Dunvegan Castle Waterfall Gardens

The waterfall garden area at Dunvegan Castle.

It was lovely to walk around the gardens, as there were so many different types of gardens to walk through.  And what a lovely setting by the Loch. Very often with these lovely historical homes, I enjoy the gardens more than I do visiting the inside of the houses.  

Christy

Inside Dunvegan Castle

Fairy Flag

The Fairy Flag was examined in the early 20th century by the Victoria and Albert Museum, who concluded that the silk was woven in either Syria or Rhodes, and the darns were made in the Near East.  It was their opinion that the flag, in its original state, would have been quite precious, possibly a relic like the shirt of a saint.  That it may have been acquired at the time of the Crusades 11th century, but other dating suggests earlier than that, 4th or 5th century.  In any case it's an interesting relic.  With lots of stories to go with it.

Christy

The not so famous, but original Glendale (low lying fertile land) Gaelic

The little village we stayed in. I have been to Glendale, California which is huge. But I'll take this little village of all Glendale's worldwide any day. In Gaelic low lying fertile land.

The house with the stone shed next to it is 6 Fasach where we stayed.

Glendale, California

Glendale, Utah

Glendale, Arizona

Glendale, NSW

Glendale, Zimbabwe

To name but a few.

Christy

Loch Pooltiel, Glendale

One morning I went out quite early, hence the long shadow. Just to soak in the peacefulness and file it in my memory to relive and hold. Climbing up behind our cottage, with wonderful views down to Loch Pooltiel.

Christy

Stein, Waternish

The village of Stein on the Waternish peninsula.

Stein is an extremely pretty village of white painted stone buildings. In the 1790s the British Fisheries Society commissioned Thomas Telford to build a fishing port on Loch Bay. Delays in construction were compounded by the remote location and a lack of enthusiasm from local crofters and potential incomers alike. The BFS cut their losses and sold their lands in the area to the MacLeods in 1837 for £3000. But while Stein never quite became another Ullapool it has probably benefitted as a result. It is quiet, picturesque, and home to the Stein Inn and the Loch Bay Seafood Restaurant, both of which are excellent.

As its origins suggest, Stein is also the main harbour on the Waternish Peninsula original pier stood a little to the north of the village. The one in use today, which is at the south end of Stein, was built late in the 1800s.

I had a pint of cider at the Stein Inn and thoroughly enjoyed it as you don't get cider in the States; which we had along with the usual bag of crisps (potato chips)

Christy

Dragonfly Studios

The view from Dragonfly Studios

I bought here a lovely hank of merino wool hand dyed in aqua blues and greens.

Christy

Waternish, My Dream Location

How would you like to live on that little spit of land? Near the end is a farmhouse; which faces South and is protected from the open sea to the North. To me it's a dream location, I'm sure it does has it's drawbacks. But one can dream.

Shilasdair Yarn Shop, Waternish, Isle of Skye

This is the yarn shop owners little croft dwelling.

The Shilasdair yarn shop. It must be an old converted shed.

The dye garden for some of their yarn dyes. It was a very overcast day when we were there, but you can still see some of their beautiful view. Wouldn't you like own a little yarn shop with that view?

Dyeing the yarns.

Inside the actual shop.

BB an I had fun looking around this shop. But it was quite expensive. However we both did buy some yarn on the island. Unfortunately no pics.

Christy

Skye Skyns, Waternish

BB, Trev and I did enjoy our visit to this shop and the little tour of how they cure the skins. Wouldn't you love a view like this from your place of work? At the end of this road on the loch is the village of Stein.

This is the entrance to Skye Skyns

The view down the road.

The upstairs entrance to the shop.

Sheep skins are imported from all over the world and processed here in the old fashioned way.

My sister BB bought the sheep skin hat on the top of the rack, slippers for mum and a sheep skin rug. I bought a bag of trim pieces.

The view from the shop.

Processing stages using the original old equipment.

Thelma was a great guide and a very helpful lady.

Christy