This was our second visit to the Isle of Skye and I'm sure it won't be our last, we decided to break the journey with a few nights in Connel five miles north of Oban, If you need somewhere to stay whilst in the area try Strumhor opposite the Falls of Lora, I hesitate to make recommendations but I'm sure you will not be disappointed Olga and Tony Hammock run an exquisite place, the second half of the week would be spent at Stonefield in Portree, the second time we have stayed there, need I say anymore, book well in advance.

Somebody once said to me "you don't visit Scotland to sunbathe", this summer has been proof of that, well not quite, the Lake District may have had more than it's share of rain but not so in Scotland, we were greeted by a water shortage in Oban and likewise on Skye, that was to change with our arrival, yes the rain followed us north but they do call Skye the misty isle.

The plan was to sightsee in Oban and visit the sights we mist last time we were on Skye, followed by short walks in the afternoons before retiring to the nearest inn, one day we will visit Skye to climb the really big hills, but not this time.

The walks, Kilchurn Castle at the head of Loch Awe once the stronghold of the Clan Campbell, built on an island but now accessible by land after the level of the loch was lowered to allow construction of the road to Oban.Ganavan Bay to Dunstaffnage Castle, a linear walk with stunning coastal views over the Firth of Lorn visiting one of Scotland's oldest castles on route, McCaig's Tower and Pulpit Hill above Oban, I never intended this to be included in the walks but the hills above Oban present absolute stunning views, after a meander through the streets of the town we ended up walking to the beautiful Canas Bay. On to Skye. St Mary's Church high on the hillside above Dunvegan, resting place of the Chiefs of Macleod with wonderful views to Macleod's Table, The Coral Beaches and Lovaig Bay, this walk passes the well frequented Coral Beaches on the shore of Loch Dunvegan, so we extended the walk to include the solitude of Lovaig Bay, Meall Tuath I'm reliably informed this means northern hill and this walk took us to the northern most tip of Skye, the guidebook described this as a tedious moorland slog, for me it was a walk through time crossing the remains of a long dead crofting community, buildings, walls, enclosures a sad reminder of a past way of life, and finally the path to Bearreraig Bay, one of the few places were the beach 350ft below can be accessed, steep and slippery with breath-taking views and a fossil beach to while away the hours.