To Skye via Isleornsay

 I think I was still in brain fog mode because I didn't bother taking images of some beautiful places on our way to Skye.  We stopped at Isleornsay to do a tasting of gaelic whisky.  Located down a narrow footpath in this small village, we tasted the whiskeys at Praban na Linne.  We enjoyed it so much, we bought a bottle for home and a series of small bottles as a gift.  We knew we had to pace ourselves in terms of how many bottles we wanted to bring home but also thought this whisky would be difficult to find elsewhere, even in Scotland.

I wanted to also mention the lunch we had there at the Eilean Iarmain Hotel.  I ordered the fish and chips and it was the best fish and chips I've ever had.  EVER.  The oil must have been at the perfect temperature and the fish so fresh that the meal was hitting all the senses: taste, texture, crispy satisfaction.  Would my travels through Scotland change that opinion?  Isleornsay also had a lovely art gallery - unfortunately, they were busy putting up a show and we needed to get going to the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye.

First stop in Skye?   Talisker Whisky, of course!
It was quite the bustling touristy stop but very well worth it.  We took the tour and the guide spoke carefully in his beautiful accent - very informative.  We weren't allowed to take any images though.

notice the blue skies

We were able to take images in the tasting room.
We bought a bottle of Talisker Storm to be consumed on this holiday.

Our final destination of the day was Portree.  We stayed at Peinmore House, an elegant and comfortable B & B.  Our rooms were fabulous and they had a lovely sitting room for the guests.  Toby the cat spent much of his time regaling us with his purrs.  And, no extra charge for his company.  

Toby

We went to Portree harbor to eat at a recommended restaurant, The Lower Deck.  It was so good that we came back the second night.  They don't take reservations and there was a line outside the door 15 minutes before opening time.

Portree Harbor

Peinmore House breakfast

After our delicious breakfast at Peinmore House, we drove around Skye and stopped at Kilt Rock on the Trotternish Peninsula.  

Mealt Falls
Note the rock cliffs in the background

Afterwards, we wanted to do the Quiraing Walk but had to park pretty far away because of few parking spaces.  Our walk to the trailhead nevertheless, was enchanting.  I was captivated by the lovely puff ball seed heads in a drainage ditch.

And of course, the thistle was present but not in great numbers as I expected.

It was a beautiful walk - our destination is the the rightmost rock - you can barely see people standing there.

And, at our destination, great views of the Isle of Harris.  We will be going there tomorrow by car ferry.

picnickers enjoying the sunny day
Isle of Harris/Lewis in the middle ground

cool equisetum growing in this patch

that little patch of equisetum middle left

Finally on our drive around Skye, we visited the Skye Museum of Island Life.
I love knowing how people lived.

Note, the sunshine in most of these images.  Sunshine.
Our final dinner in Portree, dressed crab.