Our first task on Skye was to visit Talisker Distillery - one
of the remotest whisky distilleries of Scotland and the only one on the
Isle of Skye. However, when we arrived we learned that the morning
tours were all fully booked, so instead we made a reservation for Monday.
We now decided to visit the Old Man of Storr
at the east coast of the Trotternish peninsula. On our way there the
Red Hills were highlighted by the sun breaking through the clouds.
Glamaig and the Red Hills
The pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr is part of the remains of a gigantic landslip stretching over most of the east coast.
A short climb after the starting point we were facing the cliffs of
The Storr covered still in clouds. The only thing disturbing this
majestic atmosphere was a busload of screaming and cheering Asian
tourists... truly shocking after the quiet days on the Isle of Harris.
We made an attempt to climb the cliff path to the top of the Storr
but due to the gusty wind and slippery footing we soon had to turn
back. However, despite or even because of the menacing dark clouds the
views have been breathtaking.
Old Man of Storr
view to the north
After this short hike we
continued to the Kilt Rock Viewpoint
at the Mealt waterfall. The basalt columns of the cliffs look like a
plaited kilt, hence the name. The car park was also full of tour buses
what made us miss the seclusion we felt on Harris even more.
Mealt waterfall with Kilt Rock in the background
the cliffs facing southward
After that brief photo stop we
drove the narrow road up the Quiraing west of Staffin. The winding road
leads up to the view point overlooking another section of the
Trotternish landslip.
Staffin Bay and Quiraing
Quiraing
At the Small & Cosy Teahouse
in Staffin we had some tea and delicious cakes. The teahouse is aptly named and the views of the Quiraing are great.
When we once again met more sheep than cars on the road we concluded
that the roads north of the Quiraing apparently are not anymore part of
the tour programme of the bus companies. What a pleasant change!
At the northernmost point at Rubha Hunish we
even saw sheep on the beach - they seem to cover their needs for salt
by eating seaweed. We could also watch gannets, but weather and visibility were getting worse again.
rush hour
sheep on the beach
gannets flying in formation
In
the evening we browsed through the multitude of interesting books
provided by Yvonne and Joe in the cosy upstairs sitting room. To the next day =>
