Greetings from Skye
Aug 26th, 2010 | 08:29 PM
#1
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Greetings from Skye
Thanks to all for their suggestions making my trip very enjoyablel so far.
Plane arrived at Glasgow International Airport at 7.05am, I cleared customs at 7.35am, got cash from ATM, and on to a City Flyer bus with 4 minutes to spare before the bus left at 7.46am. The bus ride costs 4.50 GBP and I arrived at Queen St Station in 18 minutes. I bought my Highland Rover railpass and hopped on the non reserved cabin. It wasn't full and more comfortable than having reserved seats as one could chose to sit alone in an emptier cabin, I wished I had brought disposable windex wipes to get rid of some finger priints but a wet tissue did a decent job.
Got in Mallaig 35 minutes late and overhead a Scotsman telling some that they are enititled to a partial refund since the train was more than half an hour late.. Waited a short while for the Armadale ferry. I walked 1.2 km to a B&B in Advasar, Cleaned up and took a very pleasant walk to the Castle grounds. The museum was closed but the garden ground with the Castle ruins were not locked up and one was allowed to roam in the area I was told by my landlady.
The next day I took the City bus to Portree costs 5.60 GBP or 6.80 for a whole day ticket. It took about an hour to get to Potree and it was very sceniic. The bus was a big tour bus type with panoramic windows. Portree is a pretty village.
Stayed the night and was picked up promptly at 9am by M2 motors car hire www.m2motors.co.uk at my B&B. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to rent a newish clean VW polo 2 door manual for 35 GBP/day, nett. Wasn't sure if I wanted it for just one or two days and was told to call when I knew.
Drove north and it is one of the most beauttiful drives I've done. Did a loop and ended in Dunvegan castle at 115pm. The castle itself wasn't much but the setting was. Left for Talisker distillery and got there at 2.15 in time for a 2.30pm tour. I was bored with the 25 minute tour altho it was nice to see how Talisker scotch was made, 15 minutes would have suffice,
Followed a sigh for fresh oysters as I was getting hungry having only had a big breakfast, and shortbread biscuits at the Dunvegan carpark. The oyster farmer had just pulled into his warehouse with the fresh from loch oysters. He shucked a 6 big oysters ((one pound each) and 6 small oysters (50p each) and they were tasty. Perphaps not as sweet as the ones in Normandy.
I was pretty exhausted by then and decided to head back to Portree for the night. Will leave my car at the car park near the bus station this morning to catch the bus to Kyle of Lochlash and train somewhere south, I need to be in Edinburgh tomorrow for the Tattoo at 7.30pm.
The Scots have been incredibly friendly and kind. Genuinely nice people. The train ride to Mallaig was really impressive. Skye is very beautiful esp in the North.
Plane arrived at Glasgow International Airport at 7.05am, I cleared customs at 7.35am, got cash from ATM, and on to a City Flyer bus with 4 minutes to spare before the bus left at 7.46am. The bus ride costs 4.50 GBP and I arrived at Queen St Station in 18 minutes. I bought my Highland Rover railpass and hopped on the non reserved cabin. It wasn't full and more comfortable than having reserved seats as one could chose to sit alone in an emptier cabin, I wished I had brought disposable windex wipes to get rid of some finger priints but a wet tissue did a decent job.
Got in Mallaig 35 minutes late and overhead a Scotsman telling some that they are enititled to a partial refund since the train was more than half an hour late.. Waited a short while for the Armadale ferry. I walked 1.2 km to a B&B in Advasar, Cleaned up and took a very pleasant walk to the Castle grounds. The museum was closed but the garden ground with the Castle ruins were not locked up and one was allowed to roam in the area I was told by my landlady.
The next day I took the City bus to Portree costs 5.60 GBP or 6.80 for a whole day ticket. It took about an hour to get to Potree and it was very sceniic. The bus was a big tour bus type with panoramic windows. Portree is a pretty village.
Stayed the night and was picked up promptly at 9am by M2 motors car hire www.m2motors.co.uk at my B&B. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to rent a newish clean VW polo 2 door manual for 35 GBP/day, nett. Wasn't sure if I wanted it for just one or two days and was told to call when I knew.
Drove north and it is one of the most beauttiful drives I've done. Did a loop and ended in Dunvegan castle at 115pm. The castle itself wasn't much but the setting was. Left for Talisker distillery and got there at 2.15 in time for a 2.30pm tour. I was bored with the 25 minute tour altho it was nice to see how Talisker scotch was made, 15 minutes would have suffice,
Followed a sigh for fresh oysters as I was getting hungry having only had a big breakfast, and shortbread biscuits at the Dunvegan carpark. The oyster farmer had just pulled into his warehouse with the fresh from loch oysters. He shucked a 6 big oysters ((one pound each) and 6 small oysters (50p each) and they were tasty. Perphaps not as sweet as the ones in Normandy.
I was pretty exhausted by then and decided to head back to Portree for the night. Will leave my car at the car park near the bus station this morning to catch the bus to Kyle of Lochlash and train somewhere south, I need to be in Edinburgh tomorrow for the Tattoo at 7.30pm.
The Scots have been incredibly friendly and kind. Genuinely nice people. The train ride to Mallaig was really impressive. Skye is very beautiful esp in the North.
