We woke to a wet and windy day at the Kyle of Lochalsh, a small town at the base of the bridge to the Isle of Skye. Our first full day on Lord of the Glens was a day for castles, though of a very different character. After breakfast, we set off by bus to the Sleat Peninsula to visit the Clan Donald Centre with the Armadale Castle and Botanical Gardens. This Highland estate is the ancestral home to the MacDonald Clan and has an excellent museum telling the clan’s history. There was also time for a bit of shopping alongside the ferry terminal.
Eileen Donan Castle was our destination for the afternoon, a short bus ride from the ship. The castle was constructed on an island in the early 13th century to defend against Viking attacks. Centuries later, the castle was destroyed in 1719 during one of the Jacobite uprisings, only to be restored during the 20th century.
After dinner, we were treated to a beer tasting of all the Scottish beers the ship could provide.
