Our route took us past Loch Maree
In the morning we set off with the goal being to get to the top end of the Isle of Skye. We had been told that it was imperative to visit Applecross on the way.
Our route took us past Loch Maree
The Applecross peninsular was something else.
The road goes West across the top, South down the side and then East. There is a huge mountain in the middle and it has to be crossed when coming back.
At the left, across the sea is Skye with our destination, Uig, at the top.
Going across the top and down the left side of the peninsular was beautiful: seascapes on the right and heather-covered hills on the left. The views across to Skye with its tall mountains was fabulous. We met various local inhabitants on the road.
The road back across the peninsular was fierce. It was all single track, mainly unfenced and very steep. Note the road sign in the third picture behind our car.
The road to Skye goes over a new bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh and we drove past the Cuillin Hills which are very high cone shapes clustered closely together.
Eventually we got to Uig and saw another sunset.
The view was very similar the next morning
This particular hotel has a web site with this view except with a rainbow arching across the bay. We promised ourselves that we would not pay if there was no rainbow. Of course, this was the only morning that we had rain so there WAS a rainbow and we had to pay.
The next morning - back past the bridge to the ferry. Because the lochs cut so deeply into the land, taking the bridge would be a hundred mile trip to the next island so we took the ferry.
Another pretty drive took us past hills and lochs to get to Kilchoan for the ferry to the Isle of Mull
The ferry ride was spectacular, going past a lighthouse and into the harbor at ToberMory.
This was probably the most beautiful small town we saw, although it's difficult to pick from so many that are so beautiful. The B&B was probably also the best although it was also the most expensive. This is the place where we found a totally open wireless internet connection. The Fire Department was across the street and either they were being deliberately generous or dangerously ill-informed. We didn't tell them.
We walked down into town for dinner
The next morning we decided to walk to the lighthouse along a decidedly narrow, muddy path. One of us stepped to the side on to the grass to avoid a large muddy patch and found the grass was hanging over the edge of the cliff. Luckily the spill only produced muddy clothes (picture 2). The lighthouse at the end of the walk was spectacular and we walked back along yet another golf course.
We were booked on the late afternoon ferry which gave us enough time to look around a stately home. Diane decided this should be her next listing.
The ferry took us back to the mainland past the castle we had previously glimpsed in the distance and past lots of sailboats
At the end of the ferry ride was Oban, complete with a castle at the entrance
On the top of a hill in Oban is a strange structure built by a wealthy merchant in the late 1800s. He intended to have a statue of each of his family members in a window-like opening. Unfortunately he died before his dream was completed. We attempted to put a statue in one of the windows in the last picture.
When we left Oban the next morning there was another lovely drive. We spotted some strange structures and are looking for an idea of what they might be
Finally, we drove the length of Loch Lomond and returned home, tired but very happy.