Scotland

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At the north end of the Isle of Skye is an open air museum which has a number of crofts set up as they were in the days when crafting was the dominant farming method on the island. Regrettably, we were asked not to take photos inside the crofts.

It must have been a very hard life and very, very cold in winter. Inside the crofts were very cosy with small windows and a peat fire which burnt all year round 24 hours per day. The roof was thatched with local reed and inside the ceilings were lined with sacking.

Portree harbour, Isle of Skye

Whilst we were on Skye we met up with our friends Peter and Carol from Germany. They were staying in Mallaig which is a short ferry ride to Armadale on Skye. We toured the local castle and had a picnic lunch by the harbour.

We found a small shop with a photo gallery. The photographer was called ‘Grumpy George’.  His work was most impressive with wonderful photographs, printed on canvas, showing Skye at its very best.

Isle of Skye

View from Armadale castle, Skye

Armadale Castle gardens

Looking towards Mallaig from Armadale.

The ferry can just be seen slightly right of centre.

We returned to the mainland over the bridge and made a short journey to Locharron, just north of Kyle of Lochalsh.  The camp site was called The Wee Campsite and indeed, it was! We just managed to squeeze Priscilla in.

We used Smartie to take us over the high pass to Applecross. We had been strongly recommended to visit but when we got there we were disappointed.

Typical loch side cottage at Locharron

Over the pass to Applecross, looking back at Locharron

Rhododendrons on the road to Ullapool. Everywhere we went was a glorious display

Arriving at the camp site at Ardmair Head, just north of Ullapool. A beautiful location.

You can see other motorhomes parked up on the headland in the centre of the photo (above).

Whilst on site here, we met up with fellow Carthago owners Derek and Jane who had been touring the Western Isles and had just arrived on the ferry to Ullapool. They had looked at the site in Ullapool itself but didn’t like it.

We were very impressed with this, Ardmair Head site but were pestered by midges in the late evening. The only time that we had trouble from them.

The photo (left) was the view from the motorhome whilst at Ardmair Head.

Northward again and heading for Durness on Scotland’s north coast. En- route we had to stop and photograph this beautiful loch. It was just as blue as the photo suggests. From Ardmair to Durness was just a wonderland of spectacular scenery.  We passed other lochs which were jade green or turquoise but the roads were too narrow to stop and the pull ins too small for Priscilla and Smartie in convoy!

We had been a little apprehensive about the “single track roads with passing spaces” on the way up to Durness but as it turned out, it was no problem at all. There are plenty of passing bays and very little traffic.

Durness was a surprise.  White sandy beaches, sand dunes and a turquoise sea just like the Caribbean but much, much colder—even when the sun was shining!

Says it all!

(left) This is looking west from the sand dunes at Durness. The dark hills in the background are between us and Cape Wrath. That area is closed to the public and used by the military for a shelling and bombing range.

 

(below) More views of the coast at Durness. (lower left) is the view from the camp site.