Isle of Skye and West Coast Day Tour

We take a small stop outside Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though built on the site of an early medieval fortification. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the wars of Scottish independence in the 14th century. It was subsequently held as a royal castle and was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Clan. The castle was granted to the Clan Grant in 1509, though conflict with the MacDonalds continued. Despite a series of further raids the castle was strengthened, only to be largely abandoned by the middle of the 17th century. Urquhart was partially destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use by Jacobite forces, and subsequently decayed. The castle, situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness, is one of the largest in Scotland in size of area.

The burn here tumbles across the bands of rock in a determined effort to reach nearby loch ness, these aren’t the highest waterfalls by any means, but once you stand here you will truly enjoy the beauty of your surroundings with a spectacular view from the overhanging summer house.

Eilean Donan is a small tidal island situated at the confluence of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Long Long and Loch Alsh) in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland by a footbridge that was installed early in the 20th century and is dominated by a picturesque castle that frequently appears in photographs, film and television. A notable scene was used as MI6 Scottish Headquarters in the film series James Bond. The island’s original castle was built in the thirteenth century which became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies. In response to the Mackenzie’s’ involvement in the Jacobite Rebellions early in the 18th century, government ships destroyed the castle in 1719. The present-day castle is Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap’s 20th-century reconstruction of the old castle.

The waters of this location surrounds Scotland’s greatest ever warrior who lived here on Skye. A legendary female fighter by the name of Scáthach. She was an expert in all forms of warfare and the greatest warriors came to train with her at The Fort of Shadows now known as Dunscaith Castle. Her fame spread across the water to Ireland where Cú Chulainn wasn’t happy that somebody could be considered a match for him in combat. The Irish demi-god sailed to Dunscaith and challenged Scáthach to prove once and for all who was strongest.

The area in front of the cliffs of the Storr is known as the Sanctuary. This has several weirdly shaped rock pinnacles, the remnants of ancient landslips. The legend of the locals is that the Old Man of Storr was a giant who lived on these lands who when was laid to rest could see part of his thumb sticking out of the ground.

In the 1700s, the town was a popular point of departure for Scots sailing to America to escape poverty. This form of use repeated during the famine in the 1840s. Both times, the town was saved by an influx of boats, often going between mainland Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, who used Portree’s pier as a rest point. The town also began exporting fish at this time, which contributed greatly to the local economy. The town serves as the main hub on the island for tourists to enjoy food and drink while they explore its many locations around the island.

The home of the famous Talisker whisky was built in 1831 however on the 12th of August 1948 a fire broke out in the store of the distillery. Thankfully no whisky was destroyed, however the stillhouse fire destroyed the rest of the distillery which wasn’t rebuilt again until 1960. Sitting on the beautiful loch of Harport, visitors from around the world come to enjoy the tasting of one of Scotland’s finest whiskies.

On the way back we stop at Loch Carron, a sea loch that runs to the North Atlantic Ocean. A beautiful place to take photos and enjoy your surroundings from the calm waters of the loch to the mountains, and the local farm animals grazing in the surrounding fields.