The Isle of Skye is attached to the north-west of Scotland by a two-lane road bridge (which replaced an earlier ferry). The island was originally Celtic, then settled by Vikings (and there are still many Viking place names e.g. Orbost). Since the 12th century it's been Scottish, home to the McLeod clan (who still live, after 800 years, in Dunvegan Castle). Skye is quite large (1600 square kilometres), but with a permanent population of only 9000 (having once been as high as 30000 before the British Government decided to clear out the rebellious highland scots). Two mountain ranges (the Red Cuillin and the Black Cuillin) dominate the centre of the island, and the coastline is "crinkled" with many bays, inlets and lochs. The scenery is spectacular, as the pictures below show. We travelled there at the tail end of autumn, with the first dustings of snow on the mountain tops.
Skye Bridge
McCleod's Table (so-called because the clan chief gave a banquet for the king there)
Farmstead, loch, mountains
Autumn colours by the loch
North-west lighthouse (now the world's most isolated B&B)
Sea cliffs near lighthouse
Footpath (to the lighthouse)
Run-down buildings
The Storr (Britain's largest landslip)
Old Man of Storr
The farmstead and the Storr
Mountains on the mainland
Ocean waterfall
Black beach and bay
Sheep on the edge
The Quiraing (part of the landlsip)
The Quiraing
Mid-afternoon sun on a small loch
Eilan Dornen Castle (built 13th century, destroyed 1719, rebuilt 1920's)
(P.S. the castle's not on Skye, but the mountains in the background are)
Loch and mountains
Cool leaf
More cool leaves
Frosty morning, smooth river
No Overnight Arking ("herry coo" in background)
Autumn colours
Remembrance Day, Portree
Loch and mountains at dusk
Isle of Skye sunset
