Misty morning…

 

We awoke this morning to a blanket of white over the loch.

A boat was being lifted into the boatyard to have a good clean, complete with husband, wife, two small children and their dog!  Apparently they have given up their jobs to go sailing full time.

By the time we went out with Bessie the fog  had cleared quite a bit, leaving just a ribbon of mist above the boats on the loch and a cormorant was enjoying his perch on a buoy.

We set off to take the road to Elgol from Broadford, which we had first visited three years ago.  We wanted to visit the Blue Shed Cafe at Torin in the shadow of Bla Bheinn (one of the Red Cuillins} – it was closed last time as it was the evening. Despite some shreds of mist the sun was out and it was beautifully warm.  The hills looked wonderful in the light.

There were quite a few cars and motorhomes on the road but it’s a grand passage through the mountainous scenery – so many highlights and shadows making the Cuillins look even more dramatic than ever.

Outside a wonderful old red roofed stone croft a lamb was trying to get through the door without success but at least there was some shade under the tree.

The Blue Shed Café  was as I remembered it – big and blue.  And, amazingly, there is someone sitting at the blue table who looks suspiciously like me!

We ordered toasties and apple and caramel cake – I loved the planted red teapot!

It was heavenly sitting in the sun surrounded by mountains and trees.  So many times Skye has reminded us of Switzerland.

At the entrance was a board with a ‘forecasting stone’ attached.  I normally find this sort of thing a bit twee but I quite like this one.  Not sure whether anyone has seen this before?

Tearing ourselves away from the café, we got back in Bessie and drove around the head of Loch Slapin and along the shore.

There was still a trail of mist over the water.

Those who read our blog three years ago might just remember that we chickened out of going down the steep and narrow descent into Elgol, a very popular harbour from which lots of small boats plied for trade.  Well, this time we went halfway down and only didn’t go further as there were so many vehicles at the bottom.

I think so much driving on the brink of a precipice has hardened me!

On the way back we stopped in a layby and walked down to the old cemetery at Kilmarie.  It’s a pretty walk along the wooded bank of a stream down to a little stoney cove.  Lots of wild flowers:

Bumblebee on unknown flower – Dorothy?

There is a huge house at the end, built as a hunting lodge with stables etc in 1870 which apparently was recently the home of Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.  It is fabulous.

Peter spotted an Oystercatcher, Sandpiper and a Pied Wagtail on the shore and we sat for a while on a rock enjoying the scene.  The old cemetery is overgrown with rhododendrons and wild flowers but is very atmospheric.

We walked back to Bessie and drove back around the loch, spotting a Swallow on an overhead wire.

Couldn’t resist photographing this unfortunate advert for a car hire company!

The Cuillins looked beautiful in the early evening light:

And back at the campsite another boat was being put into the cradle for repairs.

The sunset was once again amazing.