A Redeye View: A Week On Skye May 2015

Two years ago we had a five day break just outside Plockton in the Scottish Highlands, and had, for the most part, warm sunny weather. We also had a day driving round the Isle of Skye as we had heard and read how great it is, and vowed to return one day for a more detailed look round.
The first week in May 2015 was booked off and we found ourselves a nice little cottage at the end of a single road on the shore of LOCH HARPORT in the tiny village of PORTNALONG. Not a true cottage in the sense of the word, more like an extension of the owners cottage but plenty of room and privacy for two people and a great quiet relaxing position looking out on to the small bay with a few fishing boats moored there.

Portnalong harbour from the cottage

The journey up there on the Saturday went without any problems as we set off in the early hours for a leisurely drive and a couple of rest stops. We had booked on a ferry to take us from MALLAIG across to Armadale on the Isle of Skye as an alternative from driving the main route. It breaks it up and offers an alternative way of getting there as we'll be driving back over the main Skye Bridge on the way home. The drive through the mountains and small villages makes the long way more relaxing and soon goes. The fine dry weather also helps. We also met a couple of walking buddies, Foz & Chip with his better half in Fort William for a brew as they were on their way home after spending the week walking here and there in blizzards. It may be Spring in the rest of the UK but this is the highlands where Spring & Summer comes and goes with a blink of the eye!!

Loch Leven

Glen Finnan Viaduct

The ferry from Mallaig

The weather on the Sunday was wet and very windy with quite a bite to it, spring had not yet reached Skye and there was still snow on the tops of the mountains. We had a bit of a lazy day but managed to get out for a drive and to pay a visit to DUNVEGAN CASTLE and CORAL BEACH where we watched seals playing in the sea.
When we got back I had a wander over the far side of Loch Harport from the cottage in the early evening and managed to see a couple of deer but they were to quick for me to get a decent photo.

Dunvegan Castle

Coral Beach

Coral Beach Seal

Coral Beach Seals

Wet & windy Coral Beach

Looking down on the harbour and cottage

Monday was again a bit on the dull side but thankfully no rain, it was still windy and quite cold but we had decided to go for a walk to a place called THE FAIRY POOLS a set of small waterfall along the River Brittle below the CUILLIN MOUNTAINS. We chose to make the walk a bit of a circular to make it last and also spend a bit more time around this very atmospheric place.

Our route just under 5 miles

Start of the Fairy Pools walk

Fairy Pools

We decided to pay a visit to the beach at Loch Brittle and also Talisker Bay as it was now quite sunny but still windy with a chill in the air. Talisker Bay was the place where we caught sight of our first Golden Eagle and what an amazing sight it was too :-)

Loch Brittle Beach

Loch Brittle beach & campsite

Cloud covered Cuillin Mountains from Glen Brittle beach

Talisker Bay

Tuesday started off where Monday had finished, quite clear and sunny but still windy and cold so we decided to have a walk around the bay and visit the lighthouse at ARDTRECK POINT It was quite boggy in some places but offered great views down on the harbour and across to the TABLE MOUNTAINS OF SKYE and also the Cuillins. No deer this time. It is also the place to find DUN ARDTRECK

The harbour and over to Ardtreck Point from the cottage


The remains of Dun Ardtreck

Ardtreck Lighthouse with MacLeods Tables in the background

Looking down on the harbour & cottage's with the Cuillins in the background

The rugged coastline along to Fiskavaig Bay

By the time we got back to the cottage there was light rain in the air and it turned quite heavy through the afternoon. We decided to go for another drive up to Uig to see the FAIRY GLEN,
where the fairies live :-) and also a place that I really wanted to explore, THE QUIRAING WALK We also drove down the east side of Skye and past the impressive Storr with the OLD MAN OF STORR looking very moody surrounded by cloud and rain. One of the most iconic pieces of rock for rock climbers. Today though was just a looking through the car windows day, unfortuanately.

Fairy Glen

The Quiraing

Old Man of Storr

Old Man of Storr in cloud

Wednesday started off dull, cold and with a bit of rain in the air so after a lazy morning we decided to have a drive over to PLOCKTON and have a walk round, bringing back memories of our visit there in 2013. We parked in DUIRINISH and had a small walk round the coast before heading into Plockton for a bite to eat. And seeing as it was cold and wet we decided to have an ice cream for the shear hell of it, well we are on holiday :-) A really nice area and well worth a visit.

The resident Highland Cattle

Duirinish coastal walk

Duirinish Village

Plockton Harbour with the sea out

Nice ice-cream

Plockton Harbour & Village

Thursday saw us up early as we were booked on the 10am boat trip out of PORTREE to see a bit of the local wildlife and also to get a different view of the surrounding area. Although the day started off bright, we did encounter hailstones, rain and again it was quite windy. We were hoping to see a Sea Eagle as there are quite a few dotted around the Isle's and they do put on a show when coming down for fish. Unfortueatly we only saw one eagle sat in a tree, probably sheltering from the weather like us, but we saw one and that was good enough for us. we also saw the local colony of Harbour Seals and various sea birds. Although the trip should of lasted about 90 minutes we were out for just over two hours, which was perfect really as the sun decided to show it's face and warm everyone up in the afternoon, great :-)

Cloudy morning in Portree Harbour

The boat is warming up

Rain shower moving across

Rain shower over Portree

A hint of the warm weather coming

Hailstones over Skye

View over to the Storr

The local seals

Watching the birdie

The local Sea Eagle

Portree Harbour

In the afternoon we decided to go for a walk through the GLEN BRITTLE FOREST on the shore of Loch Eynort. there are a few walks in and around the forest starting at various points and are various lengths. As it was late afternoon when we went we decided to go for the shorter walk that took about two and a half hours and offered great views over the loch and also out to the Sea of the Hebrides. At last the sun had decided to come out and for the first time this week we didn't need hats and waterproofs, indeed jackets were off for most of the walk. It was also where we watched a Golden Eagle have a dogfight with what looked like a couple of hooded crows. We watched them for a good five minute or more and I managed to get a bit of it on film. A great priviledge indeed and a good end to another good day.

Loch Eynort information board

Along the forest track by Loch Eynort

Bench with a view

Mouth of Loch Eynort

Golden Eagle getting mobbed

Clouds over the Cuillin Mountains

Cascading waterfall

Friday was to prove the best day weather wise and also the day we did our long walk, one we had planned to do since the last time we visited two years ago. The walk was along a good easy to follow track that goes right into the heart of the Cuillin Mountains along the fairly flat Glen Sligachan following the River Sligachan.

Setting off along the track to our target, the pointed peak in the far distance

Snow lingers on the black cuiliins

Snow capped peaks of the black cuillins

well laid track leads off to the right

Looking back along the track to a distant Hotel

On the ridge of Drum Hain

Drum Hain

Pano of the Red Cuillins

Pano of the Black Cuillins

Looking back down the valley with the Red Cuillins on the right and the Black Cuillins on the left

Back to the Sligachan Hotel and the car

This great day and indeed a great week was coming to an end and what better way to end it with a great sunset, our first of the week. Although on the whole the weather was a bit on the cool side with a bit of rain, sleet, hailstones and quite windy, it hadn't stopped us doing anything each day. Maybe not as much in the way of mountain walks and exploring lots of nooks and crannies on offer but driving round, visiting some bays and the more sedate low level walks. Watching the Golden Eagles was a highlight and just seeing and driving round this relative small Isle was something we wanted to do for sometime and it didn't disappoint. So much to see and do and so little time to do it, we'll have to come back :-)