Photos and the City

Tag: UK

  • Applecross Peninsula

    My hosts at the Seadrift B&B not only make the very best porridge of all times, but they are also great at helping you to plan your tour! As I´ve been already to Skye in the main season last year I wanted to avoid that (and come back during more quiet times). I just knew I wanted to explore further north.

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    So they recommended to tour (and walk) around the Applecross peninsula – and what a stunning piece of North-Western Scotland it is. The drive over the pass isn´t that easy, thing super narrow streets and very tight curves but the view from up there is just gobsmacking! I only had a few seconds before the sky opened up and rain poured down but these few seconds…

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    Over the 2053’ road called the Bealach na Ba, if the cloud has lifted, you’ll see the kind of views normally reserved only for mountaineers. Panoramas to the Outer Hebrides and South to the Kintail mountains will keep you gazing until you need to descend to the village for warmth and sustenance. (Applecross.co.uk)

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    Back on the other side, I arrived at the Applecross bay and the sun was back. There are a few crofting villages scattered around the coastline and the name “Applecross” is about 1300 years old.

    The area around Applecross is believed to be one of the earliest settled parts of Scotland. The coastal settlement of Sand, just to the north of Applecross, is the location of a major archaeological site. (Visitscotland)

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  • Eilean Donan Castle

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    I had planned to do a quick picknick with a view of Eilean Donan Castle but the weather wasn´t quite in the mood for that. But I still enjoyed looking at this Scottish beauty I´ve already known from so many movies.

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    Eilean Donan ( Eilean Donnain) Is a small island in the Scottish Highlands where three lochs meet:  Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. The picturesque castle is often described as the most beautiful in Scotland and is connected with a stone bridge to the mainland since a renovation in the 20th century.

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    The castle was founded in the thirteenth century, and became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies the Clan MacRae. In the early eighteenth century, the Mackenzies’ involvement in the Jacobite rebellions led in 1719 to the castle’s destruction by government ships. Lieutenant-Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap’s twentieth-century reconstruction of the ruins produced the present buildings (Wikipedia)

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    eilean donan castle, scotland, highlands, movie, travel, uk, clouds, castle,

    The village Dornie about one kilometre from the castle. The castle was rebuilt between 1919 and 1932 and included the construction of the arched stone bridge. The rebuilding followed the exact ground plan but details of the present castle differ from its original appearance.

    I didn´t feel the need to go inside (and visit during the day) but came back the next day in the evening. When the official opening times are over one is allowed to cross the bridge for free and walk around the island – and there were way fewer people than during the day!

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    Again the view from above – from the old road.

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  • Along the way to Dornie

    My final destination for this day way a B&B near Eilean Donan Castle, my most northern stop for this time. But there was still a little way to drive and a few things to see. For tea I choose the “Castle Stalker view” – a lovely little restaurant with the best view of Castle Stalker.

    Along the way to Dornie 1

    Set on an island in Loch Laich Castle Stalker is privately owned, even though they now offer tours to the castle during the summer (which I only found out right, but that´s a good reason to go back there another time).

    Along the way to Dornie 2Along the way to Dornie 3

    Driving around moody lochs and being stopped by boats going through a lock.

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    And again we were stopped by heavy transport – there were some wings going by…

    Along the way to Dornie 8

    Finally the first view of Eilean Donan Castle, which I´ve known already from so many movies and tales.

    Along the way to Dornie 9

    It was raining cats and dogs when I arrived at the Seadrift B&B and lucky me, otherwise I would have missed this special greeting!

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    The Skye Bridge, connecting Skye to the mainland was only a few minutes drive, but this time I saw Skye only from this side!