Isle of Skye, Kilt Rock and Portree, Scottish Isles and Glens

Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall

 Today we get to sleep a little bit later, 9AM lobby call for our coach tour of the Isle of Skye. The skies have cleared and it's looking like a lovely day.

There's an eerie fog hanging over Skye, Dragon's Breath, maybe.

As we cross the Skye Bridge a rainbow show's itself to us.

We make a photo stop at Kyle Aiken.

We can see the silhouette of Castle Maol. The castle, an ancient seat of the Mackinnon clan, and was a fortress commanding the strait of Kyle Akin between Skye and the mainland, through which all ships had to pass or else attempt the stormy passage of The Minch. The present building dates back to the 15th century, but is traditionally reputed to be of much earlier origin. 

There's an interesting legend that our guide Graham shared with us about Saucy Mary, a Norse Princess who married into the clan and a heavy chain that was laid across the harbor to stop ships until a tariff was paid. Do an internet search for more details.

On the other side of the pier, there are stunning views of Kyle Lochalish and the Skye Bridge.

After our photo stop we head along the coastline and see The Red Cuillins and one of many fish farms.

We drive by Eas a'Bhradain

The Cuillins are so beautiful today.

After a quick comfort and coffee stop in Portree we continue on our drive around Skye. On our way to Kilt Rock we spy a few harry coos. They are so not interested in visiting with us, much to everyone's disappointment.

Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls,  are a great place to stop and take photos of the 90 meter Kilt Rock, which looks very much like a pleated kilt, some  even say that the colors of the rock formation appear almost tartan.

The other point of interest is the Mealt waterfall, which, fed from nearby Mealt Loch, plummets from the top of the cliffs to the rock-laden coast below.

We run into a bit of a traffic jam on our way back to Portree.

Our Skye adventure was supposed to include a trip to Dunvegan Castle but it was closed for the season, unfortunately. It's a bummer because it looks awesome. Oh well, next time.

Our guide Graham has arranged lunch for us at Skeabost Hotel instead. The mansion sits along the shores of Loch Snizort and along one of the best salmon fishing rivers in Scotland.

After lunch we have some time to explore (or relax). Jay and I choose to explore and follow the river along to the end of the mansion's gatehouse.

It looks like they have a hydro dam/generator set up.

And lots of pools to fish in.

Across the river there are some ruins and what looks like an old graveyard.

There is also a cairn to the  Cauldron of Heads

Our guide Graham told us about the clan wars between the Macleods and the Macdonalds. 

This pool of water once bled red with the blood of the Macleod Clansman after their defeat in the Battle of Trouternes. 

 The Macleods fought the Macdonalds in 1539 over the disputed Trotternish territory on the banks of Snizort River at Skeabost.

The ruthless Macdonalds threw their enemies decapitated heads in the river upstream at St Columbas Island. The bobbing heads became trapped in the large pool at the bottom of the waterfall, turning the entire pool of water a deep blood red. 

And on that happy note, we head back to Portree for some wandering or some shopping, or both. We choose the wandering.

Our time on Skye is coming to an end. As we head back towards the mainland we pass the Sligachan Bridge. The enchanted Bridge on Skye.

Here's a bedtime story for you.

A Tale of Two Great Warriors, One from Scotland, One from Ireland, One a Man and One a Woman.

Many years ago, on the Isle of Skye, there lived the greatest warrior woman of Scotland, Scáthach. Word of her greatness spread everywhere and one day it reached the ears of the greatest warrior of Ireland, Cúchulainn. 

Being such a renowned warrior, Cúchulainn knew that he must go and fight this warrior woman of Scotland to prove that he is better. So he set sail for the Isle of Skye.

Arriving on Skye, Cúchulainn came across a trainee of Scáthach and demanded that her mistress should come and face him. 

Scáthach came to meet him to battle and prove which one was strongest. So they fought. Their battle raged through the whole of the valley, shaking the earth, creating the valleys and mountains of Skye. Animals fled before them, terrified of the warriors. 

As they battled Scáthachs daughter ran down to the river and cried. She was terrified as she could not see how her mother could possibly win.

As everyone knows, water allows a gateway between the faerie world and ours. Some of the faeries heard the cries of Scáthachs daughter and came to her. 

The faeries told her to wash her face in the water of the river. She followed the faeries advice and washed her face in the waters. Once she had done this, she was filled with the knowledge of how to stop the battle.

Quickly, the daughter acted on her new knowledge. She ran back home to the lodge where her mother lived; along the way, she gathered herbs and nuts. Arriving at the lodge, she threw the nuts and herbs in onto the fire and fanned the smoke into the valley. 

Upon smelling the scent both warriors realized just how tired and hungry they were from the fighting. So they decided to stop for a bit, they laid down their weapons and headed to the lodge.

Arriving at the lodge they were greeted by Scáthachs daughter. She had prepared a meal worthy of the two mighty warriors. As Cúchulainn ate under the roof of Scáthach, this meant that he became her guest. Because of this, they could do each other no harm.

The legend of Sligachan states that if you dip your face in the river water by the Sligachan Bridge, you will be granted eternal beauty.

The End, Goodnight!

Tomorrow we head to Gairloch to visit the Inverewe Gardens.

More photos from our Scottish Isles and Glens: https://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Scotland-2024