An adventure through the Highlands
Now this wasn’t my first trip to Scotland, in fact I’ve been 5 times before, but mostly for business or as a child so this was my first proper road trip from Glasgow to the Isle of Skye and it was stunning.
This trip to Scotland was going to be very different. Firstly it would mean a 5 and half hour drive across the A82 through Glencoe to the Isle of Skye and if I’m totally honest with you, the scenery you pass along the A82 blew me away.
“The Isle of Skye is beautiful – but the drive on the A82 was out of this world”.
A road trip to remember
After landing in Glasgow, knowing what road lay ahead of us we rushed over to the rental company to get the keys to our hire car… not quite what we booked, an upgrade to a Vauxhall Mokka… hmm, upgrade eh!! I’m not to sure about that but I have to say, it was perfect for the roads we drove through. Let’s just say they’re a little bumpy in places.
It wasn’t long before we were well on our way, the view changed from the city scape of Glasgow as we started to enter the vast open space of the Highlands, filled with lochs, mountains and a single simple road that seemed so very small compared to the landscape surrounding it.
During our drive we stopped several times to take in the breathtaking views. We had decided during the planning for this break to take our time to enjoy the journey so chose to stay overnight in Glencoe, a lovely place called Ballachulish, which turns out to be a popular spot for skiers and snow boarders to stay during the snow season.
Eileen Donan Castle
After a good night’s sleep and full stomachs from breakfast, we headed off for the Isle of Skye, stopping off at two fantastic spots on the way, the first of these was Eileen Donan Castle, a 13th Century Castle in Dornie. Situated on an island at the point where three lochs meet, this has become one of the most iconic images of Scotland.
With changes in the weather that each season brings, the surroundings here are constantly changing, it’s not difficult to see why this is such a popular spot for photographers and tourists from all over the world. For a small fee you can explore nearly every part of the castle and learn about the history of this 6th century building or just admire it from a distance at no cost.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
With a surname like mine (Potter) we had no choice but to go and see the Glenfinnan Viaduct – famous for it’s appearances in multiple Harry Potter films. It has to be said this is quite an impressive structure and when the steam train runs along over the top it really is a sight to be seen, unfortunately not one we got to see as our trip ended the day before the train started to run, I’m sure we’ll be back one-day and will see it in person.
It’s a short walk to the viaduct and you’ll find a path that will lead you high up into the hills for a spectacular view over the bridge and if you’re lucky enough you could see the Jacobite steam train running across it during the summer months, our view was of a regular train that run from Fort William to Mallaig the rest of the year.
The Old Man of Storr
Lots to fit in today so we set off early for The Old Man of Storr, located on the north of the Isle of Skye in an area known as Trotternish. The easiest way to describe the old man is it’s a large pinnacle of rocks, that stand high on the hills and you can literally see them from miles around. The climb from the side of the road and back is around 3.8km – while it’s a relatively safe walk it can be challenging for those with limited mobility as you will be climbing over rocks on your way.
If, like me, you’re looking to get some very nice photos of this fantastic place then I strongly recommend you go as early or as late as possible because this is a tourist hotspot which attracts hundreds of people every day. Also don’t forget to take a look around when you’re at the top because the views are simply incredible.
The Quiraing
No road trip would be complete without the ultimate road and this is where ‘The Quiraing’ comes in. This single track road with steep gradients and tight bends looks like it’s been taken out of a Top Gear episode, in fact it’s featured in quite a few movies from The BFG to 47 Ronin and you can see why. On a clear day you can literally see for miles, the sweeping hills and winding road goes beyond majestic.
Be warned, if the weather conditions are bad and visibility is poor I would strongly recommend giving this a miss. However if all is good and you reach the top you may be able to treat yourself to a nice hot chocolate or cold drink from a drinks van before you continue with your journey or start your hike.
Neist Point
Take a trip to the most westerly point of the Isle of Skye and you’ll discover ‘Neist Point Lighthouse’ which has been located here since 1909. Much like a lot of the Isle of Skye you’ll discover that the road to get to here is a little sketchy, but if you can keep your nerve the view when you arrive is stunning, with surrounding cliffs, wildlife and the vast open seas.
The walk down to the Lighthouse is relatively easy, you’ll find concrete paths for you to follow. It does get quite steep at times, take your time and you will be rewarded with stunning views of the lighthouse, cliffs and if you’ve got the time, amazing sunsets, easy to see why this has become a top destination for landscape photographers from all over the world.
The Fairy Pools
Along with The Old Man of Storr, this was the one place I was most looking forward to seeing. The thought of being able to take some long exposure shots of the fairy pools really excited me – what I didn’t anticipate was the sheer number of people that would be here as well! Let’s just say, you have to pick your moments very carefully as quiet moments are very rare here.
The path up to the pools is the same there and back, roughly 2.4km and you’ll probably spend some time exploring each of the pools along the way from the very first waterfall. If wild swimming is your thing then you’ll absolutely love it here, the crystal clear pools with its very ‘fresh’ water makes for a refreshing splash around as well as some fantastic photos.
What can you say except wow!
Now I can bore you with the details about our 8 hour drive back (we did stop a lot!) or I can show you a glimpse of what you could see on your Scottish adventure, enjoy the gallery below and thanks for checking out my blog.
