Over The Sea to (secret) Skye

Travelling the Great Glen alongside Loch Ness

The translation of the River Moriston from its Gaelic roots into English as River of the waterfalls is a big clue that it might be worth stopping off here. Fortunately most people don’t speak Gaelic and drive right by, ensuring this beauty spot remains relatively quiet by local standards. The burn here tumbles haphazardly across bands of rock in a determined effort to reach nearby Loch Ness. These aren’t the highest waterfalls in the region by any means, but they’re a pleasant place for a short wander. Even the local Highland cows are friendly!

The hills to the north-east of Glen Shiel are known as the Five Sisters Of Kintail and form a high ridge some 5 miles long rising steeply from Glen Shiel to a maximum height of 3,501 feet. According to legend, the five sisters are the oldest of seven sisters, as the youngest two sisters fell in love with two Irish princes who washed ashore during a storm. Their father would only allow them to marry once the older sisters has also been married, and so the princes agreed to send their other five brothers once they had returned to Ireland with their new wives. Although the princes failed to appear, the five sisters continued to wait, eventually turning into mountains to extend their vigil into eternity.

Eilean Donan is recognised as one of the most iconic images of Scotland. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery. Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries. Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years until Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and proceeded to restore the castle to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labour the castle was re-opened in 1932. There are four generations of the MacRae family past, present and future who are still the Constables of Eilean Donan Castle today.

The Isle of Skye is connected to the mainland by a road bridge. Connecting the mainland village of Kyle of Lochalsh to the village of Kyleakin on Skye. Since December 2004 the bridge has been free to cross for all, but it was not always this way. When the bridge first opened in 1995 there was an expensive toll charging both ways to cross.

Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles sits at the heart of a 20,000-acre working Highland estate. The estate is owned and managed by a Scottish charitable trust dedicated to promoting and preserving it for future generations. Armadale Castle was once the seat of the Macdonalds of Sleat, part of the mighty Clan Donald. Now a ruin, it sits in a dramatic position overlooking the Sound of Sleat and surrounded by 40 acres of magnificent woodland gardens. The ruined Castle is currently unstable so is fenced off for your safety – but you can still can still enjoy magnificent views framed by the romantic ruin. We are working on plans to stabilise the structure to enable full access. The Castle ruins date from the early and mid-19th century. Adjoining the ruin is part of the original late 18th-century mansion house.

The name ‘Eilean Iarmain’ is Gaelic for ‘Isle Ornsay’ and means ‘Ebb island or tidal island’. The lighthouse, the island and the hotel all share the name. Designed by David Stevenson the lighthouse was built in 1857 and is actually on a separate island. It was owned for a time by Gavin Maxwell. More accessible, the pretty and utterly genuine Eilean Iarmain hotel was built in the early 1800s. With delightful views over the tidal island ‘Isle Ornsay’ to Knoydart, it is surrounded by converted stables buildings, steadings and stone built piers.

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. Based in Sleat, Isle of Skye, we are the only centre of Higher and Further Education in the world that provides its learning programmes entirely through the medium of Gaelic in an immersed, language-rich environment.

The gallery is situated at the end of a single track road with breathtaking views across the Sound of Sleat to Ardnamurchan Point and the islands of Eigg and Rùm... Aird Old Church Gallery boasts a wide range of original watercolours and prints, each created by Peter McDermott. Peter’s original watercolours provide dramatic interpretations of the Scottish landscape, each telling a story about the Highland landscape and weather. We also have a large selection of limited edition Giclée prints taken from original watercolours.

Travel across the sea from Skye on the last turntable ferry in Scotland. The Glenelg Ferry crosses the Kylerhea Narrows at the original crossing point between Skye and the Mainland. The scenery is stunning, the wildlife entrancing (seals, otters, sea eagles, seabirds of all kinds), and we can stop off at the Lighthouse for coffee, biscuits and souvenirs of your journey.