Scotland Highlands

May 11-18, 2013. A week in Scotland. We rented a car and drove to the Highlands and later (another post) to the Scottish Boarders area. 

The Highlands and Isle of Skye

This area is very sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges dominating the region, and includes the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis

The Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. 
(Wikipedia)

Our Merry Band of Travelers

Eilean Donan Castle

This picturesque castle frequently appears in photographs, film and television

Amazing scenery

I was startled as I expected a flatter terrain. We had typical weather--some rain, some fog, some wind and some sun.

Fresh snow

A sunny day, at last!

We made friends with this friendly guy

Craigroyston House B&B, Pitlockery

Ready for the day!

Urquhart Castle

The magnificently situated Urquhart Castle remains an impressive stronghold despite its ruinous state

Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart’s ruins include a tower house that commands splendid views of the famous Loch Ness. (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk)

A trebuchet used for flinging cannonballs

 Ruins of St. Mary's Church, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye

St. Mary's, church, 1694. Old parish church in stone-walled burial enclosure... Although St. Clement's Church, was the principal resting place for the Macleod chiefs, some are buried here, as are generations of MacCrimmons, hereditary pipers to the Macleods. (excerpt from http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk)

Low doorways

No MacLeods or MacCrimmons here

Any MacLeods or MacCrimmons here?

MacLeods buried here

 A fun hiking adventure

Kilt Rock

The famous Kilt Rock is a sea cliff in north east Trotternish. It is said to resemble a kilt, with vertical basalt columns to form the pleats (www.theskyeguide.com)

 The impressive feature the day we visited was a gushing waterfall from recent rains

Share the road!

Museum of Scottish life in the 1800's

A tool for each job

The Quiraing 

The Quiraing is a landslip on the eastern face of Meall na Suiramach, the northernmost summit of the Trotternish Ridge on the Isle of Skye.

The whole of the Trotternish Ridge escarpment was formed by a great series of landslips; the Quiraing is the only part of the slip still moving, the road at its base near Flodigarry requires repairs each year. (Wikipedia)

The wind was blowing a gale and it was raining when we arrived. Still, groups of people were starting the hike along the trail below the ridge to see the ocean (in the distance, 2nd photo).

Quiraing

Hiking path

Rosie poses

Fighting the wind

The Highlands are rugged, beautiful and unique. And the people of the Highlands are equally unique. There is an ancient, magical feeling to see castle ruins in a farmer's field and to drive down single track roads (with cars going both ways) through pastures of dancing lambs.

Scotland is a definite must for a return trip.