9 August

Having had a restful sleep in our Aviemore hotel we ventured off on a large day of driving to the Isle of Skye. Our plan was to see the Scottish highlands, a highland cow (or two) and as luck should have it - Highland Games.

Our drive took us past and through some spectular country side, The Higlands. The mountains were enormous, rugged and stunning. Words do not give the views justice, hopefully you will get an idea from the pictures. We crossed a huge bridge as we travelled to the Isle of Skye.

 

Huge rugged mountain - stunning.

Isle of Skye bridge

 It was the 140th year of The Isle of Skye Highland Games at Portee. The venue was called The Lump and with outcrops of rock in a circle and a flat grassed area in the centre it made for an intimate gathering of many people (amazing considering it was a Wednesday) and lots of men in kilts and women involved in typical Highland game events. We saw Throwing 56lb weight, high jump - no mats just a side run up and over the pole and land on grass. We also saw Putting the Stone ( the weight being half a sack of tatties - potatoes).  While the centre grassed area was not so big (3/4 size of a football field) there were several events happening at once. In addition to sporting events, there was also bagpipe competitions and highland dancing competitions.  I can report that men involved in the Highland Games who were wearing kilts wore lycra underneath (well you were wondering !!!).

Highland Games entrance

A bagpipe band

Highland cow - cute.

We left the beautiful Isle of Skye for our next destination, Fort William.