Rain Rain go away….

Although the rain had shot down all night, and the winds raged around Skye, I was quite settled in my ‘lodge in the forest’, hardly being rocked at all by the winds, although I could hear them whipping through the treetops.

The sky was alternating between ‘Battleship Grey’ and ‘Thunderous Black’ – as you can guess it was poor weather, so I didn’t particularly rush to get away, hoping for the weather to improve before I left, so I could at least see some of the sights on my trip across Skye.

I soon hit the small town of Portree http://www.skye.co.uk/, unfortunately the heavy squally rain prevented me wandering around, although I was tempted in ‘Skye Batiks’ http://www.skyebatiks.com/ which made their own very colourful and unique smock,tops and bags… I was tempted and tried on a couple of psychedelic coloured tops,but at £80 each, and me being unsure whether I could ever get away with wearing them…left them on the hangar.

then it was back on the road towards the ‘Storr’ and the ‘Old man of Storr’http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/thestorr.shtml  …again heavy rain,low mist,and high winds prevented me even leaving the car park, people were soaked to the skin before they even got off the car park ! Although I did have lunch there before moving on in the rain towards Staffin bayhttp://www.panoramicearth.com/601/Skye/Staffin%20Beach , looking out over the black waters of the Sound of Raasay, then onwards and up towards the North of the Trotternish mountains, stopping at  ruined               ‘Duntulm’  castle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duntulm_Castle on the promontory overlooking Tulm Bay and the Little Minch – a point where the Highland Pipers used to practice (presumably no one could hear them !) ,the stone cairn marking the spot.

Carrying on up the wild coast, I briefly called at the cemetery where ‘Flora Macdonald’ of ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ fame is buried , a recent addition of the grave of  famous designer Lee Alexander McQueen dominates the more modern part of the area..

the weather still didn’t improve, and although I tried I couldn’t find any decent spots to stay, and so had to pay out the high price of £5 + £3 electric ! on the campsite, which was no more than a patch of gravel near the pier at Uig http://www.uig-camping-skye.co.uk/, although there were hot showers and toilets – luxury indeed …and I settled for a breezy night,with the fan heater to keep me warm…

I awoke the next day to more torrential downpours and gusting winds blowing across Uig, and again had a leisurely start hoping for a gradual improvement.

I picked up some supplies at the local shop, before continuing my tour around the island of Skye, passing wind and rainswept settlements with the roads almost to myself.

After a time I arrived at the small settlement of Dunvegan, which has it’s own castle  http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/DUNVEGAN.HTM ,and carried on passing it to the end of the road at Claigan, where a small car park existed, and signs to ‘Coral Beach’http://www.theskyeguide.com/walking-mainmenu-32/14-strolls/79-claigan-coral-beach  – by this time the rain had started to ease, being more squalls than continuous, so I took the opportunity walking along a good track to the beach of the remains of Coral,washed up on the beach, and used by farmers over the years as fertiliser. There was also large groups of seals in the area, but I didn’t see any ,although I was welcomed with a ‘fly past’ from a Tornado,waggling its wings as it passed overhead  and I drank in the views,and the sunshine…although the wind was still strong (as you can see)

Then it was back through Dunvegan,and eventually I saw signs for Glenbrittle, which I knew to be a good area, and following the road, found a good spot to stay in Glenbrittle Forest http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/ScotlandHighlandNoForestGlenBrittle…and a good forecast for tomorrow,although it’s getting colder and snowing !, but the rain has stopped, and winds are easing all the time…. Good night !