This was possibly the one day of our safari that I'd have planned differently. I had originally wanted to show Pauline the Isle of Skye but I discovered that accommodation on Skye for a single night on an August weekend is well nigh impossible however far in advance or however short the notice you give. So I decided to take the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool and then travel to Inverness via the road to the north and across to Lairg and Bonar Bridge. The Highlands of the first part of the journey are as spectacular as ever but then the landscape becomes more gentle, 'though still wild, and, frankly, far less interesting than much of the rest of Scotland north and south of the central belt.
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| We had arrived into Ullapool on MV Isle of Lewis which we then watched sailing back to Lewis down Loch Broom |
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| Stac Pollaidh (pron polly) and Cul Mor just north of Ullapool (looking West). |
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| Bonar Bridge has a Carnegie Library for its 1000 inhabitants. |
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| The current Bonar Bridge |
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| We stayed for the night just across the Moray Firth from Inverness at North Kessock. We very much enjoyed the friendly service, the food and the accommodation in the recently re-furbished hotel. |
Looks like a place that could need a library... when you've had enough of the views ;)
ReplyDeleteMonica that's rather a neat assessment I think.
DeleteIt's a very beautiful area to tour. You have to do a lot of research to make a successful tour.
ReplyDeleteResearch was just my knowledge of the area Red but it certainly took some planning.
DeleteWe've come to the same (blog) place at the same time, Graham. I've been putting off the next post as I'm finding it difficult to say goodbye all over again.
ReplyDeleteSo we have Pauline. Goodbyes are never easy. I shall be interested to see your take on the Sunday. I shall post mine asap.
DeleteSpectacular landscape indeed! The library looks like it would fast become my second home if I were one of the 1000 inhabitants.
ReplyDeleteIt would;d have been interesting to see inside it Meike. Carnegie gave money for Libraries and suchlike all over Scotland.
DeleteMay I suggest that you replace the caption for the North Kessock Hotel picture with this - "We stayed for the night just across the Moray Firth from Inverness at North Kessock. At dinner, Pauline guzzled down a bottle and a half of chardonnay as I tried virtually all the malt whiskies from behind the bar. I remember dancing a skirl with Pauline in the reception area while being applauded by a coachload of Japanese tourists and then the police arrived... but I don't remember anything after that."
ReplyDeleteYP I think Pauline might be offended by the suggestion that she drinks white wine.
DeleteOkay but I notice you are not denying the whiskies!
DeleteYP I can't remember the whiskies but I can be pretty certain I wasn't dancing.
DeleteI like that bridge, it seems to fit into the landscape very well besides accomplishing the obvious, of course!
ReplyDeleteIt's a functional and quite elegant bridge Kay and is the main river crossing for the area.
DeleteEverything looks so serene like from a bygone era...love it.
ReplyDeleteThe Nighthawk looks very much "at home" parked outside the hotel...like the owner's parking space...smile.
In a way Virginia the Highlands are a bygone era but in other ways they are very much 21st Century. The Nighthawk was very much at home!
DeleteI suppose Skye must have quite a booming tourist industry. We once stayed at the youth hostel on Raasay which was marvellous - very simplle. And not for everyone I suppose. At the time, the warden spent half the year in Raasay and half in India!
ReplyDeleteSkye has a very booming tourist industry Jenny. It's a beautiful island but sometimes it's a little difficult to stop long enough to appreciate it.
DeleteThe Island of Skye was the question (really answer) on Jeopardy recently & I got it right. (color me a bit smug for knowing). It had to do with terriers- the Cairn and...I like seeing what you see on your safari.
ReplyDeleteWell done Norma. I'm glad you enjoy the safari.
DeleteYou snuck in on me when I wasn't looking!
ReplyDeleteMagical photos...I love the old pub. I imagine it was great staying there.
What lovely area...beautifully captured by you and your camera! :)
I'm pretty good at snucking Lee.
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