Another early 0 deg C start …
This time I have to get buckets of warm water to get the ice off the windows so I can make a start.
I decide to head back north(ish) towards Glendale as there appears to be no more roads to explore down this end of the island. I should have realised that this end is the Cuillin “Hills” and they have enough trouble making roads on the relatively flat bits without trying to get into the hills.
The weather promises to be really good with nice cloud formations and absolutely no wind.
Somewhere near Dunan there is a loch with a great view of the mountains and the clouds make an echo of Mt Fuji in the background just to add to the view.
I am heading to Sligachan but as I pass through Sconser I notice an old stone bridge beside the newer concrete version which has some great arches to frame the mountains.
It looks like the sun may come out and shine directly onto the mountains at any moment …
I try various angles waiting for the “decisive moment” but the sun is playing hide and seek in the clouds.
So eventually I settle for a cup of coffee in the local pub and then head off to Sligachan.
On the way there is an area of forest, nearly all of which are planted for firewood as Skye seems pretty barren overall. There is a car park conveniently close at hand but the nearby forest seems to have been as a toilet by the campers who have stayed here so I spend a minimum amount of time here.
Pressing on toward Glen Brittle I round a corner to behold one of the best beams of “”god light” I have seen for a while. There are no stopping bays but I take the risk and just stop in the middle of the road as it is fast disappearing.
A little further down the road are the Glen Brittle – Fairy Pools. It seems the Scots are a superstitious lot as there are fairy “whatevers” all over the place. Our guide of last week took us to the “Fairy Glen” and while there were quite a few tourists around I couldn’t tell if there were any fairies or not! The pools are more than a mile away down and then up a steep track. It’s going to be hard work both ways, but all the returning people I ask insist that it is well worth while. So I pack my gear and head off.
It appears the fairy pools consist of about 20 small waterfalls with pools at the foot of each.
Where they are deep enough the water which is melting from the snow above takes on a bluish colour which is quite interesting
But I am not sure I would describe them as “magical” which is the adjective most used around here!
I head off to Carbost where I have an exhorbitantly expensive crab sandwich from local produce. I also purchase some scallops for tomorrow night’s dinner for Digby and Rosemary who are coming for an overnight visit from Glendale.
Just down the road is Portnalong where all the seafood is produced … there are three boats in the bay one of which is beached so I am not convinced that fishing is about to supplant tourism as Skye’s main industry at any moment.
The bay is not particularly attractive so I amuse myself with all of the detritus laying on the beach.
By now it is time to start heading back as it is becoming more overcast in the late afternoon.
Heading back I pass Loch Ainort where the view of the mountains makes me think there may have been a little fresh snow up there last night.
At least my accommodation is well heated and I spend most of my time inside in a T-shirt … but I have to rug up to venture out to the bin …
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