Heading southwest, the path from Dornoch through Dingwall, Gorstan, and Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye; then Invergarry, Fort William, Glen Coe, Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Loch Lomond, and Luss to Glasgow was the third leg of our journey around Scotland.
The Twenty’s Plenty speed limit sign we saw in Luss was applicable to many of the roads we took to places in north and west Scotland. And on many roads, we traveled even slower in order to absorb everything around us.
Once again, the feeling of being overwhelmed by the grand expanse accompanied and awed us.
A gorgeous view from the road to Skye Bridge.
Just another vista on the road toward Skye.
At last, our first glimpse of the Skye Bridge that would take us to the Isle of Skye. The Cuillin Hills in the background, we’re told, are rarely seen without their cloud halos.
This is what greeted us just over the Skye Bridge, the clouds rolling over the Cuillins.
On the road to Portree where we spent our night on the Isle of Skye.
It was cold and windy in the evening when we walked to the harbor in Portree, a colorful town and the largest on the Isle of Skye.
The next day we made our way around the three peninsulas of the Isle, and this is our first stop — Cuith-Raing. It was so beautiful but so windy I was afraid to hike higher!
Sheep are everywhere, and sometimes they don’t even want to move out of the road. We got a few great photos of sheep, but this is my favorite.
Mark couldn’t wait to get a photo of the Highland Cattle. I think this guy had something he wanted to say to Mark.
The many scenes like this along the sea tempt you to take too many pictures!
After visiting Dunvegan and having a bacon and egg roll at the Dunvegan Bakery (in operation since 1870), we headed for the western point of the Isle where Neist Point Lighthouse stands. It is quite a hike with hills and stairs up and down to get there but worth every step.
Completing our tour of the peninsulas, sadly it was time to leave the mystical Isle of Skye. The Eilean Donan Castle is something to look forward to near Dornie after you leave the Isle. The first fortified castle was built here in the mid-13th century. We didn’t go in because it was too late, but sometimes just seeing something is enough.
The L doesn’t stand for loser, it stands for Loch Lomond (so we would remember which lake). After leaving the castle, we drove toward Invergarry and then to Fort William where we spent the night. The next day we drove through Glen Coe, Tyndrum, Crianlarich, and to Loch Lomond. It’s so amazing to visit places you’ve sung songs about for as long as you can remember.
The village of Luss on the western shore of Loch Lomond was a welcome and recommended-by-everyone stop. We explored the town and had fish and chips for lunch before saying goodbye to the Scottish Highlands and heading to Glasgow.
