Skyelights
- Kim Gilman
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Hello Dear Readers,
We have been blessed to spend a week on Scotland's Isle of Skye, our third time here (and hopefully not our last). This visit has been extra special as we got to stay in the home of a Scottish bridge friend who now lives in Concord, MA. He and his wife have put amazing care and thought into restoring their family "croft" into a modern and luxurious home overlooking Loch Dunvegan. When they aren't staying here themselves, cultivating their fabulous gardens and orchards, they rent it as a holiday cottage, and we were lucky to nab this week in July. I don't think I'll ever get tired of Skye!
The red X on the second map below marks our approximate location near the village of Glendale. Although further from the main town of Portree and many of the restaurants and attractions of Skye, we loved experiencing this more remote part of the island. Let me share a few highlights, or should I say "Skyelights."
One of my goals for this visit was to hike the full circuit of the Quiraing, an amazing and gorgeous geographic spectacle in Northern Skye. From Google: "The Quiraing is an ancient and still-moving landslip. Its otherworldly topography was formed by centuries of shifting rock and sedimentary layers giving way beneath heavy basalt. Prominent rocky landmarks within this dramatic landscape include:
The Needle: A 120-foot-tall jagged rock pinnacle pointing toward the sky.
The Prison: A craggy formation that resembles a medieval castle keep.
The Table: A perfectly flat, elevated, grass-covered plateau.
The Quiraing is highly regarded as one of Scotland's most spectacular hiking routes."
Faithful readers may recall they I've shared photos of the Quiraing before, from brief forays up the trail. The complete loop is around 4 miles and contains some tricky sections with loose gravel, steep drop-offs, rocky scrambles, and hard-to-discern paths. Rather than go it alone, I decided to employ a guide and she was terrific! Besides being an able outdoorswoman, she pointed out so many facts about the area's history, geology, and plant life I wouldn't have known. I loved every moment of our hike.
Then again, most everywhere you go on Skye is scenic and beautiful. Here are a few photos of Loch Dunvegan, and the walk down the hill from our house overlooking it:
And yes we CAN see Dunvegan Castle from our patio, but only with binoculars. It's a cool castle we toured in full in 2024.
Our visit to Skye would not be complete without dining at our two favorite restaurants, the Ferry Inn and the Old School. The former is a destination itself and with only five tables, you must reserve carefully well in advance. The latter is the friendliest neighborhood pub and also delicious.
Post-hike lunch (yes with nice cold Prosecco!) at the Old School:
And a few of the scrumptious dishes at the Ferry Inn:
Now I leave you with a few more photos we took from various walks and scenic viewpoints on Skye. Next, we travel by ferry to the Isle of Harris, and then we'll continue to the Isle of Mull to complete our Scotland trip.
🏴 🏰 🐑 🍺