We have experienced some spectacular sunsets from out hilltop home and this one recently was a doozy. I noticed a red glow outside and, glancing out of the lounge window, this is what I saw.
I grabbed my camera and raced outside to watch as nature set fire to the western sky.
Whichever direction I looked, different patterns and colours were emerging,
as though looking through a huge kaleidoscope.
The sun sank below the horizon,
the show over for another day.
We hadn’t planned ahead for our trip through Scotland, preferring to see where each day ended. Late October is not the height of the tourist season, however, arriving on the Isle of Skye we found accommodation scarce. We were very fortunate to find a room at Uig Hotel, a beautiful old coaching inn dating back to 1831.
We settled in at the bar to enjoy some local beverages. A Red Cuillin ale for Michael, brewed locally since 1995 and a Talisker single malt for me from the only distillery on the Isle of Skye. We absorbed the stunning view of Uig Bay and Loch Snizort.
The tower in our sights was a 19th century folly, known as Fraser’s Folly. The tenants of Kilmuir Estate, owned by Major William Fraser in 1855, would go to the folly to pay their rents. The tower was later turned into a family home and eventually abandoned in the 1950s.
We enjoyed a superb meal in The Folly restaurant at the hotel, Michael honouring his Scottish roots with a main course of venison haggis. The next morning, we awoke to severe stormy weather. We had decided to explore the island in an anticlockwise direction and see where the road led, we weren’t going to let the elements stop us. The camera stayed safely tucked away until we came across Sligachan Bridge.
Built in the 1820s, it was taking quite a beating from the waters whipped up by the gale force winds.
Apparently, the views of the Black Cuillin mountains are spectacular on a clear day. Legend has it that if you dip your face in the river water by the bridge for seven seconds, you will stay young and beautiful forever. I certainly wasn’t going to try on this day.
Our journey from Meelup to Cape Naturaliste involved a detour to Eagle Bay Brewing Co. Situated in the northwestern corner of the Margaret River region, this microbrewery has been a family affair since 2010. The sweeping views over verdant farmland made for a glorious backdrop to enjoy a leisurely beverage.
The handcrafted beers are brewed in small batches, the magic is created with only four ingredients; malted barley, yeast, hops and rainwater fresh from the heavens. Whichever way you look at it, the tasting paddle was the obvious choice.
The mist gathering on the horizon wasn’t only induced by the beer,
I can’t say the same for the smile on Michael’s face as we departed.
Next time, lunch is definitely on the menu.
Leaving Ben Nevis behind, we drove north through the Highlands, our destination the Isle of Skye. On the way, we stopped to explore Eilean Donan castle.
The island of Donan, at the meeting point of Loch Duich, Loch Alsh and Loch Long was settled by Irish Saint, Bishop Donan in 634AD. The first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century to protect the area from Viking invasion.
It was partially destroyed in the Jacobite uprising in 1719 and then lay in ruins for nearly 200 years. Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911, restored the castle over the next twenty years and added the bridge.
The scenery was breathtaking, even on an overcast day.
Entering through the majestic doorway,
we spent some time wandering through the restored interior, I photographed these Viking sculptures before realizing photography wasn’t permitted.
The exterior has been lovingly resurrected, I can see why it took twenty years.
The castle is still owned by the MacRae family. The Clan MacRae War Memorial commemorates the 423 members of the Clan MacRae who died in World War l, including Lieutenant Colonel John McRae who wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
In stark contrast to the castle’s history, there was a sense of serenity about the misty waters.
The bridge across Loch Long, built in 1990, connects the nearby villages of Dornie and Ardelve.
Scotland’s national flag, The Saltire, stands proudly at the perimeter of the castle. The patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew, was apparently crucified on an X shaped cross, hence, the white saltire on a background of azure blue sky.
Our first morning at Dunsborough was overcast as we set off to discover the beautiful coastline of Geographe Bay. Nature has painted the rocks with her wondrous palette,
a stunning contrast to the calm waters.
Nestled in the next bay is Meelup Beach, a perfect swimming beach, sheltered from wind and waves with crystal clear water. Meelup means “Place of the Moon Rising” and is one of the few beaches in Western Australia where you can see the moon rising over the ocean.
There is a phenomenon called “Staircase to the Moon” when, during summer, the silvery light of a full moon rising is reflected in the ripples of the water all the way to the horizon. I would love to witness that, it seems a return trip is in order.
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