Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

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slaggbottom
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Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by slaggbottom »

This past September I spent 2 weeks in Scotland, including a full week on the enchanted Isle of Skye, a couple days on the Isles of Harris and Lewis (Outer Hebrides, where they speak Gaelic), and a few days in the Highlands. We did a lot of exploring, mostly of the day hike variety, and stayed at B&Bs each night. I've got a day by day trip report online, and if you're looking for a potential adventure destination, give Scotland a serious consideration. They have 282 "munros" (3,000' peaks), along with fantastic coastline, and it's really like walking through a fairy tale landscape. Just remember to bring the rain gear...

Here's some sample pics, and links to full day reports, where you'll find lots of info and plenty more pics.

Exploring castle ruins on the mainland: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_09/index.html
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Lots of heather on the Isle of Skye, and Neist Point at sunset: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_10/index.html
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Coral Beach (ground coral, not sand), Dunvegan, Isle of Skye: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_11/index.html
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Hiking to the tidal Ullinish Island: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_12/index.html
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The fairy tale Quiraing, Isle of Skye: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_12_2/index.html
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Fairy Pools, Glenbrittle & Tallisker Bay, Isle of Skye: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_14/index.html
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The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_15/index.html
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The Spar Cave (only accessible 1hr each side of low tide), Isle of Skye: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_16/index.html
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Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_16/index.html
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Back to The Quiraing, Ilse of Skye: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_17/index.html
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Sheep shearing, and rainbows on the Isle of Lewis: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_18/index.html
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Callanish Stones (5000 years old), Isle of Lewis: http://matt.tracz.org/2012/scotland/09_19/
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My Trip Reports: http://matt.tracz.org
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RoanMtnMan
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by RoanMtnMan »

My wife and I did a similar trip last year. Visiting the highlands made me realized why there have been so many great Scottish climbers. Your weather appeared to be much better than ours. Great photos.
Always follow the 7 P's. Proper Planning & Preparation, Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

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pvnisher
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by pvnisher »

I'm going on my second year of living in northern England near Scotland. People who say, "There's no bad weather, just bad gear." have never climbed in the UK.
SuperiorTrailHiker
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by SuperiorTrailHiker »

Our honeymoon 15 years ago was 3 weeks in Scotland, most of it in the highlands and isles. Fantastic place; Skye was utterly surreal. We got into Portrigh on a Sunday at noon and it coulda been a ghost town.

Hope to go back one day - great pictures meanwhile.
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WheelerDealer
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by WheelerDealer »

My God. I've got to go there.

Amazing.
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Mindy
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by Mindy »

slaggbottom.... nice to see a post from you again as I always did enjoy your reports and photography. What an amazing trip this appears to have been for you both. I agree WheelerDealer - I have to go there! Thanks for sharing.
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Nathan Hale
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by Nathan Hale »

I went to Skye after kayaking across the Great Glen in July, but it seems like you had better weather. We were there for 5 days and never saw the tops of the peaks because of the weather. And the day we went to see the Old Man of Storr we couldn't see it when we were right next to it, and all the while we were being buffeted by winds so strong we couldn't stand at times, accompanied by lots of rain.

So what I'm saying is: it rains a lot in Scotland.
But for now we are young, let us lay in the sun and count every beautiful thing we can see.

http://mtns.nathan-hale.com
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Theodore
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by Theodore »

Oh I need to get back there as an adult. Been there a couple times with my family and climbed Ben Nevis with my dad when I was 17, but haven't been back since. Need to return!
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altidude
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by altidude »

Incredible! :shock: Thank you for sharing!

Added to my bucket list..
The mountain always wins, we do not always lose.

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RenoBob
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by RenoBob »

What about the whiskey?
Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.
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slaggbottom
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by slaggbottom »

Lots of distilleries out there, though the only whiskey I had was during breakfast (one B&B had a bottle available, to spice up the porridge), and at the pub in Carbost where I had a "haggis strudel with whiskey sauce", which turned out to be my favorite meal of the trip.

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Mmm... Haggis strudel....


Guess we lucked out with the weather. Only had 1 day that was a rain-out. All the other days it rained 5-7 times a day, alternating with some sun. It was constant rainbow-land.

-Matt
My Trip Reports: http://matt.tracz.org
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Scotzman
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Re: Scotland 2012 Isles & Highlands TR

Post by Scotzman »

Sounds like a great trip! My next trip to Scotland will involve the western coast/highlands :)
Scotzman
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What we do in life echoes in eternity.
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