A short bus ride from the dock at Kyle of Lochalsh is photogenic Eilean Donan Castle, and we spent a pleasant morning exploring the extremely photogenic area. Following lunch on board Lord of the Glens, we sailed into the Sound of Sleat to reach the southern part of the Isle of Skye. From our ship platform, it was a delight for all aboard to watch the fast-moving rain squalls race across the landscape, providing a wonderful interplay of light and shadow for great photographic opportunities. After tying up at the Armadale dock, we stretched our legs on a short walk to see Armadale Castle, the seat of the MacDonald clan. While the old stone architecture is interesting to view from the outside, the real attractions at this site are the fascinating and comprehensive Museum of the Isles and the peaceful and very beautiful botanic gardens. There are species of trees from all over the world featured and cultivated, some from a few centuries ago. A busy day drew to a close with a quick sail across the sound to the small, remote village of Inverie and a visit to its renovated pub after dinner.
8/29/2024
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Lord of the Glens
Mull, Iona, and Duart Castle
Morning found us traveling across the Isle of Mull by bus, headed towards the Isle of Iona, a small island with a significant place in Scottish history. In 563, Columba arrived on Iona from Ireland to establish a Christian community, spreading this faith across Scotland. On Iona, we had the chance to tour the sites and visit the 13th century Benedictine Abbey with a local guide. Some set off on other activities, either a hike to the western shore of Iona or a boat ride out to the fabulous Isle of Staffa. After lunch, we headed back across Mull, with a stop to admire the Highland cows. Before reaching the ship, we turned off the main road to visit Duart Castle, home to Clan MacLean. Our final destination of the day was Oban on the mainland, a bustling town of about 8,000 people. The day was capped off with a whisky tasting provided by the local Oban Distillery.