One of the things I miss the most about my former life as a tour guide is getting the opportunity to travel to Skye on a regular basis.
As a result I have tried to return as often as possible, thus far only managing once a year, but enjoying some fantastic trips as a passenger.
Last November is a particular highlight, as Dave and I got fantastic winter weather and loved a great walk to Rubha Hunish.
This year the trip came at an unexpected time. I hadn't had it in my mind that I'd go to Skye until the winter. However, things have been getting on top of me recently, the craziness of August getting too much, and the tranquility of the
Cateran Trail seems like an all too distant memory.
I needed an escape, some time on my own, space to think. Fresh air. I knew I'd get plenty of that on Skye!
I drove up after work last Friday, leaving Edinburgh at 5pm and arriving at my destination just outside of Portree at 10.40pm! I was shattered - it had been a long slow drive, and the last couple of hours in the dark were particularly tough. I'd been sitting on my bum all day at work, so it wasn't thrilled to be sitting in a car for 5 and a half hours!
But I was delighted to see my friends Bill and Line again, and after a restorative glass of red (or two) and some toast, I was feeling much better.
Saturday took me to the Faerie Pools, one of my favourite places on the island. I was looking forward to finding a quiet wee spot, to dip my feet in, to read my book, and to reflect and relax. Sadly that wasn't to be. The place was absolutely crawling with people - the pools are a very popular visitor attraction now.
I need to do as the people above did, and wild swim in these pools one day! But I'd need to find a day when there is no one there!
I didn't find the peaceful spot I was looking for, and sadly the weather took a turn for the worse. I decided to take a drive down to Glenbrittle, where I stayed in the car as the rain lashed down. After a wee drive to Talisker to visit the Oyster Shed, I headed back to Sligachan to enjoy a short walk in another of my favourite places.
After a bit of a dreich day, it was nice to wake up on Sunday to blue skies. Hooray! Skye is beautiful no matter what the weather does, but it is such a bonus to get blue sky and sunshine.
I was thrilled to jump on the
Real Scottish Journeys bus in Portree, and be a passenger on a delightful tour with Bill around the Trotternish peninsula. It was a trip down memory lane, visiting all the places I used to enjoy stopping on tour.
This (above) is my favourite place to sit whilst at the Quiraing. Here I can sit and enjoy the views out to sea, but also watch all the cars manoeuvring their way up the steep road!
It's also where
this photo was taken, and where my back found fame:
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Then it was time for a spot of lunch in Uig, and a trip to the magical mystical Faerie Glen.
It was really a lovely day out, very relaxed and chilled. Just what I needed!
On Monday morning I sadly left Skye behind, but enjoyed a fantastic drive home through my favourite glens - Glen Shiel and Glencoe. I stop at the same spot in Dornie every trip for this photo of Eilean Donan Castle, but I just can't get enough of this view!
Despite Skye being the busiest I've ever seen it, I did find peace and solitude. I did get time to think, and to clear my head.
I certainly got plenty of fresh air to clear the cobwebs away, and I definitely came home feeling better and more at ease with myself.
This blog is about walking and anxiety, not politics, but with exactly two weeks to go until the referendum on Scottish independence, it would be remiss of me not to mention that as I drove and was driven around Skye, I couldn't fail to notice a certain theme.
I feel anxious, but hopeful :)
