Hebridean View

Peace. Walking. Views. Wildlife. Aaaaaaand relax. Seriously, look at the colour of that water, how could you not love that view?

We just set out from the cottage today for a coast walk to the highest sea cliffs on the island (Biod An Aithair) before cutting off the wander to Dunvegan Head to see an interesting sea arch that's no longer connected to the cliffside. And on the way stopped to enjoy the utter quiet.

Not that we had the walk completely to ourselves. At the end of the public road (a 1.5 mile or so walk for us) we came across a couple of German campervans with some confused looking tourists. "Where are you going?" asked one, before explaining that they had been searching for a path for the last half hour. National stereotypes, it would appear, dislike disorder. We explained that this being Skye there often weren't paths to follow on documented walking routes and that you really just make up your own route. We set off, closely tailed by two of the three who decided that the risk was worth it.

We meandered following a burn as the Germans scampered ahead to the 'purpose', declaring the views beautiful when they were heading on the descent with us a couple of minutes from reaching the high point and asking them if it was good.

8 odd miles of heathery boggy hilliness. Marvellous. Afterwards we took a spin over to Portree to the big supermarket on the outskirts, contemplating again how difficult it can be on Skye to get decent cooking ingredients. Maybe in seven years of coming here we just haven't tried hard enough, but where are the little independent stores making the best of the great produce Skye can offer?

Ragged Sheep