One last look out our window on the Isle of Skye...the Cuillin Mountain Range....
Our hostess, Jenny, who served delicious breakfast, good touring advice AND did our laundry, lotsa laundry (for a very nominal charge!)
We neglected to get any pictures of our first dinner on the Isle of Skye....so as we left Dunvegan, we took a picture of The Old School Restaurant....which really WAS the old school!
The cute Post Office
Out of town (which doesn't take long) and back on the road again....to leave the beautiful Isle of Skye.
You may remember, we arrived on the Isle by ferry; we are leaving by the new and only bridge serving Skye which opened in 1995.
Took the below picture so that we would remember the name of the town where we stopped for lunch....Kyle of Lochalsh....the first town we entered on the mainland side of the bridge.
We were hungry and had no idea what lay ahead....so took the first opportunity we spotted.
When is the last time you had a Coke from a glass bottle?
Strolling a bit after lunch, we discovered RNLI. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) is a volunteer organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea around the UK and Ireland.
They provide lifeboats and operators, lifeguards, marine safety advice, and flood rescues. If you looked carefully at the harbour photos in Portree, Skye, you might have noticed one of RNLI's signature orange lifeboats moored in the harbour. Note: You may have noticed that our spelling has taken a Brit turn. This is not us but our Brit Mac that corrects our spelling to their way. Oh well. They do a lot of what our Coast Gaurd does on a volunteer basis. They depend on donations to make their operation function.
Not much farther down the road we find Eilean Donan Castle. This is called the "most romantic" castle in all of Scotland. Tom asks: "What makes a castle romantic?" I dunno. I asked the lady in the RNLI shop her opinion about that.....she thinks it is because it is the most photographed....AHA!!
It is the only one we have seen thus far (of only 3 or 4 ) that you can actually see and photograph without paying!!! Bingo! The RNLI woman is wise....just like a lot of other ads, enticing the consumer with "romance". We didn't bite, i. e., we didn't pay to enter the grounds.
This spectacular panorama was taken just beside the Eilean Doran Castle....the reflection in the water......
Since this castle is the most romantic, the most "famous", the most romantic, etc, etc, etc...it seems tourists must be reminded to drive on the left hand side.
The scenery is, once again, beautiful and distracting to the driver!
We had a difficult time finding our new nest, but it is well worth the search!!!
It is the only bed and breakfast right on the banks of the Loch Ness.
Our dressing area
The dining room
The Puzzle Table!!!!! YEA!!! The puzzle is folded up and table used for breakfast.
View from dining room...Please note the "bushy" hemlock.....Ian, our host, can only reach so far on his ladder....so he leaves the rest and calls this his pineapple.
Rowan, the resident black Lab.
Our patio which is right on the Loch.
Ian's gardens comprise 4 acres.....it is obvious that he loves tending to them.
Path to the Loch
We are right on it!!! So enchanted with the place that we change our plans and add an extra night here!
Catherine, our hostess, suggests a short drive to Fort Augustus....8 minutes....and she recommends two restaurants. We park near the WWI memorial, laden with poppies.
This is a village, not a town, certainly not a city. All one lane roads...
Fort Augustus is located on the Caledonian Canal. It is the site of 5 locks....one of several passage from coast to coast in Scotland. This is a staging area for boats waiting to enter the locks or hanging out after passing through.
One of the larger -- maybe a canal cruise boat?
Off to find food again! We have selected the Boathouse. All we had to do was find it. We try the car approach. Tom tries to get through the gate.
Not to be! Plan B. Park on the street along the Loch Ness end of the Canal and start walking -- nice view for a stroll.
We cross the rotating bridge.
Past the Loch Ness tour boat....
Find a promising sign with an arrow pointing the way. We hope...
Does this look like the way to a nice restaurant? Nice stroll though.
We find it about a half mile later.
The stiff cold wind coming off Loch Ness prevents us from eating outside.
A nice place inside.
Kathy has a prawn dish with a Turkish flavour.
Tom goes for the boring ol' beef pie with chips -- quite good.
Back to our beautiful place at Tigh Na Bruach, a little blogging and bed. Good night.
