In the East highlands - 28 August
A second day in Skye and our first visit was to the Whisky Distillery at Talisker. The only distillery on the Isle of Skye, it’s set on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views of the Cuillins. The publicity says that this alluring, sweet, full bodied single malt is so easy to enjoy and, like Skye itself so hard to leave.
Despite the fact that I have never liked whisky, and neither of us took advantage of the free tasting (with apologies to the whisky drinkers!), Suzi and I enjoyed a forty minute tour around this splendid distillery. We've since spoken to a number of Scots who tell us that Takisker whisky wouldn't be their first choice!
We were told that Talisker’s style is totally unique. They say it is 'assertive, but not heavy, pronounced in flavour and aroma but extremely elegant'.
Talisker’s ‘peat reek’ comes from the kiln and from the distinctive, peaty spring water. It also has a ‘marine’ aroma – a seaweedy seashore fragrance that permeates the texture. These characteristics mingle with its more readily identifiable features – 'the aroma of smoke and wood, the velvet smooth flavour and the satisfying weight'.
Talisker malt whisky had already built an outstanding reputation when Robert Louis Stevenson visited Skye in the 1880’s. He immortalized it in his poem, The Scotsman’s Return from Abroad in 1880, ‘the king o’ drinks as I conceive it’.
We learned so much and had a last look at all the barrels of whisky that will be hitting the shops in the future – some not for many years but one, 29 years old, next year!
We spent the rest of the day travelling, on the look out for anything that might catch our fancy. We were again impressed by the similarity between Scotland and New Zealand. We passed so many beautiful views
Unusual coloured rocks
Stunning ‘purple’ heather
Traditional highland cattle, which Suzi adored!
Many, many white houses on hillsides covered with the purple heather
Road signs in both English and Gaelic
The beautiful Eileen Doonan Castle just south of the Kyle of Lochalsh. A Jacobite stronghold, it was destroyed in 1719 by English warships. In the 19th century it was restored and now contains Jacobite relics.
And yet another stunning castle, Urquhart Castle, on the shores of Loch Ness south of Inverness. Urquhart Castle is one of the 345 heritage sites, from the Scottish Highlands and Islands to the Borders, in the care of Historic Scotland. This is an atmospheric ruin overlooking the dark waters of Loch Ness and the mountains beyond. This dramatic castle has a long and bloody history from clan feuds to Jacobite uprisings. Once one of Scotland’s mightiest strongholds, Urquhart Castle’s strategic location gave it a key role in the Scottish battle for independence. It came under the control of Robert the Bruce before a 150 year power struggle between the Stewart dynasty and the MacDonald Lords of the Isles.
Loch Ness is 23 miles south-west of Inverness. It’s Scotland’s second largest lake with a surface area of 21.8 m² but owing to its great depth it’s the largest loch by volume. It’s 230m at its deepest point and contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined!
We arrived in Ullapool and started our search for a Bed and Breakfast. We were fortunate in our very first choice and stayed in a lovely room at The Old Surgery, 3 West Terrace, Ullapool, Wester Ross IV26 2UU - which had everything we needed for £60 - www.oldsurgery.co.uk