Aug 26th, 2010 | 10:35 PM
#3
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 308
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Oh yes, it would be difficult to appreciate Skye without a car, I am not a fan of tour buses. But an Aussie couple I met with their own car had a very good day tour around Orkney with a tour group. So maybe I am missing out. But they were disappointed with the day tour around Skye they took yesterday.
Aug 27th, 2010 | 07:07 AM
#5
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 308
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Made it to Inverness. I am glad I decided to pay this rather malign city a visit. It has an old English charm. I hope I am not offending any Scots person, but I have been to England and London more often than my one time in Scotland 25 years ago while studying in University. Went straight to the Information centre which is not in the train station as someone told me. Paid a 4 GBP booking fee for a 45 GBP single ensuite room by the river which was money well spent as it is a Friday and many rooms have been booked up.
I had my best beer batter haddock fish and chips (not cheap at 10.30 GBP but worth it) at the Advasar Hotel pub near Armadale. Better than the ones I had in London, I love fish and chips. I wish I had someone to share the large fish and so that I could try their daily specials. There were some oohing going on at the other corner.
I had my best beer batter haddock fish and chips (not cheap at 10.30 GBP but worth it) at the Advasar Hotel pub near Armadale. Better than the ones I had in London, I love fish and chips. I wish I had someone to share the large fish and so that I could try their daily specials. There were some oohing going on at the other corner.
Aug 31st, 2010 | 02:01 PM
#7
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 308
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Last night in Scotland. Spent 4 nights in Edinburgh, cold but relatively sunny. Enjoyed the Festival atmosphere. Just came back from dinner at the Witchery, pretty pricey, good but not great food, great ambience. Staying at the Pollock Halls, 20 minute walk to the Royal Mile, 10 minute bus ride. Will try to catch the 5.55am train to Glasgow Central then to the airport via Citylink flyer tomorrow. Caught a little cold and so decided to return a day early, might as well be sick at home. I am a warm weather gal, altho Scotland has been worth getting chilled for.
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Sep 1st, 2010 | 11:55 PM
#8
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 308
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Back in warm North Florida with great memories and good pictures.
One tip I would like to share. When asking for directions, it's a good idea to double or triple check with another person since I was given totally wrong information a few times. Very helpful people but some can be confidently wrong.
For example I was told the hourly bus to Rosslyn Chapel was across the street, and fortunately I asked someone else after crossing Princes St, and was told that I was at the correct bus stop initially. Would have been bad to miss the hourly bus. It took 35 minutes for the bus from Princes St to get to Rosslyn Chapel which is being restored. Lovely little chapel with very interesting carvings. Not much to do in that village otherwise.
Inverness: I approached a well dressed lady waiting for her ride and asked where I can have great lamb for dinner. She asked if I had a tight budget and I said not really. She raved about the rack of lamb she had a Roc Pool restaurant. I had a very good dinner there that night. Not expensive, posh place.
I opted for the 3 course set dinner 22 pounds which included scottish girolles with mussels for starters, stewed Soay lamb (special Highland breed of lamb only farmed in North England) in a ratatouille type sauce, very pleasantly gamey, and I finished off very full with 6 different types of cheeses,3 English (including goat cheese and cheddar), one French livarot and 2 scottish cheeses. They served warm fresh bread and very tasty butter and olive oil, and when I turned down bottled water, offered me very nicely tap water w/o making me feel stingy. Their wine list wasn't too outrageously priced either. Having their set lunch would be a deal too, pity I was leaving for Edinburgh at 10am the next day.
Military Tattoo: It was a very enjoyable event. Might be a little overhyped up. Too bad the 1030 pm show with fireworks was sold out when I remembered to book my ticket on August 17th, but at least I was lucky enough to get the very last ticket and good seat too for the 7.30pm.
One tip I would like to share. When asking for directions, it's a good idea to double or triple check with another person since I was given totally wrong information a few times. Very helpful people but some can be confidently wrong.
For example I was told the hourly bus to Rosslyn Chapel was across the street, and fortunately I asked someone else after crossing Princes St, and was told that I was at the correct bus stop initially. Would have been bad to miss the hourly bus. It took 35 minutes for the bus from Princes St to get to Rosslyn Chapel which is being restored. Lovely little chapel with very interesting carvings. Not much to do in that village otherwise.
Inverness: I approached a well dressed lady waiting for her ride and asked where I can have great lamb for dinner. She asked if I had a tight budget and I said not really. She raved about the rack of lamb she had a Roc Pool restaurant. I had a very good dinner there that night. Not expensive, posh place.
I opted for the 3 course set dinner 22 pounds which included scottish girolles with mussels for starters, stewed Soay lamb (special Highland breed of lamb only farmed in North England) in a ratatouille type sauce, very pleasantly gamey, and I finished off very full with 6 different types of cheeses,3 English (including goat cheese and cheddar), one French livarot and 2 scottish cheeses. They served warm fresh bread and very tasty butter and olive oil, and when I turned down bottled water, offered me very nicely tap water w/o making me feel stingy. Their wine list wasn't too outrageously priced either. Having their set lunch would be a deal too, pity I was leaving for Edinburgh at 10am the next day.
Military Tattoo: It was a very enjoyable event. Might be a little overhyped up. Too bad the 1030 pm show with fireworks was sold out when I remembered to book my ticket on August 17th, but at least I was lucky enough to get the very last ticket and good seat too for the 7.30pm.
