Tuesday, 11.09.2012
Today we had to say goodbye
to Joe and Yvonne and the Isle of
Skye. Passing picturesque Sligachan Bridge we drove to Kyleakin and
over the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh. The bridge has a width of
some 500 m and was opened in 1995 replacing the ferry service. There
have been protests and non-payment campaigns against the high tolls
charged right from the start and since the end of 2004 the passage is
free.
Sligachan Bridge with Cuillin Hills
Skye Bridge
Since we had booked a
Hopscotch
ticket including the passage to Mallaig we headed back to Skye and
across the Sleat peninsula to Armadale. Sleat with its lush green
rolling hills is often called the garden of Skye.
Knock Bay on Sleat
After our last ferry crossing
we set out on the Road
to the Isles from Mallaig to Fort William. The Glenfinnan Viaduct known
from the Harry Potter movies is a must-see and here at the shores of
Loch Shiel Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the banners in 1745 at the
beginning of the 2nd Jacobite Rising.
no Hogwarts-Express anywhere
Glenfinnan Monument
We had plenty of time left so
we decided to visit the Ben Nevis Distillery in Ft. William. The
distillery looks a bit neglected but on the other hand it was allowed
to take photos which was not permitted at Talisker. The whisky sample we
were offered after the tour was a rather young blend that left no great mark.
one of the stills
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Since we did not want to drive all the way from Skye to Edinburgh in one day we had booked for our last night in Scotland at Dale and Julia's Highland Croft B&B.
The lovely house offers commanding views of Loch Linnhe and the
mountains of Morvern. Dale is breeding Hebridean black sheep and there
are
also chickens providing freshly laid eggs for breakfast.
Dale's sheep with Loch Linnhe and the Onich Hotel in the background
In the evening we went for dinner to the nearby Onich Hotel and
also tried some more whiskies - I very much appreciated not having to
drive tonight.
To the next day =>