The ferry approaching the landing.
Departure in the morning required us to be on the road by 0930 to catch the ferry in Sconser to Raasay Island. The thirty-minute ride to the island was pleasant as there was no rain despite the clouds, and the temperature was mild.
We walked off the pier to a track that led us around the area surround the ferry landing. The trails were generally in quite good shape with little in the way of bogginess. The trail took us over a ridge providing numerous views, and then back over the ridge to a lookout point, then through a series of switchbacks down to the hotel. At the hotel we had a lunch of lentil soup and sandwiches. The proprietor of the hotel gave us a brief history of the island and the hotel before showing us through the establishment. From there we walked down to the ferry for the windier transit back to Skye.
The ferry approaching the landing.
We were instructed to wait at the side of the ramp while the vehicles off loaded.
Manda and Donna check out the schedule.
Looking back at the Skye terminus.
Martha, Pól, Cari (behind Jamen) and Jamen.
The Scottish lion on the ferry's pilot house.
Looking back to Skye and snow persisting on the peaks.
Exiting the ferry on Raasay.
Bill and Cari.
Jamen ponders one of the huge but eroded stone mermaids. “Macleod of Raasay who built the house …
… had grand ideas and spent his fortune; these mermaid sculptures were the final straw for his finances and he was forced to sell up. This was bad news for the islanders as the new owner, Rainy, evicted many of them to make way for sheep farms.”
Jonathan and the mermaid.
Lesser celandine - some petals fading to white.
Daisy.
Raasay House.
This boat slip was dry at low tide.
Our path followed the shoreline around the point.
Stuart and Jamen capturing some shots from their vantage point.
Primroses.
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) - my favorite shot looking axially down the stem of flowers.
Pine cones from an unidentified conifer.
The walkers winding their way through the gorse.
The path through the gorse.
Bluebells, up close.
I was taken by the similarity of the stone outcropping to the Easter Island heads.
Harriet leading a string of walkers up the path.
Jamen - poised to take our picture.
The path along the North Bay.
The path continues.
We were joined by a little black dog who seemed intent on keeping us from going astray.
Looking south over the North Bay.
Roger taking snaps of us as we climbed the hill.
I liked the random celandine poking through the radial and orderly spread of the spikey leaves.
Jonathan trying not to pose. He almost succeeds.
Pól, Jamen, and Stuart - our CW rep and guides on this tour.
'The little black dog went that way.'
Manda, with a big smile.
I think it was Jamen that took this snap on my camera for us. I'm usually on the other side of the camera.
The path lead up along a stone wall to the road.
Looking back over the green pasture.
More primroses.
After following a road through some logged area, the path lead off road to Temptation Point.
The view from Temptation Point looking over the ferry landing back across the water to Sconser on Skye.
There was a marker/monument at the lookout. The text I typed in below.
Climbing the last rise to the lookout.
The little black dog has completed her task - making sure we got to Raasay House for lunch.
Evidence! It didn't last long, and was preceded by a yummy lentil soup.
The ferry returns. We didn't catch this trip, we were still eating lunch.
The pile of our packs, sticks, and hiking shoes in the foyer of Raasay House.
The little black dog standing watch outside.
Looking through the grill work on the second floor over the entrance to the house.
We boarded the vans and then left the Isle of Skye over the high bridge that brought us to the island. With a stop to change clothes, or in my case, shoes, Stuart drove us to Plockton where dinner was to be held. We rejoined the other half of the tour briefly at the ‘changing hotel’ and again at dinner. After dinner, music was provided by a trio of gentlemen playing guitar, mandolin, and flute/recorder/penny whistle/saprano sax/bagpipes to the great enjoyment of all.
We walked up the road about 10 minutes to the train station where the Royal Scotsman stood at the ready with a bagpiper in full regalia serenading our boarding. Both groups convened in the observation car for a champagne toast – as if I wasn’t inebriated enough already – and the train crew introduced themselves as the train pulled out of the station. After collecting our key and room assignment, Jonathan and I made our way to cabin G where our steward introduced us to the amenities. My kilt hire was already in the cabin and the steward told me it was the only one on the train.
The train stopped overnight at Kyle of Localsh – I slept fitfully due to the amount of alcohol I had consumed.
The establishment where we were to have dinner.
A view of the Plockton waterfront from the marina.
A stack of lobster pots.
Mary and Ed.
Linnea and Pól.
The other table: Wendy, Roger Donna, Judyann, Richard, Joe, Manda, Harriet, Bill and Cari.
Wendy and Roger.
Richard, Joe, Manda, Harriet, and Bill.
Evidence - the Mediterranean plate appetizer.
Evidence - the seafood appetizer. It was the first time Jonathan had a razor clam (the long skinny one).
Stuart, Richard, Barbara (from the other group), and Martha.
Evidence - my main course.
Evidence - Jonathan's main course, skate.
The musicians, who I believe were arranged by CW, strike up a tune.
Evidence - my dessert, ice cream with cherries.
Evidence - Jonathan's dessert, my recollection it was citrus-based.
Richard and Ruth (guide for the other group).
Timo Shaw (CW head honcho) listening intently to Manda.
Wendy watching the performance. A young couple got up and danced to the music, adding to the festivities.
Bill listening to the music and wearing a rather intent yet faraway look on his face.
Cari.
We were ceremoniously serenaded with bagpipes while boarding the Royal Scotsman train.
Linnea, Wendy, and Roger in the observation car for our champagne toast to kick off our time on the train.
"We were assigned cabin 'G'.
My kilt hire was waiting for us.