Lochalsh

Skye Bridge from Kyle

It rained for most of the morning as I waited for news of my daughter and family who were flying up to Inverness from Luton. There were the inevitable delays as air travel had been disrupted by Storm Babet and a couple of planes had skidded off runways when landing. I had expected them to arrive at about 1 p.m. but it was unlikely to be before 3 p.m. by the time they landed,  hired a car, and travelled 75 miles to the cottage. I had always wanted to walk across the Skye Bridge and I needed one or two provisions so I drove to the Kyle of Lochalsh. I parked at the newish Coop at the start of the road to the bridge and started the walk from there. It was cold, damp, and windy but the bridge was preferable to a hill walk.

The Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust has built a centre along the road to the bridge and there were some odd-looking characters standing outside. They may have been the drivers of three STO category 2 lorries that were towing massive black speed boats that were parked across the road. I thought about asking but decided to keep walking, there was something ominous about the boats . There is a low-level bridge that crosses Eilean Ban, and the tide was ripping through faster than the South Esk River. Then the steep climb to the the main span of the bridge, high enough to let sea-going vessels through. I reached the high point and took photos of the Red Cuillin, Kyleakin, and back towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Even on a grey day, the views were impressive. 

Arriving back in Kyle I made a tour of the town with various marine vessels from Shetland and Orkney as well as the Hebridean Princess, the cruise ship on its penultimate tour of the year. I explored the railway station at the end of the most remote line in Britain. An old diesel multiple unit was ticking over but no passengers were around. Together with the throbbing diesel engines of the three vessels, it made me contemplate whether if we are to achieve net zero this would still be possible in 2030?

The family arrived after 4 p.m. along with the late afternoon sun. We unloaded and had a drink and I suggested a walk on the nearby stony beach at Fernaig. It was a revelation, the sun was setting over Plockton, wader birds were patrolling the shore, and a heron kept ahead of us as we beachcombed and engorged the refreshing sea air. "To think that we started the day in Luton", summed up the sense of scenic tranquility perfectly. It was holiday time.

Looking back to Kyle

Skye and the Red Cuillin

Kyleakin

Marine vessels

Kyle of Lochalsh Station and the Hebridean Princess

Fernaig Beach

Waving goodbye to Luton

Evening Mood