June 3, 2025 - Today started out as a rainy day. It looked like the weather was going to get better later in the morning so we dawdled over breakfast and put together some laundry for the laundry service. It was cozy on the sun porch with all the rain coming down. We headed out for our drive first to the Fairy Pools and then we were headed north to the Dunvegan Castle. The road to the Fairy Pools was like we saw yesterday, single lane with "passing places" every so often and as we were getting close to the parking area for the hike we got passed by many emergency vehicles. As we got to the parking we found that the emergency vehicles had taken over the parking lot and there was a giant traffic jam, because most of the road is single lane. So instead of hiking the Fairy pools we had to keep heading south to Glenbrittle (the end of the road) where there was a campground and a coffee shop. We passed some time there, hoping the emergency would be over by the time we drove back by the hiking parking lot. We got there about 1:30 and it was all cleared out, but when we started our hike (which was going to take an hour or so, depending on hour far we wanted to walk) the skies let loose and it poured sheets of rain on us. So we decided the fairies were against us and went to Dunvegan Castle instead! We ate dinner at 1820 Limited which is in a converted church. It had a minimal menu, but they don't take reservations and they had a table available, our kind of place.
The Cuillin Mountains in the background
The Sligachan Old Bridge
I think I know them!
The Sligachan River flows under the old bridge. There is a legend that if you stick your face in the river at the bridge you will have eternal beauty.
We decided beauty is over-rated and it was way too cold (only in the 40's today...brrr!)
After we left the bridge it cleared up
and then was overcast again. It was an up and down day today, weather-wise
This was the gigantic traffic jam due to emergency vehicles at the Fairy Pools. It was a big puzzle to figure out how to move the cars so the trucks could get through
We found a nice waterfall (Kev called it a glorified drainage ditch after some of the falls we’ve seen) across from the Glenbrittle Youth Hostel
This sheep just stared at us and wouldn't move
then there was cattle crossing the road. It was just that kind of a day
Coffee at the Glenbrittle cafe helped pass a little time while we waited to go back to the Fairy Pools for our hike
The clouds are back
In the distance is the Fairy Pools Trail (with a big cloud coming over the mountain)
It started to rain just as we started the hike (it wasn't just rain it was sheets of rain!)
after leaving our hike it of course got nice and sunny
We made it to Dunvegan Castle (sunny but still quite cold)
pretty purple flowers growing on the castle walls
views from the castle of Loch Dunvegan
Love the bouquet of fresh flowers
another view from the castle
we liked this game table that had hinges so the table could have the backgammon/chess board or a felt card table top or a wooden top. The table could also be half sized when all were on one side and the leg slid underneath
I’m off to the dungeon
more purple wall flowers
Since the weather was so nice we also walked through the wonderful gardens at Dunvegan
You can see the castle tower above the gardens
lots of water droplets (because it's rained A LOT today!)
pretty greenhouse plants
a courting bench
an angled bench
pretty view of the castle from the gardens
we have enjoyed the views of Loch Portree from bed
June 4, 2025 - We are headed to Fort William today, about a 2.5 hour drive. The weather is still off and on rain, so we will continue to dodge the rain as best we can. We stopped at Eilean Donan Castle for a few pics and a coffee break and then went to the Nevis Range Mountain Resort to see if we could ride to the top for a view of the area. The gondola wasn't running because of high winds, so we ate lunch and headed into the town of Fort William. The West Highland Museum fit the bill of passing some time out of the rain and I actually really enjoyed it. They had all sorts of crazy items that were fun to learn about. We checked into our B&B (where we will be staying for the next 2 nights) and then went back downtown for dinner at the Grog & Gruel.
Another rainy day in Scotland
but pretty, even in the rain
rainy view of Portree
we're packed up and ready to go
Pretty Eilean Donan Castle
nice stone walkway out to a bridge to get to the castle
an interesting bench in downtown Fort William
These knives were created for warfare and what I found really interesting about them was...
this chart that told where to strike with the knives and how deep to stab, the time to loss of consciousness in seconds and how long until death
this is a coffin guard designed to prevent body snatchers from stealing corpses. There was a steel lid for the top. In the early 18th century medical schools needed bodies for dissections as their only source was executed prisoners.
The original lock to the Old Inverlochy Castle here in Fort William. That's quite a big lock, would love to see that huge key that goes with it
This is a birching table and was last used in Fort William in 1948. Birching was a punishment handed down by the courts. The convicted person was placed face down on the table with their arms through the holes and wrists tied underneath and then beat on the back with the birch stick.
big old bench (with a really high back)
ladies leather climbing boots from the 1920's
Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Trews (aren't they crazy looking? I guess they keep your legs warm when a kilt doesn't)
The main street of Fort William is mostly a pedestrian street, with an occasional car
views from our new B&B
it's sunny now, but as you can see on the window I'm sure it had rained in the last 10 minutes
We finally got to try haggis (calf's entrails and internal organs mixed with suet and oatmeal and boiled in a bag). We've been afraid to try it but it was really good
I got a veggie pizza, yum
after dinner it was in between rains and I thought the hills across the river were pretty in the fog
We spent the evening in the living room figuring out what we're doing for the next few days and Kevin found a really big map to plan from (that didn't help at all)
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