Another gray start to the day, but the weatherman on the BBC promise that it will get better. We were up early and at the restaurant to grab breakfast right as they opened. This meant that we were able to get two of the three available bananas. It also meant that we could get on the road to Mallaig early to catch our ferry over to the Isle of Skye.

We drove the same route as the train, but with improving weather, we were able to stop and take pictures of the lochs along the way. Despite many stops, we were very early for our ferry. We parked the car in line and walked the port city of Mallaig. It's a small fishing community and jumping off point for the ferry. We stopped at the co-op and picked up meat and fresh rolls for sandwiches at lunchtime.

The ferry ride over was comfortable, except for the car behind ours was constantly alarming and causing our car to alarm as well. We arrived in Armadale around 11:30A and drove up to the visitor center in Broadford. There we learned that hiking is not advised without a guidebook because many of the trails do not have good markings on them. We purchased a small walking guide and headed out on adventure.

The weather still hadn't fully broken into sunshine, so we pointed the car to the Talisker distillery. We went upstairs and found out the next available tour was over an hour later; too long for us. We continued back up the winding two lane road to Dunvegan Castle, home and clan seat of Clan MacLeod.

Dunvegan is a working castle and home (on the third floor) to the clan chief of the MacLeods. Most areas on the first two floors are open to the public and we were able to tour the chief's study, the great hall, the dining room and some adjoining rooms. We saw the oldest spiral staircase in Scotland and learned about the trials and tribulations of the clan.

The majority of the chiefs were military men and led regiments in campaigns from France to India. When the chief was not raising a regiment, he was entertaining guests. Some of the notables include the queen (of course), Sir Walter Scott the famous writer and the enterprising adventures of Boswell and Johnson.

Many relics are displayed throughout the house attesting to the military honor of the MacLeods. Many swords and regimental flags adorn the walls and the official clan silver is laid at the banquet table. The most cherished artifact in the castle is the Fairy Flag. There are many legends of how it came into the clan's possession but one belief is held true - in times of great need, the clan chieftain is to wave it in battle and he will not be defeated. Soldiers will come to his aid and crush his foes. For those more skeptical, there is evidence that the banner belonged to a Norse invader who attempted to conquer England around 1066. From the castle, there are also great views of MacLeod's Tables, two flat-topped hills on the Duirnish peninsula.

We came back along A87, snapping pictures all the way back to the hotel. That evening we enjoyed a superb 4 course dinner prepared in the dining room.

Hotel: Toravaig House Hotel
Restaurant(s): Toravaig House
Attractions: Mallaig seaport, Talisker, Dunvegan Castle, Dun Beag Broch