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Category: Places I've been. | Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:57 pm

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I decided to put these photographs into my blog rather than post them all in the forums.
It was a long, hot trip to Skye especially as Ian was working and I was left to amuse myself for about an hour each time he went off to check the exchanges. Did I sit in the car? Did I read? Did I go for a cuppa or have a nap? No way!! I braved the searing sun, the rough terrain and the clouds of swarming midges just to take photographs to share with you all. LOL So without further delay here they are:

This is a view of Ben Nevis the highest mountain in Scotland - Elevation: 1344 M (4409 FT.) Ben Nevis is located at Lochaber, near Fort William in the highlands and its name means Venomous Peak.



This next mountain is worthy of mentioning too because of its unusual shape. It's called the Pap of Glencoe as it is said to resemble the nipple on a human breast.



There are 284 Munros (mountains in Scotland that reach an elevation of 3,000 feet (914.4 m) or more.) Many of them can be found in Glencoe. I don't know the names of them all but here are a few I thought you might like to see.









I thought the low cloud in the valley between these mountains looked as though a volcano was gushing out clouds of steam.



This is a photograph of one of the highland lochs that we saw on our trip. If you look at a map of Scotland and then at this loch they are remarkably similar aren't they?!!





This is a picture of the new Skye Bridge which put the ferries between the mainland and the Isle of Skye (and quite of few locals) out of a job. Until recently the bridge was a toll bridge but now it is free to travel across it.



There used to be a large fleet of fishing boats at Kyle of Lochalsh in Skye but, sadly it has dwindled over the years as young men have moved away from the island to seek work, and live, elsewhere. These are the remaining fishing boats.



At the mouth of the harbour at Skye there is a lovely old ruin. I'm afraid I didn't have enough time to find out what it once had been but I thought it looked lovely.



I came across this curious sight when we were driving through Glencoe. I think one cairn (the largest one) was the origional one built but then, for some reason or other, people started building seperate, little ones and now there is quite a large area covered in piles of stones of varying sizes.



Now for a few views of the countryside on Skye for you to see.



This second photograph is of some small highland tarns. Tarns are small bodies of water in the highlands not large enough to be called lochs. Some tarns, however, are bigger than some of the so-called lochs, most of the tarns though are very small, and some are not even named. The highlanders call them lochies.



I took this piccie of Eilean Donan Castle as it is rather famous and not just because of its history either!! It was said to be the castle that inspired the makers of the Harry Potter films to build Hogwarts school in the way that they did. There is also a bridge somewhere in Glencoe that was used in one of the HP films but I didn't get a snap of it. We actually saw a film crew out in the valley as we drove past on Wednesday. I wonder if they were making another HP movie in the area?



Eilean Donan Castle is recognised all over the world. It is situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some magnificent scenery. It is one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands.
The castle was first inhabited around the 6th century but became a fortified castle in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least Four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built.

The castle was partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan castle then lay in ruins for almost 200 years until a man by the name of Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 restored it to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labour the castle was finally re-opened in 1932.

I couldn't visit Skye without taking a photographs of the glorious sunsets to be seen there so here is one I took on Tuesday evening.



Lastly this sheiling is still being lived in but has been well maintained in its origional state. I couldn't take a pic from the front of the house as the owners were sunbathing in the garden!1



I hope you enjoyed the Isle of Skye as much as I did!!
















Last edited: Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:32 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 2069 times

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toni wrote on Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:04 pm:

Oh, the pictures are lovely Eileen. I love mountains probably as much as you love sunsets/sunrises and those are gorgeous.

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glendann wrote on Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:07 pm:

Thank You Eileen I do love your country.The site is breath taking.I felt like I was seeing it and smelling the clean fresh air as you went along.

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Frank wrote on Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 pm:

This is exactly what I imagine when I think of Scotland, especially the ruins on the hill, very dramatic.

Not a bad collection for a day trip Eils, you live in a beautiful corner of the world.

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Delilah wrote on Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:37 pm:

I really love the pictures

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Netty wrote on Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:04 am:

Absolutely breathtaking scenery there Eileen! It looks like a country I would love to see.

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cajunbelle wrote on Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:16 am:

Thank you so much Eileen for showing us your corner of the world. It is very beautiful and a place I have always longed to visit.

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Foryourhome wrote on Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:24 pm:

Hi Eileen,
The pictures are amazing, it made us remind of Lake district in the cumbria region of England. Have u seen that place, its too mind blowing.

Regards,
Carol and Stuart

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CritterPainter wrote on Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:48 pm:

Thank you SO Much for getting out there and taking the pics!!! I've snitched several and feel a new sketch coming on! Shame about the bridge, ferrys are sooo much more romantic! I can really see why my aunt likes living here, it really is similar in places (no castles here, though, lol!)

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teddybear wrote on Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:15 am:

Thank you so much for the tour, it was amazing! You take wonderful pics.

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mrs greenthumb wrote on Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:02 am:

I have travelled the same road as you took, and saw the same wondrous sites, looking at these photos is when I realize I miss my homeland.
Mrs 'G'

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desertflower wrote on Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:04 pm:

Lovely site to behold. I'm with critterpainter. I was inspired to pick up the old paint brush and paint one of the scenes. I shake so bad, I can hardly ever get a decent pic and your are so clear and vivid. Good job!

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DaphDaph wrote on Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:59 pm:

Eileen,

You have a great eye for photos.
Thank you for sharing with all of us. I can't wait to show my husband.

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hummingbird3172 wrote on Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:10 pm:

Eileen, those are truly awe-inspiring pictures! Such a beautiful green country!

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juli28428 wrote on Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:35 pm:

I just found these amazing pictures! They are so beautiful, every one of them. I've always wanted to visit your country and this morning, felt like I was finally there!

How nice of you to share. Maybe more pics will come soon?

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EJ wrote on Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:58 pm:

Oh you took me back Eileen to some wonderful holidays I spent in Scotland. The last time there some mates and I did a tour for a couple of weeks and Skye was one of our weekends. This was before the bridge. Beautiful Eileen, just beautiful and still one of my favourite places.

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SongofJoy57 wrote on Sun Nov 04, 2007 12:08 pm:

Thank you for being so thoughtful to share pictures of your time exploring. I loved your pictures and narrative . . . so much better than any website . . . what are cairns, and why do people make them? How old do you think the shelling is? What kind of work does Ian do to get to go to such a fancinating world? Forgive me . . . It's just that this blog entry is so intriguing and thought provoking to me. Thank you again, Eileen. Most of us would never have gotten to cyber visit without your assistance!

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