Scotland Trip 2022 Part 2: Isle of Skye

37 Replies

Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that’s born to be king
Over the sea to Skye

The Skye Boat Song is about Flora MacDonald‘s rescue of Bonnie Prince Charles from the Outer Hebrides to the Isle of Skye. From there he went to Moidart and then on the Paris.

Our trip to Scotland was a family trip, and part of it was uncovering the roots of clan Donald. Where better to start than the Isle of Skye?

Originally we were supposed to take a boat over the sea to Skye, which would have left from Mallaig. This Sunday crossing was cancel in what I have to blame on Barb Taub for what she posted exactly a week before we were take that ill-fated Ferry – I am sure she jinxed me ;) lol, sorry Barb, but when the ferry was canceled I had to think of this post! (The image at the top is a view of Skye from Mallaig – so close yet so far!)

Anyway, despite having to turn around and spending a lot more time on the bus to get to the bridge, we did have a great time on Skye.

We had a tour guide for our day on Skye, the only day with a guide. Not only did he give us some history of the places that we saw, he also gave us a romanticized version of Flora’s story.

Here is a very quick Itinerary of our full day on Skye.

We had spent the night in Kyleakin and drove up the north coast to Portree, stopping at Sligachan Old Bridge for a short walk about and photo opportunity of the Cullin range and the Heroes of the Hills statue (Collie and MacKenzie). After lunch in Portree, we continued up the coast, with a stop at Kilt Rock and at the Staffin Dinosaur Museum, where the owner gave us a private lecture (my brother is a geologist, and reading about the place, the owner likes to talk about his life-time project of the museum). We couldn’t stop at the most photographed place on Skye, the Old Man of Storr, because it was super busy. We stopped up at the Skye Museum of Island Life, but I walked up to Flora MacDonald’s grave instead of going in to see the reconstructed croft houses. I am sure she is an ancestor (she came to America about the same time as our first Mac/McDonald ancestors, so of course… ;) ) From there, we drove to the opposite corner of Skye… (in the photo below, most of my family is present. The guide is on the right, between my parents)

The highlight of our time on Skye might just be the visit to Armadale Castle and Museum. It was actually closed when we were there, but the museum curator opened it up for our family. She gave us a quick overview of the history of Clan Donald and of the museum’s collection. We took a little time to go through the museum and then walked down to the castle itself, despite the pouring rain. It was a great way to finish a visit to our family’s homeland.

Overall I loved Skye. The island is beautiful. i want to go back and do some major hiking. Despite the full day, there are many places on the island I need to see. Some day…

Here are some photos, including those above, from (or towards) the Isle of Skye. You can click on a photo to bring up a bigger version and then scroll through, like a slide show.

I hope you enjoyed! This was part 2. Part one, the introduction to the trip, is here.

37 thoughts on “Scotland Trip 2022 Part 2: Isle of Skye”

  1. Ju-Lyn

    I think it’s brilliant you were already planning a return trip before the day was done! A mark of a good day!
    Love the views of Skye – I’ve only been once, decades ago – this post brought back many good memories.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It was pretty much like that the entire trip – “When I come back, I will have to…” It was one good day after another.
      I do like Skye a lot and need to see parts of the island that I missed. I’m glad the post and photos brought back those memories :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      lol, Donald, Where’s your Trewsers… When I was college a friend and I tried to make a “Scottish Punk Band”, kind of like The Pouges but all electronic. That was one of the few songs that I sang… I did hear it once when I was there, and had to laugh.
      I do like the Skye Boat Song and bet you did a great job with it.
      I’m ready for a return visit to Skye ;)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. Skye is gorgeous I really need to get back to hike! (One of my nephews commented that the trip was almost torture, seeing the beautiful mountains and having so little time to hike i them)

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  4. Rowena

    Looking at your post awakened something in me, Trent, like this knowledge of my ancestors being at nearby Islay, although they were whiskey distillers and merchants rather than fishers. I’ve read stories of a terrible shipwreck and drownings, which was part and parcel of life fishing off the coast, but still sad.
    It’s a long way from Sydney.
    Best wishes,
    Ro

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Truthfully we have no idea who our ancestors where – the first Mac/McDonald that we know about was born on a boat to America in the 1760s. We’re not sure which branch of Clan Donald he was from, but they all had roots on Skye, so that was fun :) I just said something answering your other comment about Islay and whiskey, so funny that your family was in that business.
      Yeah, part of being in your part of the world is that Europe is such a huge distance, and Scotland is perhaps the farthest.

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  5. msjadeli

    I’m guessing you picked up on spirits inhabiting the place. It looks rich with history. Really like the stone dwellings and trying imagine people living in them at one point. Wonderful photos. I’m sure they must have film Highlander here.

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Diana

    Oh I’m soooo behind on reading and on blogging in general. Your posts are wonderful as I’m working my way through your trip!! What FUN! And I’m so happy everyone recovered from Covid. How sweet they were to REALLY take care of your Dad and what a big group to travel but it sounds like it all worked out great. Your photos are amazing!! 🥰

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks!
      It was interesting traveling with such a big group, but worked out much better than I expected :) It was a lot of fun.
      I am way, way behind on reading blogs and haven’t even started to try to catch up yet. Some day I’ll start reading again :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Ah, your husband must be a long lost relative! lol. Yeah, Skye is worth the visit for anyone, but there is a special significance to Clan Donald. A lot of the Highlands was stark yet beautiful. and life was tough.

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  9. Pingback: Scotland Trip 2022 Part 4: Castles | Trent's World (the Blog)

  10. Marilyn Armstrong

    Scotland is the ONLY part of the British Isles I haven’t been to. Garry has been there several times. We chose Ireland where indeed, he discovered the Irish part of his family in Sligo. It looks beautiful and it has such a unique and fascinating history.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Before this trip, it is the only place I hadn’t been. OK, I have been to the Republic of Ireland, but not Northern Ireland. There is something about Scotland that I really like more than the rest of the British Isles, though, since it has been so long, it is possible if I went back to England, Wales or Ireland in the not too distant future, I might change my mind…

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Early in our adventure a few of us decided that the Highlands must be deeply entrenched in our genes – we all have always loved the mountains, and hitting the Highlands was like a homecoming, particularly our first view of a saltwater loch surrounded by the mountains.
      Thinking Covid – Inverness will always have a special place in my heart. When we discovered my dad had covid, the people at the hotel took great care of him, and it was “care”, not just treating a customer right.
      Anyway, it was a great journey to your part of the world :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Skye is great. We did not make it over to Dunvegan – perhaps next time, though that is the castle of the MacLeod clan, so being related to the MacDonald clan, it might not be safe for me to venture to that side of the island ;)

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  18. Pingback: Scotland Trip 2022 Part 1: Overview | Trent's World (the Blog)

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