#Eurotrip - Scotland: Isle of Skye

Dan and I during our day of exploration on Skye.

Our next major stop on our trip was the Isle of Skye. We arrived in the evening leaving us a full day and two nights to explore. We stayed at a lovely little inn in Portree, considered the largest town on the island, for both nights. It's nice to be able to unpack a little bit and get settled with a home base for a few nights. Also since Skye is off on the northwest part of the island with limited accessibility, it made sense to spend two nights allowing us to be up early the following morning while also giving us an entire day to explore the island before heading out to our next location.

Our first night on the island we were able to explore Portree and ate dinner at a local waterfront restaurant where you thought one of the sailors may walk in at any moment. We dined on local beers and ciders with fresh caught mussels, local bread and a side of chips. The meal was hands down the best I had in Scotland without question.

After dinner we decided to explore as the rain had finally stopped (we got lucky and only our two long drive days had rain). As we explored the harbor we found the other end of the rainbow. We actually were able to see both ends of a rainbow, which seems unheard of. What was even better was that we saw the rainbow end in the harbor just in front of another boat, whose hull was now multicolored by the rainbow!

I know where the pot of gold is now!

The next day we rose early, had a bite to eat in town and then hopped in the car to head to the Trotternish Peninsula loop on the island. Recommended by Rick Steves, the loop can take anywhere from a few hours to all day. We were among the all day crowd, as we constantly came across a new hike or walk to take.

Our favorite hike came late in the day, where we hiked along a ridgeline for a few miles to the base of the tabletop. With my knee we couldn't do the switchbacks to the tabletop itself, but Dan did hike up in to the rocks to get a better view; unfortunately his sheep friends did not like him higher up the mountain then them and constantly kept pushing higher to pass him.

Some of the breathtaking views.

Now this was a vista.

The rock ledges that supported the tabletop above.

From Dan's adventure upwards towards the tabletop.

Dan's sheep friends.

One of 360 sweeping views.

After our hike, we visited a traditional Skye village. Unfortunately we were visiting on a Sunday and the museum there was closed, but it was still fascinating to see the stone houses with their thatched roofs. And how could you beat this view!

At the end of our hike along the ridgeline.

Traditional Skye Houses.

Next we weaved in and out of inlets along the coast road until we came to Duntlum Castle. Duntlum was a MacDonald stronghold on the far north of Skye. The views are spectacular but unfortunately the castle ruins have been closed to the public due to unstable ground. Still there are impressive views of the ruins and the surrounding area from just below. The castle was abandoned in 1732 and legend says it was left to ruin due to the chieftain's infant son being dropped from the castle ledge to the rocks in the surf below by a nursemaid.

The views from below Duntlum Castle.

The shore around Duntlum Castle.

After Duntlum Castle, we finished touring and headed back to Portree. We skipped lunch due to our multiple hikes, so we grabbed an early dinner in town and then headed back to the inn to watch the World Cup finals. We hit the hay early because we were off to the Orkney Islands the following day and had to get an early start to make sure we hit Eileen Donan Castle first thing.

The next morning we grabbed a bite in town and then hopped in the car and headed for Eileen Donan. Privately owned by the family to this day, Eileen Donan is famous for appearing in multiple films including James Bond's The World Is Not Enough, Entrapment and Highlander. The castle holds multiple secrets and some wonderful exhibits on what day to day life in the castle was like. Once our visit was over we were on the road, headed north through the highlands to the Orkneys.

Me at Eileen Donan Castle.

Dan and I during our drive to the Orkney Islands.