97.365 ({2017}

 We relaxed and had a fantastic full cooked breakfast at the Sofitel hotel at Heathrow!  It was soooo good with about everything you could possibly want!  We didn't have a lot of time to travel into the city so had plenty of time to take it easy, relax and then walk to the terminal from the hotel.  It was so convenient and comfortable.  

We boarded our plane around 4:15 pm and arrived in Chicago at 7:00 pm that same day!  We gathered our luggage, got through customs and passport control and got our car from long term parking.  We were all so tired but were anxious to get home after a week of traveling.  It was around 1:30 am when we arrived at our house.  

We can't wait to return to Bonnie Scotland again one day soon!

96.365 {2017} Isle of Skye, Ferry from Armadale, Glennfinnan, Silver Sands of Morar and back to London via Edinburgh

The Isle of Skye was enshrouded by low lying clouds and mist today.  This is our last day in Scotland and we are so sad to have it come to an end!  

 Isle Ornsay

Ken, our Discreet Scotland guide seemed like family by the 4th day.  He was so kind, knowledgeable, considerate and a wonderful person!  The girls really adored him and he did everything to make sure we were comfortable the entire trip.  

 Inner seas off the west coast of Scotland

We took the ferry from the Isle of Skye back to the mainland of Scotland.  The girls thought this was so fun and were so excited.  We boarded the ferry from Armadale and it took about 30 minutes to Mallaig.

 Mallaig

 River Morar

 Silver sands of Morar.

 These beautiful sandy beaches are on the coastline from Arisaig to Morar.  The girls got a bit of time to play in the sand before our next destination.

 a kayaker off in the distance

A Shetland pony in Portnaluchaig

 Glenfinnan

Here is a great view of the famous steam-train tracks from the Harry Potter movies.    The Jacobite Steam Train starts running on this railway viaduct in May.  

 Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel

This is a tribute to the clansman who fought and died for the Jacobite cause.  Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his Highland army here in 1745.  About a year later the cause was lost in the battle at Culloden.   

 Traveling through Glen Coe on the way back to Edinburgh.  You can see walkers in the distance.  Many people come to walk the hills through Scotland.

 In Callander we got to meet Hamish, Honey and their baby Hazel, the Scottish Highland coos.  We could buy food for them in the shop and feed them too!  What a fun experience.  They had absolutely NO interest in us unless we had treats in hand.  

 baby Hazel

 Honey

 Hamish and Juliette

On the drive back to Edinburgh, we could see the Kelpies off the road.  They are in Falkirk on the Forth and Clyde Canal.  It is a 98 ft steel sculpture.  

Ken filled us in on another Scottish folklore tale about the Kelpie being a water spirit in lochs (lakes) and pools.  It looks like horse and lives in the deep pools and waters and lures you in to swim but will drown you.  He said that mothers would warn their young kids to stay away from the waters saying the kelpies would come and get you.

We arrived at the airport and said cheerio to our guide, Ken.  We boarded a short hour flight from Scotland to London Heathrow where we stayed at the Sofitel next to Terminal 5 that evening.  

It was truly a magical and wonderful spring break seeing a magnificent and beautiful country full of friendly and kind people!

95.365 {365} Isle of Skye, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, Staffin, Quiraing, Fairy Glen

It was a chilly and windy day on Skye...but at least it wasn't raining!

Our guide, Ken picked us up in the morning at our hotel and we drove to the Old Man of Storr in the north of Skye in an area known as the Trotternish.  It is 3.8 km long.  He asked us if we wanted to take a walk up and would take about 45 min to a hour to complete.  It was a resounding "yes".  "Walk" in Scotland is actually "Hike" and even though we didn't have the appropriate clothing or shoes, we had a great time!  In Scotland, it always feels like you are walking at an incline and this trail certainly had an element of steepness, slippery rocks and mud!

Walking to the foot of the Old Man.

The old Man is a rock pinnacle that is 2,385 feet high.

 Oh my goodness...the views are just incredible the higher you climb!

 a loch

 Old Man of Storr

The legend is that the old man of Storr was fleeing from the giants and when they turned around they made the mistake of seeing them and they both turned to stone.  The other rock that is toppled over was the old man's 'wife'.  

 absolutely stunning views

 You can see much of the trees have been farmed for pine and harvested. 

 Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls on the Inner Hebridean

Kilt Rock is in the distance and is 90 meters high.  It is made of basalt columns on a sandstone base and looks like a pleated kilt.

When you stand at the site you can hear the fencing making a piping noise.

 Next up...dinosaur footprints at Staffin!

 From the Jurassic period 175 million years ago!  They were found after a storm in 2002.

 Onward to the Cuith-Raing which means Round Fold in Norse.  The Quiraing is the rock face.  It does feel like you are stepping on to the set of the Lord of the Rings.

 The girls loved getting out to explore this unique and dramatic landscape.  They never complained about the weather!

 

 After getting some bread, cheese, lunch meat and chocolate we went for a picnic tail-gate to Fairy Glen.  We spent a few hours here exploring and walking about.  It was a beautiful and fantastic place.  A world where young imaginations can run wild and most certainly believe that fairies and giants do exist.  

 How I loved these adorable Highland coos.  Their bangs and shaggy coats are completely suited for the wind, rain and cold in Scotland!