Sunrise in Lacey, WA today: 5:37 AM
Sunrise in Portree, Isle of Skye today: 5:06 AM - about 30 minutes earlier
Sunset in Lacey, WA today: 8:39 PM
Sunset in Portree, Isle of Skye today: 9:36 PM – about 60 minutes later
Tag Archives: Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye
Let’s face it, that’s a great name for a place, isn’t it?! This is the largest of the Inner Hebrides, part of “an archipelago scattered like jewels in the western ocean off the west coast of Scotland”. This one island is 535 square miles with 350 miles of coastline.
Our B&B last night was already on the Isle (we’re in the town of Kyleakin), but it’s easy to get here from the mainland now that the toll-free Skye Road Bridge opened in 1995. Portree is the main city on the island, with a population of over 1,000.
Quiraing
We set off under gloomy skies to tour the Trotternish Peninsula. I have to admit, before I never truly understood the term “rugged beauty of Scotland”. Now I do. I cannot say that the Isle of Skye is beautiful or even pretty. A lot of it is low, brown scrubland. Many patches of trees have either been clear cut or appear to have been replanted – whole areas are the same identical tree of the same age and height.
There were spectacular sights – the Quiraing was my favorite – huge jagged rocks near the far northern edge of the peninsula. We also got to see more sheep that I’ll need for to see for the rest of my lifetime – some even roaming free across the road. It’s recently been lambing season and the little ones are sooooo cute!
We kept a sharp eye out for the local cattle too – the ones with long shaggy hair and wide horns. We did managed to see a few but they certainly are not common where we were driving.
Sheep
Patrick was determined to find the Isle of Skye brewery in the town of Uig (ooooo-ig) and he was successful. He brought some bottles of Ardmore Beast, Hebridean Gold and Cuillin Beast.
And perhaps best of all? We got back to our B&B early, I fell into bed, and when I woke up my headache was gone! FI-NUH-LEE!
I was soooo looking forward to today. I had visions of the beauty of the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland (I’m still ready to move there). Overall I was disappointed. If I had to sum up the Isle of Skye is one word it might be: Bleak? or Desolate? or Austere? or perhaps Rugged is the right word.
