WARNING: You may find this blog boring.. It's a memory jogger for us. If you get bored, simply stop reading and go do something else!
This blog has been compiled by S.
The initial set of photos are from my Blackberry phone camera, not chosen for quality, just because they are handy.
I hope to persuade A to make some editorial changes to correct the facts, perhaps add a few web links and also to provide some better photos.
Thanks To A2 and E for good company.
Day 13 to Home (Mon)
It's all getting a bit confusing.. this staying in a different hotel every night. However, it's a nice hotel and we would go back sometime to see some theatre.
Good breakfast and it's off for one last look around Stratford, including an amazing Adult Toy Shop. All kinds of models, train sets, racing cars, airplanes etc. I was particularly impressed by the selection of lorries, each with authentic shape and colour. At about 100 quid each, they would make some collection.
Then home via Camberley dropping of A2 and E on the way.
Hey ho, a great time with plenty of memories to keep us going. And anyway, there is always next year!
As we often said.... Cheers!
Good breakfast and it's off for one last look around Stratford, including an amazing Adult Toy Shop. All kinds of models, train sets, racing cars, airplanes etc. I was particularly impressed by the selection of lorries, each with authentic shape and colour. At about 100 quid each, they would make some collection.
Then home via Camberley dropping of A2 and E on the way.
Hey ho, a great time with plenty of memories to keep us going. And anyway, there is always next year!
As we often said.... Cheers!
Day 12 to Stratford on Avon (Sun)
Leisurely start and we are on the road again, this time to Stratford-upon-Avon. This is a short driving day, we stop on the M6 toll for a bite to eat and then its on to our Hotel in Stratford.
The hotel is very nicely placed near the centre of Stratford, so we wander into town to check out the waterways, parks and pubs.
We manage a pint at the oldest pub in Stratford (spot a theme here?), whilst watching the guy prepare to jump out of a balloon at a zillion feet. A bit of history in the making. We book in for our last meal at a very nice Italian. A good meal and it's back for last orders at the bar. (Another theme!).
The hotel is very nicely placed near the centre of Stratford, so we wander into town to check out the waterways, parks and pubs.
We manage a pint at the oldest pub in Stratford (spot a theme here?), whilst watching the guy prepare to jump out of a balloon at a zillion feet. A bit of history in the making. We book in for our last meal at a very nice Italian. A good meal and it's back for last orders at the bar. (Another theme!).
Day 11 to Kendal (Sat)
Ok, that went fast! We are off and checking the Sat-Nav to see exactly how far to the ferry. Hooray, we are early enough to get on board an hour before plan.
Pity it's only a half hour crossing to Mallaig. This time on the Mallaig road we do not have to rush and we get chance to admire the scenery. Not too much to say about the journey through Ft William, over Glen Coe through Crianlarich, stopping for soup at the head of Loch Lomond.
Here we ask for tap water which the manager says is not fit for drinking, instead we have coffee and tea (made of the same poor tap water?). No one is any the worse.
Again A2 does some great map reading to get us round Glasgow by the lower motorway. It's then a long drag through the borders and through the lake district to our hotel in Kendal. Well, it's sad to leave Skye, but the Lakes are great too.
In the evening we head off for an amazing meal at the pub at Ings. Finishing off with a pint in the Bar.
Pity it's only a half hour crossing to Mallaig. This time on the Mallaig road we do not have to rush and we get chance to admire the scenery. Not too much to say about the journey through Ft William, over Glen Coe through Crianlarich, stopping for soup at the head of Loch Lomond.
Here we ask for tap water which the manager says is not fit for drinking, instead we have coffee and tea (made of the same poor tap water?). No one is any the worse.
Again A2 does some great map reading to get us round Glasgow by the lower motorway. It's then a long drag through the borders and through the lake district to our hotel in Kendal. Well, it's sad to leave Skye, but the Lakes are great too.
In the evening we head off for an amazing meal at the pub at Ings. Finishing off with a pint in the Bar.
