Off to Skye, any advice welcome

[ForresterModern]

Photo's of the hills I can promise you, pictures of myself in the kilt I will do my best to get my girl to take

Don't forget pictures of you in your kilt WITH your girl---she deserves some credit and probably is the best accessory a kiltie can have with him. I am sure a friendly local would be happy to take your picture, and may want one of you and he together as well.

[Salvianus]

I'm sure I can coax her into at least one photo.

We made it to Skye and we're busy celebrating 20 years together today. Thanks for the encouragement guys, t'aint easy, but it's worth it.

You should have seen her face when she saw the Black Cuillins in the dusk last night. They don't make mountains like that in England

[Salvianus]

Another great day. We raised a glass in the legendary Sligachan Hotel last night.

I can recommend Cafe Arriba in Portree, especially for Veggies and the Blue Shed Cafe in Torrin (between Broadford and Elgol) - lovely people and the best view from a cafe table I've ever seen! See picture hopefully below, if not it's in the 'Me & My Kilt' photogallery.


It was a beautifully sunny day at Torrin, on the road to Elgol, and Bla Bheinn looked surreal.

[ctbuchanan]

Looks like a great trip. Thanks for the updates and the great photo.
Aye,
David

[ForresterModern]

Salvianus,

You are rapidly making me want to get on a plane and get back over there. Beautiful pic. Glad you are enjoying the trip. I am taking notes for my next excursion to Scotland which will definitely include Skye and more of the Inverness area and northern highlands.

j

[Salvianus]

There's something unique about Skye. Part of it is the astonishing geology: the Black Cuillin are the exposed basaltic bones of a volcano, while elsewhere there is sedimentary and a strange metamorphic blend of the two. I had feared the bridge would have wrecked the place, but it's still very friendly out of season.

Been to Kilt Rock, of course, hopefully pic to follow.

Sadly Duntulm castle is now so unstable it has been fenced off, it's lost a tower since I was here last.

The Museum of Island Life has a touching collection of artefacts, although the main display on weaving is of the tradition of overshot coverlet weaving and some tweeds, rather than tartans specifically. I did spot a plaid in one croft, but real life in the Isles seems far from the Victorian imagination.

The Aros centre, Portree is a convenient tourist stop without great charm, but boasts hire of a full kilt & Prince Charlie outfit for £40, if you are travelling light, but find an occasion for it.

Ah the mountains...

[cessna152towser]

Making me envious, every time I have been to Skye it has rained.

[Rob]

Making me envious, every time I have been to Skye it has rained.

Alex,

I have often found that when it is pouring with rain over the Cuillins, the northern regions of Duirinish, Waternish and Trotternish are bathed in glorious sunshine.

[MacBean]

Last I was on Skye, as we were leaving, we passed a man on a motor tricycle with a double-wide seat. Sitting next to him was....

yes, a sheep. Somehow the animal was sitting up so that the man had his arm around him to hold him steady. Oh, if I'd had a camera ready!

[Salvianus]

We've met some very assertive sheep ourselves so far, perhaps it had evicted the passenger and he hadn't noticed yet...

Tried out the 'Well Plaid' bar today, one of the several faces of the Royal Hotel on the sea front at Portree. Given the name, I feared an odd theme pub, but this was confined to the tartan painted on the wall outside and a bit of carpet. It's laid out as a cafe at the moment, selling no nonsense fuel for the hills. I believe the name is a pun on the live music.

Dunvegan Castle still has some atmosphere and has a wealth of portraits and artefacts of interest, among the most on-topic of which is the 'swagger portrait' of 'The Wicked Man', now rebranded 'The Red Man': Norman the Jacobite 22nd chief, truly dazzling face to face. While the late 19thC and 20thC chiefs sport the Green MacLeod, Norman wears a shoulder plaid of what I understand has been identified as Murray of Tullibardine, with trews and coat in check. The very nice local guide described this as tweed, which foxed me. She'd never seen a contemporary kilt, let alone one in denim, which foxed her.

The 24th chief is depicted with a panoply of weapons worn for the visit of George IV which are on display elsewhere and the green MacLeod, but holds a box resembling yellow MacLeod. Another guide was non the wiser, but a search suggests it is a snuffbox very similar to the version of the yellow MacLeod in the Vestiarium Scoticum.

I delighted in the various weapons and regimental memorabilia, but I don't know if they would be of interest to most.