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It was a cold, calm and clear start with nice day forecast. The plan today was to drive to Portree on the Isle of Skye. A previous trip to Skye was in poorer weather, and it is rare to have the Western most highlands totally clear of cloud. So today promised to be a treat. We set off down the Road to the Isles (A830) for Mallaig. Between Corpach and Glenfinnan there was patchy fog at first, especially over parts of Loch Eil, drifting over the road in places. We stopped at Glenfinnan where we climbed up to the view point over Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan viaduct. It was nice to see all the peaks surrounding Loch Shiel. The next stop was Silver Sands of Morar. In the sunshine the white sands were so bright! This beach looks like it belongs in the tropics.
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| Banks of fog along the shores of Loch Eil. | Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan Monument panorama as we climb up towards the view point. | |
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| Overexposed 360 degree panorama of Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan Viaduct from the view point. |
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| Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel looking awesome in the clear air and sunshine. | Glenfinnan Viaduct of Harry Potter fame. | Renée in front of Loch Shiel. | |
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| Carrying on Westwards as the shadows enhance the look of the knobbly hills. | The Western end of Loch Eilt. | Continuing Westwards through the hills. | Rail bridge over the road with Loch Nan Uamh behind. | Loch Nan Uamh. | |
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| As we approach Silver Sands, the Isle of Skye comes into view, with the Sound of Sleat separating it from the mainland. | 360 degree panorama of one of the beaches at Silver Sands of Morar. This beach surely belongs in the tropics! |
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| Renée and Mike enjoying the Silver Sands of Morar. | Looking back at Morar Bay as we return to the car. | ||
After leaving Silver Sands, we arrived at Mallaig ferry terminal with 25 minutes to spare before the next sailing. We boarded very soon after buying tickets so nice timing! The crossing was smooth on nearly calm waters with the Cuillins (the mountains on the Isle of Skye) fully visible in the distance with no cloud to obscure them. Once off the ferry we followed a slow convoy to Broadford. However no rush as the scenery was breathtaking in the crystal clear air. We stopped at Broadford to look at the bay and have a short break. Then we continued Northwards. The drive to Portree was lovely, skirting the Cuillins. I enjoyed driving this road! Such crisp fresh air, and beautiful scenery coloured by the grass, rocks and heather.
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| Back on the road. Just a few miles away from Mallaig now. | Boarding the ferry to Armadale. | Panorama of Skye and the Cuillins in full view (that's a rare sight - no cloud). | |
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| 180 degree panorama (roughly North to South) looking around Mallaig Harbour. | A closer look at the Cuillin mountains on Skye. | Looking back as the ferry departs. | A statue on the end of the pier. |
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| The Isle of Rum. | The Isle of Eigg. | I think this is the view East into the mouth of Loch Nevis. |
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| Looking back to Mallaig from the middle of the Sound of Sleat. | Approaching Armadale Bay. | Getting off the boat and setting off on the A851 towards Broadford. | ||
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| The A851 has nice views on the right of the Sound of Sleat and the mainland beyond. | Panorama of Broadford Bay. | ||
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| A small garden by Broadford Bay. | Even the car park had a nice view. | Northbound on the A87 from Broadford towards Portree. Loch Ainort on the right with mountains Beinn Dearg and Glamaig dominating the far shore. | Beinn Dearg towering above us. | |
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| The Western end of Loch Ainort. | Driving underneath Beinn Dearg with Glamaig in front of us. | Looking ahead to Glamaig. | Going round Glamaig with the Sound of Raasay ahead and Isle of Raasay on the far right (Raasay House is visible). |
Soon enough we arrived at Portree and parked the car in a pay and display car park in the centre. After a walk around we stopped at a gift shop. Then we found a seafood restaurant called Lower Deck and had a nice meal of breaded haddock, chips and peas. Then we headed back to the car to start driving back to base.
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| Looking around the centre of Portree (Somerled Square) after parking up. | Looking out from Bridge Road and the road below it across Loch Portree which leads into the Sound of Raasay. | A market in Somerled Square. | ||
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| More pictures taken as we walked around central Portree. | Looking towards Quay Street which leads down to the multicoloured buildings the place is famous for. | |
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| Panoramas of Quay Street as seen from across the harbour at A855 Mill Road. | Quay Street. The restaurant we ate in (Lower Deck) was in the closest multicoloured building to us. | A 100 degree panorama taken at the corner of Quay Street and Beaumont Crescent. | |
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| Another view South over Loch Portree with the Cuillins showing prominently in the distance. | |
The drive back to Broadford was nice again. We stopped to look at some highland cows en route between Lochs Sligachan and Ainort. After that we were stuck behind a slow lumbering tanker for many frustrating miles. This for me as a driver spoilt the Sky Bridge section, as did roadworks just before Kyleakin which we were stuck at for maybe 10 minutes. However, eventually I got us past the infernal tanker and had a nice cruise to the Glengarry view point where we had a short break. Then onwards we went to Spean Bridge where we turned right to head back to Fort William. Again we followed a slow convoy all the way to Nevis Range gondola where we stopped for tea at the café. Then on way back we stopped at a bus stop for a great view of cloud free Ben Nevis north face cliffs.
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| Driving back South towards the Cuillins. | Another view of Glamaig. | Highland Cows by the side of the road underneath Glamaig. Sound of Raasay and Isle of Raasay visible in the background too. | ||
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| Panorama of Beinn Dearg, Glamaig and Sound of Raasay from the Highland Cows' location. | Highland cow below the saddle between Beinn Dearg and Glamaig. | Driving Eastwards over the Skye Bridge. | |
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| Heading East back into the mainland highlands. | A very green hillside. | Carrying on along the A87 past various Lochs and mountains. | Loch Garry from the Glengarry view point. | ||
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| More views of Loch Garry from the Glengarry view point. | Views of the cloud free North face cliffs of Ben Nevis (and Carn Mor Dearg to its left) as we return to the Fort William area. | ||
Once back in Fort William we made a beeline for the BnB to collapse in a heap. I was exhausted after all that driving and fresh air and needed a rest. After a good lunch we weren't that hungry so we decided not to go out for supper. So we retired for the night.
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