Scottish Highlands 2012, Day 08

Day 08 – Around the Trotternish Peninsula

With the Bank Holiday, not to mention the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, we had to move some of our participants for one night, so when we got that all sorted out, we took off for the northernmost part of the Isle of Skye, the more remote Trotternish Peninsula.

Our first stop was a waterfall and view of The Storr, a craggy outcropping that one sees from a long way away. We clambered up the steep slope, and some of us went up further for another view. After all, there was not enough room along the stream banks for all of us to set up tripods for a good shot. That’s the nice thing about locations we visit … there are always other views and subjects.

There is a stunning set of mountains called the Quiraing (sort of pronounced cuhh-RANG). Born of ancient volcanic activity, it is another set of craggy formations that looks not at all like The Storr. We went up a one-track road with “Passing Places” where one pulls over to let oncoming traffic go by or to let those who know the road better get by and disappear into the distance.

We found a set of sheep pens, probably used to shearing and docking tails. For me, they provided a great lead in to the scene beyond.

We climbed up small tors, clung to steep hillsides, as we looked for this or that shot.

There was one particularly dramatic set of crags, but for the shot I wanted, the dappled light never hit them. Ah well! Still, we all should have gotten some wonderful images.

The wind really blows at the northern tip, and boy did it blow. Fortunately, it was blowing towards us, not over the cliffs! It made us mindful of how rough a life the Medeaval people had in winter. Brrrrr!

The late afternoon light was beautiful. The white hotel and houses stood out against the warm hills. The stormy sky added to it all.

We were hungry, so we beat it along the one-track lane, pulling over for various people headed in the opposite direction, wishing campers luck in the strong winds, in search of a warm pub for something to eat.

Refreshed and warm, we headed back to our hotel. The skies were getting more dramatic, but there was not a scene to set it off. Then. ZOT! There was a most spectacular rainbow. I found a wee croft to set it off.

Next stop? Hmmm, how about The Storr and different stops along the Trotternish route?

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