Saturday in Skye

We don't have good internet access at the Eilean Iarmain hotel, so we feel a bit out of touch. Yesterday we had a remarkable day!

Morning down to Armadale CAstle and the whole MacDonald clan story and gift shop -- amazing gardens too! Then north -- Brian driving and the gorgeous scenery going by -- rocky foothills, bays and inlets and lochs, waterfalls, sheep, highland cattle. Every turn a breathtaking vista.

We went on the search for 2 medieval ruined chapels -- very hard to find, but finally discovered them hidden away on an island in the Snivort river (stay at the Skeabost Country House hotel, fish trout and salmon from their private river). Seriously, we went off the highway down this track and found this amazing hotel -- they directed us to the ruins, and we STILL wandered around lost for a while. But finally found this little island in the middle of a rushing river -- not a flat surface on the island, all bumps and lumps and rock and a mossy/grassy turf so thick it was like walking on foam. There are the ruins of 2 mortuary chapels, perhaps dedicated to St. Columba, and a few modern stones here and there too -- burials, or just memorial stones? Not sure.

But there were TWO stone table slabs for knights! Not concrete-copy-of-original-in-some-museum, but he real mccoy. Just there in the grass, worn away, covered with lichen. It was a very moving place, perhaps because it was so well hidden. Loved it.

Then we drove further west to Dunvegan -- this is the MacLeod Castle, clan centre, gift shop, gardens, etc. Again, killer gardens, also a nifty dungeon, right next to the sitting room that the present Chief MacLeod uses. Hmmm.

We drove home and had dinner at the hotel last night and made a quiet time of it.

Today we have been to Broadford to find the catholic church for mass tonight at 6 -- it looks about as big as a phone booth but was much harder to find -- hidden away behind trees and shrubs and ruins.

Then Portree to the classic waterfront of pastel shops. We stopped here at the Aros Tourist center to check email and let you know we're still alive. Now we're off the Old Man of Stoff (a rock). Tomorrow, ferry to the mainland at Mallaig and then the West Highland Railway to Glasgow.