8th, 9th & 10th July; Fri, Sat & Sun–North Uist to Skye

Sunrise

Paul and Karen were staying at Portree for the week and I had agreed to cross to Skye to see them before they left.  I had decided I had done enough on the Outer Hebrides and on Wednesday I had tried to book the Van on the Saturday crossing at 11.50 only to be told it was full so had decided to cross as a foot-passenger on Friday, go back on Saturday and bring the van over on Sunday.  I got to Lochmaddy at about 10 and found the ticket office open so went in to buy my foot-passenger ticket and just queried if there had been any cancellations for that morning and, brilliantly, they had so that is that for the Outer Hebrides…for the time being anyway.

 

Ferry coming into Lochmaddy

Lochmaddy’s football pitch

 

Old Courthouse and New Courthouse

Leaving Lochmaddy

This is a “big” ferry – they have upper levels for cars and you have to leave your vehicle during the crossing. 

The Cuillin

Coming into Uig, Skye

It was a lovely day, saw some dophins but little else. Uig looks charming from the sea – and it has a little brewery – we bought some beer (and drank it later)

Met up with Paul and Karen and drove over to Portree, put the Van onto a campsite with electric hood up – bit of a luxury after wild camping since leaving Ullapool

Portree

Portree is a bit of shock to the system as it is full of “soft” tourists – as opposed to those who have worked hard to be where they are – it is relatively easy these days to be on Skye. 

Spent the evening with Paul & Karen, had a beer (or three), had a lovely meal at the Bosville.  I walked back to the campsite from their cottage and walked back there for breakfast.  We then walked up to the Old Man of Storr – no views, in low cloud.

 

How these pinnacles where created

It was sunny back at the car

Paul and Karen were off to Fort William to do the Harry Potter trip to Mallaig and back on Sunday and I collected lots of literature from the Tourist Office and had a quiet evening making plans.

Sunday – walked down to Portree (1.5 miles to buy a Sunday paper (NOT a News of the World) and it started raining just as I got back.  Rained heavily for until about 2 but since buying the paper I haven’t been out and have spent the day doing this.  I am now up to date – hurrah -  just need to find somewhere with wifi so I can “post” it.