Sunday 3 August 2014

Taking the Scenic Route Home...

I'm working backwards! These photos were all taken on the day we left the Black Isle. The previous evening I finished crocheting the shawl I'd started at the beginning of the school holidays. There are pattern (it's a free one) and yarn links in this post.

  I love this shadow shot taken against the sun, it shows some of the stitch effect.

This is how it looks from the other side, now you can see the colour changes. I've still to sew the ends in as I didn't take a needle with me.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I intended to give the shawl to a friend. It was to be part of a gift to say thanks for all the help she has given me recently, particularly in taking care of A & N after school one day every week while I was doing my teacher training. She'd commented on how much she liked these colours and I thought it would be perfect. Except that halfway through crocheting the shawl I remembered that she is allergic to wool. Oops! Hmm, guess I'll need to find some non-wool yarn in similar long colour changes and in sock yarn weight, any suggestions?

Anyway, back to the journey home. We didn't want to just take the direct route as we felt like squeezing a few more new experiences out of the holiday. So instead of heading south down the A9 (boring!), we headed west via Achnasheen...

 ...pausing for the view at Loch Carron...

...then taking the narrow, windy, single track road to Plockton, a beautiful little village in the North West Highlands. It was rather grey and windy when we visited but it's still a lovely spot. We had cake and then a wander round...


 The t.v. series "Hamish Macbeth" was filmed here, which may be why it might look familiar to some.

We then left Plockton and continued a few miles down the road to one of the most photographed places in Scotland and somewhere I'd never seen: Eilean Donan Castle. Here are my few photos to add to the innumerable others taken by visitors from all over the world.




I believe it is a castle that is well worth visiting properly, ie paying your money to get inside. We didn't really have time this visit.

Another day...

12 comments:

Louise said...

Looks fantastic. I always like to take an interesting, scenic route rather than a direct but boring route - I often do that even driving around locally!

isabelle said...

That first shot is pure magic!

CJ said...

Wow, stunning photos, with some amazing skies.

RedSetter said...

What beautiful photos. I was going to ask about the Hamish MacBeth connection but you've answered it. I've not visited Eilean Donan either but it always looks stunning.

Chris said...

Your photography is quite fantastic. I loved your pictures from your last post too! It gives me a glimpse into part of the world I know little about. Thank you. Crystal palace yarns used to have a bamboo/ nylon fingering weight . Bamboo has such a nice drape to it. Have a great week. Chris

Neighborhood Watch said...

The more I look at the photos you post, the more I know that someday I will have to visit your part of the world.

Mimi said...

What lovely photos! Funnily enough, Inhave not seen Hamish Macbeth, but I have read the books, and I thought 'that looks just like Lochdubh!' When I saw your photos!

Amy at love made my home said...

Your shawl is beautiful! I hope that you can find some suitable yarn to make another for your friend. Your views of Scotland are stunning!! xx

Julie said...

What a fun way home - I do love Plockton. John applied for a job there just before the one in Inverness....I think it worked out better this way but it would have been special for a while!
Love the shawl, I guess it is your now then?! Juliex

Jennifer Hays said...

Thank you for sharing these photos. I long to see a real castle in person someday. Your shawl is beautiful and that first photo of it is so dramatic.

Hazel said...

Gorgeous photos of the castle. Xx

Anonymous said...

I want, so much, to go back to Scotland!

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