Mum visits!

Hi there fans. Sorry there has been no post for a while, but I have been busy showing my mum around Scotland. On her first trip to Europe, she has given England a miss and come right up to where it is all happening, Edinburgh, before heading off to more sights in Ireland, Mont Blanc Range, then Italy. Spending just enough time in town to get sick of the festival crowds, we then rented a car and headed north. It was a great excuse for Jo and myself to be tourists again, and see and do things we havn't managed yet. We headed for the Isle of Skye, but on the way we popped up Ben Nevis, Britains highest peak. It was Jo's first visit (my 6th time up). We started up the main path, which was heaving with people (and quite a dull route), before dropping down under the north face and climbing up to Carn Mor Dearg. A thouroughly pleasant walk.

Looking across to the north face of Ben Nevis from Carn Mor Dearg

Jo and Mum on Carn Mor Dearg

Continuing to Skye, we didn't actually see the sky for the next day and a half, so we went into full tourist mode, drove around the fabulous coast, visited castles, museums and ruins and tried to act generally windswept and rugged.

Eilean Donan Castle

Kilt Rock

The next day was brightening up, so we went for a walk up the highest vantage point in the north, The Storr, passing some cool rock towers, including The Old Man of Storr. We then had a gourgeous sunny afternoon in Talisker Bay, exporing the cliffs and coves, swimming in the sea and lazing on the beach before heading to the Talisker Distillery to sample the local single malt.

The Old Man of Storr

Talisker Bay

The Cuillin Hills above Carbost

The Cuillin Hills are the jagged rock backbone of Skye, the rough solid rock famous for great climbing and scrambling. We only had a morning left before driving back home, so we went for a short walk up into Coirre Laggan, to a beuatiful Loch surrounded by steep clean walls. It was a wondrous playground for me as I climbed everything I could until myfingertips bled and we sadly had to head for home.

Lochan Laggan

Walking out from the Coirre