The Isle of Skye is like a film set. It is quite fitting that Dave insists on playing movie soundtracks for much of our journey throughout the island. We climbed onto the island from the mainland using the Skye Bridge. We arrive early afternoon, so we spent the rest of the day exploring the Isle.
Dave shared many stories and histories, but everyone agreed that their favourite moments of the day was when we saw the Man of Storr for formation, which looked like a giant jaw with large teeth. There is a beautiful and sad love story attached to this mountain. A man and woman who had been in love all their life used to frequent the cliffs of the mountain and picnic there. When the wife eventually passed away of old age, the man asked the fairy king Elfin (spelling could be incorrect) if he and his wife could be together forever. The sneaky Elfin tricked him by turning him into the rock that now sits on the mountain.
The beautiful Man of Storr, Isle of Skye. Credit: Photography Life.
Another highlight of the day was the brisk hike we took when we arrived at Staffin. The air is thin and cold, cutting my throat like crushed glass. I felt so alive.
The view from the precipice was unparalleled. Aloft the mountain we could see the grassy landscape spill out in front of us and roll into the Atlantic. It remains hard to pinpoint the emotions and thoughts evoked by such a vista, but I remember the urge to run further and higher.
We continued our journey towards Kyleakin, the sleepy little coastal town we would be staying in for the night.
I like the cool, quiet mornings.
A stillness has nestled in the town before dawn. The kind of silence where you can almost hear the mist drag its heavy body over the hills.
The mountains sat as dark grey-brown lumps around the little town of Kyleakin. The water lay still, save a small ripple spreading from the sailboats moored in the bay. They were exquisitely colourful. The pebbled beach is loosely flung, hugged by a green corridor. The water is so peaceful you can even see the reflection of the Skye Bridge arching high over the sea to join the Isle of Skye to Scotland.
The colourful little coastal town of Kyleakin. Credit: Visit Scotland.
All I can hear is the sound of the birds and the lapping of the water. I can even listen to the pitter-patter of the light drizzle on the water.
I soak it all in: the grey washed sky with a slice of sunlight, the rain, the boats and the pallid cottages huddled together.
We left Kyleakin at the usual time 8:30 am. The journey back had an atmosphere of finality. The group had grown close in the past few days, and everyone knew this was the last day. We decided to make the best of it.
Dave dubbed our travelling crew Clan Yoga Pants. We stopped off at many Lochs, mountain vistas and castles on the way back. He was full of stories, fantasies and histories that he delivered along the way. The Scottish landscape has a streak of wild. The journey back was breathtakingly beautiful. The castles we stopped at were used in cinematic productions. One was Winterfell from Game of Thrones that has also been used in Monty Python. Another was used in Braveheart.
Ruan and I are standing in Winterfell. Not a big GOT fan – but still excited!
All in all, it was a pretty cinematographic experience. We even drove past the mountains where Hagrid’s hut from Harry Potter was filmed and the location of Skyfall.
The peculiar little town of Portree has amazing ice cream!
The final leg of the journey was jolly. People shared music, laughter and contact details. Good friends were made from across the world who will be missed. Once we arrived at Edinburgh and said goodbye, a few us met up to reminisce over our journey. We dined at Joseph Pearce restaurant and had a few cocktails at the Newsroom. Ruan and I didn’t want to leave Scotland. The Highlands had stolen our hearts.
The ten-hour journey back to London felt like an eternity. I empathised with Bilbo Baggins once we entered the English countryside. I missed the mountains.
