It's that castle
Yes, it's Eilean Donan Castle, recognisable across the world from many a shortbread tin in duty free shops. We didn't visit, I have to admit. We had already 'done' Cawdor Castle a couple of days previously, to come in a future post, and we were keen to cross over to Skye. But if you want more detail, Eilean Donan has its own website, cottage for rent, blog and Facebook page. I think I should compile a list of things from modern life that the first occupants of Scottish castles might have liked to have (F16 fighters, Facebook...).
We did take the bridge to Skye, I admit. The last time I crossed to the island was by ferry, but now there's a concrete curve of a bridge linking the island with the mainland. Much debate for and against, which I'm not going to get into here. But we came back by ferry, delightfully, and it's that short sea crossing we'll remember.
Eilean Donan Castle is very beautiful. We were there in 2005.
ReplyDeleteI've only been over the bridge to Skye twice - both times it simply bucketed down with rain, and a heavy and persistent mist blotted out the view. Never mind, I shall keep trying! I still love the Highlands in spite of the weather!
Imagine renting that cottage for a dreamy vacation. A cold one, too, I'm betting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place! I always prefer ferries to bridges too :o)
ReplyDeleteLoving your photos. Thanks for bringing us along.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was only the toll that was contentious. (I've yet to visit Skye - but one day although I have camped next to Eilean Donan - It was wet)
ReplyDeleteEilean Donan castle is very magnificent! I am thinking how wonderful it would be to visit all the old castles around Scotland and other European countries. I have never been in a castle, or seen one up close and personal. Your history is so old and I enjoy reading historical novels. I am going now to check out some of the history about this particular castle.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how fun it would be to rent one of the cottages there for a time.
As for bridges, I prefer ferries too, except for the San Francisco Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. Those two bridges make getting from one side of the bay to the other pretty easy and for some reason I even enjoy riding or driving over those two particular bridges. I used to live across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco and it was a fairly short drive for us to San Francisco, which used to be a wonderful city. In fact, we always spoke of it as "The City" and now, unfortunately it is quite different. Whenever we would go to "The City, we always would dress up and even wear gloves and a hat. Nowdays, people slop around in just about anything...........so so different.
Thank you for the link. I enjoyed to "visit" again that wonderful place I had seen in 2007. It was the best journey I ever had.
ReplyDeleteWe went to Skye over the bridge and on the same day, I crossed this bridge again for two times on feet. The landscape was fantastic, not one cloud in the sky.
I was happy that the railings of the bridge to Skye were high, because the wind was so strong, I would be blown in the water.
I love Scotland.
Liebe Grüße von Anja aus Deutschland
A view i still enjoy !! I think the ferry is the best way to go to Sky :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a scene! Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe stopped at Eilean Donan castle last summer and enjoyed watching swallows dart in and out of their nest just outside the cafe window! It is a lovely place.
ReplyDeleteIf you walk 'round the side of that castle, you will find a plaque with the name "MacRae"... my ancestral clan.
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough, my husband's clan, the MacLennons, and the MacRaes were tied by marriage way back... seems we're recreating history in our own marriage.
The day I walked across the Eilean Donan bridge was one of the happiest of my life. I'd dreamed of doing it for so long...
I never get tired of seeing photo's of Eilean Donan, I have several that I took whilst visiting my daughter in Kyle. It's a lovely shot.
ReplyDeleteI've travelled the Sky Bridge several times, and last year there was a display of knitting projects strung out along the railings of the Bridge, from members of Ravelry.com - wish I could have been there then.
I must admit I did like the ferry best, especially when there was a Piper aboard to greet the passengers.
A beautiful photo!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't say often enough how I wish I lived in Britain. How beautiful it is there! I think I would make it my goal to visit every castle. So magnificent.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the comments. I'm surprised by how many commenters have visited the castle. Eventually I'll get round to it! We did join Historic Scotland this summer with a view to getting round more of the riches on our doorstep.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! My grandparents were from the Loch Lomond area and I've always wanted to visit Scotland. Soon!
ReplyDeleteIt is a remarkable piece of history. Being from the flatlands of Iowa and a young history, it amazes me to see such things. I enjoy seeing castles especially.
ReplyDeleteI was smiling for Linda`s comment, where she wanted to visit every castle there, she will have a lot of work to do, so many castles in Scotland!
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived almost one year near Aberdeen in the old Meeting house of the village Kinmuck, we visited every weekend some castle and we told about them to the people living there, they said laughing, they never visited most of those castles, they have been near their homes, no any reason to hurry :)
I remember very well this Donan castle, it was misty day, it gave a memorable picture to our minds.