Photos and the City

Tag: UK

St Mary’s Old Church – Duirinish Stone

While I actually wanted to walk to the Duirinish Stone, the standing stone you see in the back, I also took the opportunity to explore St Mary´s Old Church and burial grounds in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.

The church was built in 1694 in place of another older church near Dunvegan.

The original building was a simple rectangle, but a north burial aisle was added in 1839. A 1735 burial enclosure with fine Renaissance carving stands against the west gable. (Britainexpress.com)

Several heads of the Clan Macleod are buried here, though the church at Rodel on the Isle of Harris was the principal burial place for clan chiefs.

Duirinish Stone

The standing stone might look very old, but it was only erected at the turn of the Millenium, using traditional methods. It offers a stunning view across Loch Dunvegan and MacLeod’s Table.

A time capsule has been embedded in its foundation, containing things of today’s life, so that future generations can gain an insight into the daily life of that time. (Myhighlands.de)

But I just couldn´t find the path leading to the monument. I tried both sides of the church, across the other side and some more – but somehow they didn´t lead me to the stone.

The views were still nice though!

11/05/2023
Fairy Glen – Skye

The Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye – is one of the places I didn´t visit my first time in Skye in 2017. So it was about time! A vast parking place greeted me, these spaces definitely have changed in the last 6 years, but as soon as I got over a little hill, I was in fairyland!

On the West side of Trotternish at Balnacnoc (which means – the village or township in the hills) above Uig, is the Fairy Glen – a Quirang-like landslip in miniature.
The road winds around small round-topped grassy hills with lochans (ponds) in between which gives the glen an otherworldly feel. (Isle of Skye.com)

Even though Skye has a long history with fairies, this valley isn´t the place where the fairies live. The names probably just come from looking like coming out of a fairytale.

It is a beautiful walk up and down the little hills and rocks – but also a very muddy one. After all the quiet time in Shetland, Orkney and Lewis & Harris I was surprised to see other tourists and Skye being pretty busy.

09/05/2023
Bye Harris – hello Skye

It was time to say goodbye to Harris and board the ferry from Tarbert to the Isle of Skye.

Going through all the tiny isles, the ferry took the course to the Isle of Skye.

We got some company for a bit, and a school of dolphins joined us.

Hello Skye

And hello Skye – the weather just stayed a bit wet, like in Harris. On the way to my shepherd’s hut I first stopped at the Rha Waterfalls and the Fairy Glen (next post).

02/05/2023