Today might be one of the most scenic driving days of the entire trip, not to mention that we enjoyed some delicious treats and had a chance to shop for local crafts.
Isle of Skye
After breakfast, we departed for the Isle of Skye.Â
The drive to what we thought would be our next landmark. The scenery was picturesque with beautiful lochs and mountains, an area known as Strathcarron.
Shotebread, Tea, and Local Crafts
Our first surprise for the day was a pitstop at the Carron Restaurant.
Our tour group all but took over this local cafe for some homemade Shortbread and Tea. The shortbread was quite different than any we had previously eaten. They were much thicker than we had ever seen. But they were terrific, and they also shared a recipe with us.
Had we been staying in that area, it would have been an excellent place for lunch because the other baked goods and food looked and smelled incredible.Â
Right next to the cafe was a wonderful gallery with local crafts. Chuck got chatting with a local potter who was working on his pottery wheel. We bought a small vase, and he was kind enough to sign it for us.
Mark, adding to our collection of religious pieces from around the world, purchased a beautiful cross woven from Scottish wool.Â
Random Weird Stuff
Harris Tweed is a legally protected fabric, recognized by its trademark and governed by the Harris Tweed Authority. It is made exclusively on the islands of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The cloth is made from pure virgin wool from Cheviot and cross-bred sheep, which is then dyed and spun into yarn. The entire production process, from dyeing the wool to weaving the fabric, is completed by hand by islanders in their homes.
Crossing Onto The Isle of Skye
As we made our way across the countryside to our next destination, we passed incredible waterways, saw adorable thatched cottages, and spectacular views.Â
Armadale Castle, Gardens and Museum of the Isles
Our destination today was the Armadale Castle, Gardens, and the Museum of the Isles. This 40-acre complex sits at the heart of a 20,000-acre working estate owned and managed by a Scottish charitable trust that is dedicated to preserving it for future generations.
As you’ll see, it was one of the highlights of our tour; the grounds are just magnificent.
The Spiritual Home of Clan Donald
Armadale was once the home to the Macdonalds of Sleat. They were part of the mighty Clan Donald, possibly the largest and most powerful clan of Scotland.
Clan Donald established itself on the Isle of Skye in the 15th century. They originally occupied two nearby castles, a few miles from Armadale. They began meeting at a house on the Aramdale site overlooking the Sound of Sleat.
Around 1790, they constructed a mansion on the site (the white part of the ruins), and by about 1815, the mansion had been extended to create Armadale Castle. It became known for its lavish decor, public arcades, and a grand marble staircase.
A fire destroyed the castle’s central section in 1855, and a replacement was commissioned. In 1925, the Macdonald family moved to a smaller house, leaving the castle to deteriorate. It sat vacant until 1972, when it was put on the market and purchased by the trust. Some of the building needed to be demolished, but some of the incredible buildings was saved.
We loved roaming the ruins and taking in the views of the Sound. However, we really fell in love with the gardens.
Armadale Gardens
The castle sits on part of the incredible 40-acre garden originally laid out by Lord Macdonald in the early 19th century. Some trees are over 100 years old, and there is a Victorian arboretum and beautiful walled garden to stroll directly behind the castle ruins.Â
The Museum of the Isles
The museum houses five main galleries that take you through 1500 years of the Highlands and the story of Clan Donald. Once known as the Kingdom of the Isle, the historic displays include broadswords, bagpipes, portraits, and incredible artifacts.
You can easily navigate the museum in about 45 minutes, and history buffs or Outlander fans could easily spend two hours.
Stables Cafe
Before rejoining our tour, we grabbed a quick lunch at the Stables Cafe, located in old stables, it’s been renovated with historical markers and artifacts. It serves delicious food, winning several awards, and is a wonderful place to relax.
With reasonably limited time, we opted for something quick. We both had the Curried Lentil Soup with a Chicken, Bacon Caesar Wrap. It was served with a small side salad and some chips.Â
We’ve never had Belvoir Farm drinks before, and this Raspberry Lemonade was delicious. Apparently, they are an all-natural UK product, and we really enjoyed it.
Eilean Donan Castle
After leaving Armadale, we made a quick photo stop at Eilean Donan Castle. To be more precise, overlooking Eilean Donan Castle.
This might be one of the most iconic images of Scotland, so while we didn’t get to explore the castle, we were happy to get some incredible photos.
This point where three sea lochs meet has been inhabited since the 5th century, with its first fortified castle built in the mid-13th century. Its history tells that at least four different versions of the castle have been built and rebuilt on the site.
Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, it sat in ruins for nearly 200 years. Purchased by Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap in 1911, it was restored to its former glory in 1932. There have been four generations of the MacRae family to act as Constables of Eilean Donan Castle.Â
The castle, lochs, and scenery are absolutely magical and well worth the visit.
Isles of Glencoe and Dinner
WARNING: Hotel Review and Rant
Initially, our travel documents stated we’d be staying at the Ballachulish Hotel—a historic hotel built in 1877, sitting on the banks of Loch Linnhe. It might have been the hotel we were most excited about, as it was quintessentially Scottish.
Without notice, we arrived at the Isles of Glencoe—a more motel-like complex with less charm, featuring yet another broken elevator, paper-thin walls, tiny twin beds, and no hot water.
One redeeming quality was that it had beautiful views of the loch and nearby mountains. The other positive was that we were only there for one night.
The dining room was charming with huge glass windows overlooking the loch. But unfortunately, the staff were confused, service was very slow, and the food was some of the worst of the entire trip.
We headed to the bar for a beer, and they offered us a pint of Kinlochleven Pilsner. Then someone decided that our group should have only received a half pint – sorry, gang.
For appetizers, Mark had the Chicken Liver Parfait (insert your own jokes here), and Chuck stuck with the Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup.
Mark’s entree was Pan Fried Coley Fillet with Basmati Rice, Mixed Vegetable, and White Wine Sauce. Chuck opted for the Sauteed Chicken Breast with Polenta, Mixed Vegetables, and Red Wine Sauce.
Desserts were Salted Carmel Tart and Chocolate Brownie.
Ending the visit, the breakfast buffet was just okay; the room they had it packed into had one very narrow entrance/exit.
Again, thankfully, we were they for just one night, and today we’re off to Loch Lomond, the Trossachs National Park, and on to Glasgow!
