Our full day on the island started with the first experience of the single track roads winding through sheep farms to reach our hike to the Fairy Pools. Most people were well behaved on these roads making sure to look ahead and pull over when the space was yours to give. There were a few ding dongs who seemed to have no idea and obviously didn’t read the rules for these roads before they came.
Tip # 13 when in Rome, do as the Romans they say… in other words, the locals have a system and you should learn it before you attempt these roads. When everyone is flowing through the passes with care and caution it is no big deal, but one or two idiots can make things much more difficult!
We spent, we think because we didn’t time it, a couple hours hiking up the base of the Fairy Pools. This was not an overly challenging hike for the unfit, but take your time and enjoy the views and the lovely formations the water has made over the gazillion years this has been running. Again, photos do not give this place justice and I suggest you get there early because by the time we made it back to the carpark, it was filling up and we are not even here in peak season.
I read somewhere you need to dip your face in the pools, so we all did that when we got to the top. This was for good luck and I’m not sure we needed it because it was another gift from the weather gods this day already!
We had worked up an appetite so headed to Talisker Whisky Distillery next. Turns out the bartender had a gift for Aussies who say ‘there is a shark in the water’ – a wee dram of whisky, the good stuff! After some souvenir shopping, we wandered along the waterfront path to find the Inn where we had lunch. Played musical chairs with the staff, which I’m sure they appreciated but the food hit the spot and the view was picture perfect.
After lunch we then went to Dunvegan Castle. Another busy spot and it was not included in our pass. This castle included the surrounding castle gardens to meander through. The castle itself sits on the sea side and was set up with furniture and paintings throughout. When it is brought to life like that it makes the whole experience so much better, I think!
We then tried to drive to Waternish light house and while google maps said we could do it, luckily for us the farmer came out and stopped us at the farm gate. She saved us from making a tragic mistake by all accounts as they had previously had to rescue stray tourists with the tractor who got their motorhome bogged in the marsh… dodged a bullet, time to make camp.
We had a booking at Uig Bay Campsite so we didn’t need to worry about spotting a good pull over spot. Uig Bay is on the otherside of the island more towards the top of the island from where we camped the night before. There is a ferry terminal, a very lack luster general store, a brewery and a restaurant. The restaurant was very busy but also seemed under staffed with no one manning the bar side of things, pool table seemed to be free but the the adjacent bar was deserted so we didn’t stay around to find out. The brewery was closed. Back to the vans for some laundry duty and an early night. Our full day on island was complete.
My Happy Travels 