Tuesday 28 May

The weather forecast last night promised a change in the weather and sure enough the day we are to leave the Western Isles the skies clear, the wind drops and the temperature rises. Still it is promised for the top left corner of Scotland for a few days and we were planning a few days on Skye so fingers crossed.

The good ship “Hebrides” was a few minutes early departing Tarbert to cross The Minch on a flat calm sea – quite different to the Oban to Barra run a couple of weeks ago! A meal on board to fill some of the 1hr 40m crossing before arriving at the tiny port of Uig on the Isle of Skye.

"Hebrides" in Uig harbour

We were on Skye 2 years ago and loved it so were looking forward to seeing some more. So our first stop was Dunvegan Castle, home for 800 years of the McLeod Clan, now on their 30th Chieftain. Not particularly big or even impressive but nevertheless interesting and surrounded by gardens that are being brought back to their past glory.

Dunvegan Castle - Ancestral home of the McLeod Clan

In passing we ought to comment here that all the flora, both wild and cultivated, is very very late; rhododendrons in particular should be in their later stages by now but in fact, except for rare exceptions, have not yet started to flower. Bluebells, which should have finished weeks ago, still abound.

Gardens of Dunvegan Castle

With the afternoon pressing on we had espied a campsite just down the road so decided it was as good as trying to find anywhere else. In fairness it is half-term week and the weather seems to have brought out the hordes, but even though it was busy we still booked in. All the electric hook-up pitches were taken, not a problem, but so were most of the level spots too. We eventually found a pitch in the general camping area but later found we were next door to a family of young and noisy children. Too late now to change our minds so we put up with it, but a lesson learned for the future. Not that we don’t like children………

Knew we'd get a good sunset sometime....