Skye, Loch Slapin and Torrin

One of my favourite views on the Isle of Skye is just after the village of Torrin. Standing on the beach and looking across loch Slapin to Bla Bheinn. I make no apology for posting so many photos as I never tire of that view. Here are just a few I took of it. I hope you manage to see it in real life too as they dont really do it justice.

Skye, Loch Slapin and Kilbride

Back on track down the road to Elgol, just after loch Cill Chroisd the views of Bla Bheinn start to open up. It is arguably Scotland’s most scenic mountain but I certainly wont argue that point, as I think it is. I took photos of it from all angles and in all seasons, I even climbed to the top of it but more of that shortly. Here it is in all its glory as it first comes into view. The early summer foxgloves giving the photo a splash of colour.



Before you get to the village of Torrion there is a little dead end road that cuts off around Kilbride that is worth a look as it offers some great views of Bla Bheinn across loch Slapin



There is a lovely little bay at the end of the dead end road and you can often see seals and the occasional otter around this area in the early morning. There were only sheep to be seen on this morning.



You can hear nothing but silence when the sun rises over loch Slapin on a windless day.



The dead end road leads onto a rough track that weaves round the coast to the ruined village of Suisnish. I found its better going by bicycle than walking as its a long way and on such an interesting island, I didn’t find much of interest on the way.



Heading back to Torrin you can’t help but notice the unsightly sight of the Syke marble quarry. However I appreciate that the locals must earn their living and it is well off the beaten track.

The rebirth of Vin Rouge and "The Mackerel"

My apologies for the lack of posts this week. My new work has been hectic. I have never seen such a disorganised company but to be fair they TUPE’s across over 200 workers. Im still fighting with myself on the decision to continue as one of the worlds workers heading for a heart , stroke or nervous breakdown, or to retire early without a pension and take things easy for a while. At any rate, this months wages will get my 10 year old car throught its MOT and a few extras for my new toy.

Yip.. This weekend I headed for the Solway Firth and collected my father’s boat ... yeah.

It was a very moving affair trying to move it, knowing that he wrapped it up for winter just before he died. When I took its cover off, all its accessories were neatly stored in the boat exactly as he left them. He named the boat Vin Rouge and it will keep that name, however I will affectionately refer to it as “The Mackerel”

I hope you will enjoy following my metamorphosis from inflatable boat journeying to rigid boat touring during the course of the summer

I wasn’t sure if I could manage the boat on its own as it weights 150kg when empty. Many folks told me I was daft taking it under my wing as it was too heavy for one person to handle. I now agree it is to heavy for one person to move with brawn but given a brain, a man can move a mountain with a lever. I had no problem getting the boat off its rusted launch trolley and onto its road trailer, single handed. I let a winch do the work :-D

So while I get my little red Mackerel ready for the new fishing season, I will resume my tour of Skye

Skye and Loch Cill Chroisd

Turning left at Broadford, from the main A87 road to Portree, is one of the most scenic roads on the island. The B8083 weaves its way slowly around loch Slapin before climbing the hills to end at the little harbour village of Elgol.

I will never forget the first time I took that road on my motorbike in ’75. The scenery really is something else. Even my photographs from the year I spent on Skye dont do the journey justice.

Its worth stopping at the little grave yard of Cill Chriosd not far from Broadford. It offers splendid views of Beinn na Caillich.



The ruined church is hidden behind a wall of ivy. Its believed that Christianity was preached from this hillock as early as the 600’s. This church was used until 1840when it was replaced by a newer one in Broadford.



Skye marble was excavated in the hills to the east of Loch Cill Chriosd. This photo captures some of the light and shadow as the clouds skim the hill tops.



A late spring rainbow appears as the last of the year’s yellow flag iris starts to drop its petals.



However my favourite time of the year at the loch is in winter when the reeds have died back and turned yellow and gold. Beinn Na Caillich is clearing its head of clouds in this early morning scene.



