After breakfast we set out for the Talisker Distillery to attend our pre-booked tour.
Founded in 1830, Talisker Distillery is the only distillery on the
Isle of Skye. Before the start of the tour we could taste a "wee dram"
of the 10yo Talisker which is their standard variety. The whisky is
quite peaty - similar to the Islay malts - and is bottled at 45.8 %
which is rather strong for a relatively young whisky.
The guided tour is well designed and we got a good impression of the making of the "uisge
beatha".
Slàinte!
After
the distillery visit we called to inquire after a boat tour to Loch
Coruisk. The loch at the foot of the Black Cuillin can only be accessed
by boat or by two quite demanding hiking routes.
We chose the standard tour where we had 1 1/2 hours to explore the
surroundings of the loch before the return trip. There is a seal colony
on the way to the loch and the opportunity to watch more of these
animals was most welcome.
that doesn't look comfortable
From the jetty we started
along the Scavaig River, which is said to be the shortest river in the
UK with only a few hundred metres in length. Soon we reached the
lakeshore which we followed for a while. The time was too short to do a
full circle around the loch so we headed back the same way towards the
jetty.
River Scavaig
the Cuillin veiled in clouds
at the shores of Loch Coruisk
When we were almost back at the
Scavaig
River to our big surprise we encountered a hind with two calves. They
seemed not to be very nervous about our presence even though the wind was blowing
in their direction.
Dagmar and the first calf
there's one more...
the hind
we are watched
For a short time it looked
like the sun would break through but the clouds proved impenetrable.
When we passed the seals on the back trip we asked ourselves who was
actually watching who?
Oh, just you again...
basking seals
the Cuillin would not let go of the clouds
On the way back we stopped in Portree. Here the sun was shining and illuminated the colourful houses of the old harbour.
Back home again we asked Joe
if we could visit the cattle. He gripped his shepherd's stick and we
set out together. The Romesdal fold consists of 25-odd mainly
light-coloured beasts. The low sun added to the atmosphere and the
cattle looked so beautiful that I decided to dedicate a whole page to
them: =>
