SKYE - CASTLES,CRAFTS,BAGPIPES ,SCOTCH, AND DID THE "GIRLS" FIND A MICHELIN STAR?

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CASTLE COUNTRY

Scotland is renowned for it's exquisite castles. We managed to visit two while in Skye.  These two, Eilean Donan, and Dunvegan are both still lived in today. The Clan's (family) have reunions, and weddings, and clan gatherings. There are private apartments in each castle for the use of family and friends. 

EILEAN DONAN CASTLE

You can see why it would be one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

This romantic castle was build in 1214 as a defense against the Danes. In ruins for 200 years, it was restored by Colonel MacRae, of Clan MacRae , in 1932 and is now a clan war memorial and museum, containing Jacobite relics, mostly with clan connection.

DUNVEGAN - CASTLE & GARDENS

Dunvegan Castle & Garadens, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and ancestral home of the Chiefs of Caln MacLeod for 800 years. We saw the Fairy Flag, which is said, can rally the "little people" to protect the clan. 

These gardens were the prettiest in Skye. 

The castle as seen from the gardens. 

Beautiful colors......

Katherine & Karen in the gardens.

TALISKER DISTILLERY

Last year this distillery produced 3 million liters of scotch. They only have 9 empolyees. Sounds efficient!!

"The lava of the Cullins" is produced at Skye's only distillery, where we were welcomed for a friendly tour. This single malt is "peaty" and "smokey". That's what the conisseruers   claim. I bought a bottle of the 18 year old. I've come a long way.......in college I was weaned on "Old Smuggler" scotch.....it was so bad, that no one would steal my bottle at the college parties...I think that's the only reason I drank it.

SKYE MUSEUM OF ISLAND LIFE

In the farthest area North in Skye, this museum houses the reconstuciton of thatched cottages, or "black houses" (they were blackened by fire smoke), turns back the years a century or more.

Very well done museum. 

Flora MacDonald 's gravestone is here. She is the local heroine of Skye. When "Bonnie Prince Charlie" was pursued relentlessly by government troops following  his defeat at Culloden, he escaped to Skye disguised as a maid-servant to the courageous Flora MacDonald. She was imprisioned for this act. She later emigrated to America, but later returned to Skye where she died in 1790.

The Northern Skye landscape. 

CRAFTS

SKYESKYNS Manufacturers and supplies the finest quality sheepskins. It is a family business established on the Isle of Skye in 1983. There is a traditional exibition of how the tannery operates. The equipment that is used is 100 years old. 

The "girls" bought rugs, and vests!!

Princess Ann will be taking a tour of Skyeskyns a week after we were there. 

The drying rack.

EDINBANE  POTTERY - Watching a Potter at work.

German craftsman making pottery.

HANDSPINNERS - A hand spun knitting shop. 

KILTS AND TARTANS

No one knows why Highlanders adopted this distinctive mode of dress or exactly when clans adopted a family"patttern" or tartan. The oldest tartan is dated at AD245, and by 1746 there were enough clan tartans to be prohibited for 38 years in a purge on Highland culture. Today , with over 2,000 registered designs, tartans are flourishing.

Lochcarron Weavers Shop

This shop stared in 1938 when Mr. Wood was sent from Galashiels, the Scottish Borders home of the company. He was to teach the art of weaving to the folk of Strathcarron. Mrs. Josephine Buchan, came with him, and she managed the new work place. Local wool spun by the women of Lochcarron and surrounding parishes was used in the making of tweeds, white blankets and rugs. In 1949 the first piece of tartan was woven - a length of "Crawford Tartan". Now Lochcarron of Scotland is the world's leading manufacturer of tartan. 

Katherine is having a bespoke cape made from her choice of tartan. We looked at books with over 700 choices of tartan. Lynn bought a kilt!

In operation since 1949.

BAGPIPES

No sound is more evocative of Scotland that that of the bagpipes. The great highland pipes dating back to at least the 14th century, are played by pipe and durm bands, and by individuals playing for competition or dancing. Over the last two decades bagpipes have also emerged onto the stage of world music. 

THE SKYE FESTIVAL - " FEIS AN EILEIN"

This festival began in 1991. Over 50 events. The main venue of Sabhal Mor Ostaig is stunning - Scotland's Gaelic College. It is located on Skye in the area called Sleat. 

The "girls" went to a bagpipe concert - Skye Piping Society Concert. A concert of bagpipe music on the great Highland bagpipe and the smaller bellows pipes. 

Conner McGlynn playing the great Highland pipes.Conner is only 15, and a young master of the pipes

Dr. Decker Forrest is a course leader of Sabhal Mor Ostaig BA (Hons) Gaelic and Traditional Music course. He is a a competition winner of the Dunvegan Medal for Piping at the Skye Highland Games. (Dr Forrest is from San Diego)

Iain Maclnnes  is a Scottish folk musician and is known from the BBC Radio Scotland bagpipe music program "Pipeline". He has played in folk bands such as "The Tannahill Weavers", and "Smalltalk". He is playing the smaller Highland pipes which has a different sound and is used with bellows. 

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DINING IN SKYE

There is not a menu in Scotland that doesn't feature haggis - it's Scotland's national dish. It was described as a "castrated bagpipe". Cooked in a sheep's paunch (now, probably a plastic bag), it's made with bits and pieces of the lung,liver,and heart of sheep mixed with suet and spices, along with onions and oatmal. Haggis is often accompanied by a single-malt whisky - but what isn't?

KINLOCH HOTEL AND RESAURANT

The only Michelin Star dining on Skye. This is the home of Godfrey and Claire Macdonald. It is on the shoreline of Na Dal Loch in Sleat. Marcello Tully is the resident chef. You  are served in an elegant drawing  room for starters and coffee. We ordered the venison. 

THE THREE CHIMNEYS RESTAURANT. 

The restaurant is located in a stone crofter's house, and is a winner of multiple awards. "Restaurant Magazine " proclaimed Chimneys as one of the world's top 50 restaurants. Specilaties are fresh seafood. More than 100 vintages from the wine list are available to accompany the meal. 

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The hotel side of Three Chimney's is called "The House Over There".

The setting around Three Chimneys. 

Another German tourist takes our photo. What would we do without the German tourists?

THE OYSTER SHED AND FARM SHOP

A lot of oyster shells. 

Not a Michelin star - but just as good...

This was the most interesting "dining encounter". Near the Talisker Distillery in Carbost, Paul McGlynn has been operating an oyster shed since 1981. He shucks fresh oysters at the back of his garage which is turned into a counter for oysters and fresh mussels and lobster. He sells 2 million oysters a year. He was featured in the May,2014 of National Geographic. 

Two Million oysters a year!!

IT'S TIME TO HEAD EAST, AND LEAVE SKYE BEHIND US.........WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

GOOD BYE SKYE!!!