Frost is still on the shore of Loch Cill Chroisd early on a cold but sunny winter’s day.



Bla Bheinn, sprinkled with snow, is quietly reflected on the golden edged loch



The cloud clearing from Bla Bheinn as rain still falls on its reflection in Loch Cill Chroisd



And the views get better as you go....

Skye, Broadford and Beinn na Chaillich

Heading further down the main A87 road you will come to Broadford. Its not as pretty looking as Portree but its my favourite village on Skye as it is less busy than the island’s capital town. You cant help but notice Beinn na Chaillich looming impressively over the Broadford.

It was a lovely summers evening and I had just finished work, scoffed a greasy fish supper, and was wondering what to do with myself. I had often looked at Beinn na Chaillich and wondered what it would be like trying to run up its rocky sides.



That night I thought it would be a great way to work off the fats of the slowly digesting lump of fries lying in my stomach, so without further ado, I was off at a trot and heading for the hills.

The fries bounced gently in my gut as I jogged along the road towards Old Corry. Then they turned a couple of times as I crossed the heather towards the base of the Caillich. I could feel my internal digestive engine working like a well filled washing machine as I worked myself into a lather on the ever steepening slopes. When I started jumping from stone to stone on the steep convex sides my digestive juices really started to flow. It was now becoming hard work as my supper seemed to enter the spin cycle.

The rocky flanks of the Chaillich are steeper than you think ..could they avalanche ?



Eventually the slope started to ease and so did the weight in my stomach.
As I looked back down the slope towards loch Cill Chriosd, I could feel the chips sink slowly to my lower intestines.



A little further on and I paused to look back over Broadford. It was a wonderful view on such a beautiful summers evening but I was a little surprised there was not a breath of wind .... yet.



Finally I made the summit and it surprised me that it was only a couple of hours since eating the first few chips. The cairn looked as big as the mound of fries did when I first unwrapped my supper in village far below.



Looking over the red Cuillin towards Portree I though I could feel the first puffs of wind billowing softly in my face in the cooling evening air.



As the sun started to set over the distant Cuillin, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was a muffled rumble of thunder I heard ?



Things can change quickly on the Scottish hills. You have to be prepared for all kinds of weather and emergencies.

A little later, I ran all the way back to Broadford with a skip in my step. I felt a lot lighter and happier following my exercise. It was now time for a pint or three in the Dunollie before bed.

The next morning I stopped and smiled to myself as I took this photo of the Chaillich reflected in Loch Cill Chriosd. I was thinking of the old legend that there is a Norwegian Princess buried under the summit cairn.

Hmmmm ..I know there is something else buried under that pile of stones

Skye and Ord

It was the splendid views from the beach at Ord looking over to Bla Bheinn (or Blaven as its often refered to) that inspired me to paint this watercolour

Im also pleased to see that the seakayakphoto blog of my brothers is up and running again :-D

Skye and the Torskavaig Road

Heading further down the road towards Armadale you pass the Isle Ornsey and its light house. On the other side of the Sound of Sleet is the entrance to Loch Hourn. Beinn Sgritheall is the mountain that dominates the horizon.



I found that even spending a year on Skye, it wasn’t enough time to get all the photographs that I wanted for my collection. The area around Armadale is missing, partly due to the trouble of having to navigate a major roadworks on the road and when I did go there , the weather didn’t to the scenery the justice it deserved. This is the only photo I have of Armadale sea front.



However there is a single track road that runs the length of the Armadale peninsula on its west side and I had more luck on that route. It offers great views towards the Cuillin hills and Bla Bheinn.Its a very narrow twisting road that has some very steep gradients on it so its really only suitable for smaller vehicles, but the views are great.

Looking across Torskavaig Bay towards the Black Cuillin of Skye.



The sandy beach at Torskavaig



The Black Cuillin seen across Loch Eishort from the village of Ord



Bla Bheinn from the village of Ord