Hi, Highlands! Poolewe-Gairloch-Isle of Skye
Trip Start
Aug 23, 2006
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3
5
Trip End
Aug 30, 2006
Portree,
Scotland,
United Kingdom
Saturday, August 26, 2006
It was time to enter fully in the Highlands! They are the same as in movies or postcards! rounded green mountains, countless lakes, steep hills, low clouds... and sheep! lots and lots of sheep! (now I understand why scottish wool is so fine).
The first thing we visit is the Falls of Measach, small waterfalls that you can see from a old suspension bridge (you can only go up from six in six). Then, bordering loch Maree we go to Inverewe Gardens, in Poolewe. These gardens have the peculiarity that, although they're located on the same latitude as St. Petersburg (Russia) tropical plants grow. Wow! This is because of the warm Gulf stream. Gardens are very big and have thousands of plant species from all over the world. Really beautiful.
Later we go to a town called Gairloch to eat lunch and continue the path toward Glen Doherty, a perfectly carved valley during the era of glaciers
beautiful Highlands
. An impressive sight! We also stop in Kyle and Lochalsh county, where in the middle of loch Duich lies the magnificent CASTLE OF EILEAN DONAN. The castle is tied to the land through a stone bridge and one might say that is the essence of Scotland. I would not want to seem dramatic, but I almost skipped my tears... and here is where the story of the journey occurs: everyone is looking spellbound at the castle when, suddenly, a woman falls head over the lake! After a few seconds of confussion some people get the woman out of the water. Apparently she had slipped while trying to take a picture ¬ ¬ I feel sorry for her but I have to admit that it has been great fun!
After the incident we arrive at the Isle of Skye , the largest of the Hebrides islands. There are two ways to get to the island: by boat or by road via a bridge that links Scotland and the isle. We opt for the fastest (and cheapest) route: the bridge. Is great to see Scotland from the island!
Tonight we'll stay at Dunollie Hotel, a small hotel with the fireplace lit. We are at the end of August but it's already very cold here.
