Today is the day of the Summer Solstice and this morning saw the Endeavour entering Loch Dunvegan on the rugged northwestern coast of the Scottish Isle of Skye. Everyone was glad of a dry landing on the floating dock not far from Dunvegan Castle, an imposing building set in a commanding position on rising ground overlooking the harbor. The castle is the ancient seat of the clan MacLeod and has been occupied by them for over 700 years. Soon guests were in the castle and being shown over a labyrinth of rooms and corridors filled with items from the past, some beautiful and others bizarre. Under the latter heading most surely come an ancient flag, tattered and threadbare, known as the Fairy Flag, which is alleged to date from the 7th century.

Tradition has it that this flag has the power to save the MacLeod family from disaster on three occasions - and that it has already been called upon to do so on two of the three occasions!

In the afternoon we sailed to the Isle of Rhum and anchored in the broad bay facing a great sandstone building called Kinloch Castle. The castle is filled with priceless antiques as well as some unique pieces of furniture that include an orchestreon, which, at the touch of a lever, automatically plays various tunes using all the instruments of a full orchestra. Very odd to hear on an isolated island in the ocean!

Afterwards most guests went for a hike on the heather slopes behind the castle where highland cattle grazed and where skylarks sang to the sound of a distant rippling call of a late-nesting Curlew.

The high mountains in the background are the home of a unique colony of Manx Shearwaters. A peaceful setting indeed.