Scotland: Beautiful, Peaceful, Soft, Harsh, Dramatic, Predictable, Unpredictable, Extreme . . .

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your kind comments and taking the time to read my blog. I'm so glad that you have found it interesting, humorous and inspiring that you may one day want to visit Scotland and the Highlands. Today was my 4th Day here and although I have one more full day left I can already begin to feel that sad emotion of having to say farewell until next time (which I hope there will be). The title of my blog pretty much sums up how I would describe the Isle of Skye and the west Highlands. It is a very beautiful and unspoilt land that I think everyone should have to experience at least once in their life time. If I am lucky maybe it will be twice in my lifetime.

I have heard the term "God's Country" when describing Scotland and the Highlands and I think I can understand why! When I'm sitting at the breakfast room in my hotel and looking out onto Portee Bay and the Cullins I am hypnotized by the simplicity and beauty. When driving even in a downpour I can't help but still be in awe with the rolling hills of grass and white spots of sheep that I have become really fond of seeing while driving. They are busy chewing their grass, some of them cross the roads with no sense of you waiting for them to cross. And I just love them.

The Highlands is known for it's high winds! I remember reading an entry by Deborah about it and now I can relate. There were two times when I felt the strongest of the winds, on the Quiraing peak and near the Cullin Hills yesterday. The wind was unbelievable. The power harnessed could light up Manhattan New York for a year! Let's just say I didn't bother brushing each time I stepped out of the car. There was really no point. :)

Yesterday, I traveled south from Portee on the A863 to visit the Cullin Hills. There are two Cuillin ranges; the Black Cuillins, formed of jagged dark igneous rock, and the softer, rounder peaks of the Red Cuillins, formed of red granite. I had read that one of the best places to view the Cullin Hills is from a very tiny town called Sligachan.

Then I visited the second largest town, Bradford (taking the A863) . . .

From Bradford, I took a small single track road to Egol . . .

I also traveled on the A850 to visit the famous Fairy tale Dunvegan Castle which is located on the western side of the Isle. Unfortunately, it was closed! eek! Not very good planning on my part. Luckily I found a side gate opened and went in to at least take a photo....

Today, I traveled south again on the A87 and I took the Talisker Distillery Tour which is located near the town of Carbost. It was only 5lbs and it was for about 40 minutes. At the beginning of the tour they give you a free sample of their single malt. They give you a bottle of Water too which I understood why as soon as I sipped my Scotch Whisky. I'll borrow Girasoli's saying! Whoa! Strong is putting it mildly. There is a smokey taste to it just like how Sandra and Marta described. Very good though. It's funny that the lady told me that there is no shame is adding water. :)

It was an interesting tour and the process is so specific and they don't sway from it because that is what their flavors are known for. I didn't know that their whisky is used in other liquer like Rum, Baileys, etc. But they are well known for their single malts too. And they are the most expensive. After all the fermenting with Peat, the mashing and washing (using Copper machinery), the final products goes into these oak barrels where they will have to mature for at least 3 years before they are considered Whiskey (before then it is referred to as spirits). Did you know that there is an acutal Scottish law that says that you can't call it whisky until then! While it lays there maturing the liquids will evaporate from the barrels (just the natural process) at least by 2 percent. And there is an old Scots saying that says that this 2 percent is for the "Angels". I thought that was a cute saying.

After the tour we are led to their shop. I just had to buy a little bottle for a souvenir. Thank goodness I brought a wine skin (which I learned about from Cindy Ruth aka Baked Alaska, thanks Cindy)with me to pack it when I go home. Thanks again Sandra for the tour idea. That was really fun. The second photo is of their storage room and the barrels there are from 1979! And did you know that the alcohol is actually clear and that the coloring actually comes from the natural color of the barrells. Interesting!

 

I ended the day with a nice walk on this path called the Scorrybreac Cercuit which is actually located right by my hotel. The path is well paved which made it nice and it was a great way to end my 4th full day here.

I have one more full day here on the Isle before I head back to Fort William. I will travel going over the Kyle Bridge, stopping to see the Eilean Castle. Then after one night in Fort William (maybe I'll be lucky with clear weather so I can actually see Ben Nevis) I will return my car and take the train to Edinburgh where I will stay for 8 days in an apartment. Can't wait to see all the cool Holiday events and Finale week festivities for St. Andrews Day Homecoming week.

I totally loved my adventures here in the Highlands from the wonderful Road to the Isles, Arisaig and the Silver Sands of Morar and the wonders and intrigue of the Isle of Skye with it's dramatic scenery and equally dramatic weather, it's very cool sheep and Highland Cows, and the fierce winds of the Quiraing and the beauty of the Cullins! Tomorrow is my last full day here and if the weather holds up, I may drive up and give the Quiraing another go.

I know for sure that my apartment in Edinburgh does not have wi-fi, so I will try to find an internet cafe the first chance that I get. And if I don't get a chance to blog before the holidays (hopefully I will), I want to wish all of my blogging friends and their families a very Safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for reading my entries.

Meanwhile, more visuals...First, the small town of Portee is so quaint and charming. I think it has been the ideal location to base myself here on Skye while I explore the different peninsulas. BTW, I brought my garmin but the roads have been so easy to follow and to be honest I never used it once...

Second, my meals in the Highlands have been wonderful. They serve a lot of seafood and being so close to the waters they have been fresh and very yummy! Thanks so much to Marta for sharing her magazine with me in preparation for my trip. It has been so helpful. This dish was a fresh Salmon, with steamed veggies and potatoes with this sauce that was made with mayo. It was delicious.

Third, while driving back I saw the most perfect Rainbow and it reminded me of Anne's blog entries with her beautiful rainbows. I hit the breaks and took several photos of it...

And last but not least. This is not quite a sunset, but it is the closest that I've come to it. I took this from the window of my hotel room. This has been my view everynight! So priceless.

More to come I promise...