Hello lovely people, how are you today?
The sun is almost shining here in Northern England and things are good in the studio so I'm one happy bunny.
If you remember back in May I promised not to leave it so long before I updated you on what's been happening in soap land, so here we are...
I hope you are all avoiding the horrible bug that's been going around, it presented itself as flu for me and pretty much flattened me for over a week, I've never had so many hours sleep in a row in my life!, or felt quite so rotten! I'm glad to say I'm 100% better now and glad to be rid of it.
Only a week after the bug departed, we were driving all the way up to the Isle of Skye, just off Scotland's North West coast so I'm glad it went when it did!! It was a long drive over 2 days stopping off at Ballachulish on the way up, and Invercoe on the way back down to break up the journey.
I've been to the Highlands and Islands a good few times now but not as an adult, driving...and it was the first time the Hubbs had been at all, we were blown away by the drama of the place, the scenery and the weather, it was glorious!
Our first day was spent exploring on foot as I really did not want to drive ...again! We strolled along to the local village of Sconser, just about 3 miles along the rugged coastline from our sweet little croft house right on the coast. We were amazed at the views and the heat! Seriously, it was about 28 degrees C. We explored to Sligahan a beautiful alpine plateau behind the Black Cuillin mountains that evening as the sun was lowering in the sky, Hubbs accidentally took a dunk in the peat bog behind the mountains too...his camera had a bit of a drink as well, fortunately they both survived to photograph another day (!!). That evening, we sat out and enjoyed watching 2 Ospreys and a family of Otters playing and feeding right outside the cottage - our first spotting of both.
 |
| The Black Cuillin Mountains from Sligahan. |
 |
| Reflected Black and light |
 |
| Muddy pup!! |
The next day we decided to take a trip up to Dunvegan and Colbost beach on the North West peninsular, it was so clear and sunny, and today the car told me it got to 34 degrees!! We had a fab day exploring the coral beach overlooking Harris and North Uist, saw grey seals in the bay and lots of seabirds. On the way back to the cottage, we called into a couple of artists studios, the amazingly talented resident photographers Phil Gordon, and
Russell Sherwood (part of '
Art Skye', a collaboration of resident artists and makers) who open their doors to passing visitors in the summer season. Both myself and the Hubby were very impressed indeed!
 |
| Coral Beach nr Dunvegan |
 |
| Looking West to North Uist and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. |
Tuesday was our Wedding anniversary, so after a day of beach scrambling at Tallisker bay, a visit to the
Tallisker Distillery (be rude not to) and an encounter with a hungry peacock, we headed off for tea, we had booked a special meal at
Sconser Lodge Hotel. A local fisherman dives for scallops in the bay, right outside, so we knew it was going to be good...and it WAS!! The seafood was the best I've ever tasted!
 |
| Aging Barrels at Talisker Whisky Distillery |
 |
Talisker Bay looking towards South Uist
|
 |
| Hand dived, local Scallops, Langoustines and Oysters for our special tea...OH MY!!! |
Next, we headed off to The Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing (a huge landslip and part of the Trotternish Ridge) on the most northerly peninsular, which was absolutely mind blowing! The dramatic slopes and ridges were just incredible, you could see for MILES! We also called in at Kilt Rock - a pleated looking cliff face with a waterfall into the sea, on the way back and saw 3 pods of dolphins from the top of the cliffs!
 |
| The Needle at Storr |
 |
| Looking South over the Quiraing |
On Thursday we decided to explore along the
John Muir Trust path from Elgol to Loch Coruisk, it was very dramatic, but quite steep and a bit treacherous for two amateurs with a bit of a wibble with heights and steep steep drops! We made it about half way along before turning back where the path was broken down and dropped away to a rocky beach about 50m below, we didn't fancy a trip in an air ambulance! In the afternoon we went by boat over to Lock Coruisk and the Black Cuillin mountains and saw some beautiful (and very pregnant) common seals, basking on the rocks. I'd wanted to go back to this spot ever since my first visit at 14, where we camped in a storm, I still have the scars on my ankle from that first trip, where I fell and skinned it to the bone! It was exactly as I remembered, if not even more beautiful, I'm so glad we made the trip.
 |
| The Black Cuillins from Elgol beach |
 |
| Boat Trip!!! with the islands of Eigg and Muck in the background |
 |
| They looked like they were going to pop!! So full of pups...bless x |
 |
| The Black Cuillins from Lock Coruisk. |
Our last day was spent scrambling around the Fairy Pools and Glen Brittle beach in the rain...our only wet day!
 |
| The Fairy Pools, usually a lot fuller, but there had been no rain for 3 weeks! |
 |
Such gorgeous colours in the water!
|
Wherever I go, I find textures, I can't resist, I think it's the textile fanatic in me...I have a growing collection of images that might become inspirations for things sometime...here are a few more I gathered while we were away....
I really hope we can go back there again someday soon, I'm sure I have iron filings in my blood, lining up to steer me northwards...it's like a tug, pulling me back already...sigh...one day...
Sunset over Raasay island...our cottage view.
http://www.wildernesscottages.co.uk/property.php?id=345
I hope you've enjoyed our adventure, let's hope there are many more to come...
TTFN, Love Ceri xx
