A long drive right through the highlands.

We decide to take the north coast up to Tongue, then down through Lairg, Dingwall, and then across to the Isle of Skye.

The drive along the coast west of Thurso is beautiful and rugged. Almost everything from Thurso is single-lane, so you frequently have to give way to oncoming traffic at passing places.

At Tongue, we turn off onto the plateau into the rugged hills. There are magnificent views of lakes between the mountains.

Only fifteen minutes before Sconser, it begins to rain.

The hotel is by the sea and overlooks the island of Raasay. The owner welcomes us and leads us through the authentic dining, bar, and sitting rooms. They look great.

The hotel also provides dinner. It is super – halibut and hake. Cranachan for dessert. The king of Scottish deserts…

Cranachan (Scottish Gaelic: Crannachan pronounced [ˈkʰɾan̪ˠəxan]) is a traditional Scottish dessert. It was originally a celebration of harvest,[1] made following the raspberry harvest in August. The dessert of cream and fresh seasonal raspberries is bolstered by Scottish oats and whisky.

wikipedia