Day 10 rain at Oldest Inn (Fri)
Last day of the cottage holiday.
Rain again. But no worry, we decide to get a proper lunchtime pint this time, setting off to visit the oldest pub on Skye. (Must be better than the bakery!).
So, after a lazy morning we go North on Skye to Waternish and the old pub. This turns out to be a fun trip with a few pints and an interesting chat with 2 American women. The women have a story about how they end up driving on the wrong side of the road and navigating with no sat-nav. They intruduce the concept of an i or a droid (iPhone or Android .. i like this!)
We call in at Dunvegan on the trip back home, to get supplies for a Curry.
Back at the house it's time for a last visit to the loch.
And also for an attempt to feed the local horse (we named him Dobby and he had a small friend).
Curry cooked by A is great and it's time to pack up ready for an earlyish start on our trip home.
Rain again. But no worry, we decide to get a proper lunchtime pint this time, setting off to visit the oldest pub on Skye. (Must be better than the bakery!).
So, after a lazy morning we go North on Skye to Waternish and the old pub. This turns out to be a fun trip with a few pints and an interesting chat with 2 American women. The women have a story about how they end up driving on the wrong side of the road and navigating with no sat-nav. They intruduce the concept of an i or a droid (iPhone or Android .. i like this!)
We call in at Dunvegan on the trip back home, to get supplies for a Curry.
Back at the house it's time for a last visit to the loch.
And also for an attempt to feed the local horse (we named him Dobby and he had a small friend).
Curry cooked by A is great and it's time to pack up ready for an earlyish start on our trip home.
Day 9 rain at Oldest Bakery (Thu)
So.. this was the first rainy day of the holiday. This was OK as we had done most of the things we had planned. S and A2 had hoped to climb one of Macleods Table Tops but the visibility was very poor, and the thought of being lost was not appealing.
Instead, we took it easy and decided to head out for a beer at a local hotel at lunch time. (Never a bad alternative in bad weather). However, the Hotel we found was closed. The owner was a grumpy so and so who obviously did not approve of customers... Hey ho, we won't go back there in a hurry.
As we were driving towards Dunvegan in search of beer,we followed another sign (open all hours) to a closed hotel.
As a last resort, we spotted a welcoming sign to the Oldest Bakery on Skye which boasted Afternoon Teas and Snacks.
Anyway, it sounded better than it was! There was a funny damp smell which turned out to be water running down the walls into plug sockets, which was alarming to us. A2 declined the offer by the waitress to unplug it! The service was enthusiastic, but poor. The lad behind the counter was dispatched to buy some onions for our cheese and onion toasties. There was also a comedy moment when the credit card machine got tangled up in the chocolate eclairs and sprung back at the lad behind the counter as S let it go, after attempting to pay. The credit card failed the first couple of attempts due to his Mum being on the phone. Lol.
We wondered how long the oldest bakery on Skye would survive?!
In the evening, we set off to the Granary restaurant in Portree, which turned out to be a good recommendation from the internet. (Thanks internet).
Instead, we took it easy and decided to head out for a beer at a local hotel at lunch time. (Never a bad alternative in bad weather). However, the Hotel we found was closed. The owner was a grumpy so and so who obviously did not approve of customers... Hey ho, we won't go back there in a hurry.
As we were driving towards Dunvegan in search of beer,we followed another sign (open all hours) to a closed hotel.
As a last resort, we spotted a welcoming sign to the Oldest Bakery on Skye which boasted Afternoon Teas and Snacks.
Anyway, it sounded better than it was! There was a funny damp smell which turned out to be water running down the walls into plug sockets, which was alarming to us. A2 declined the offer by the waitress to unplug it! The service was enthusiastic, but poor. The lad behind the counter was dispatched to buy some onions for our cheese and onion toasties. There was also a comedy moment when the credit card machine got tangled up in the chocolate eclairs and sprung back at the lad behind the counter as S let it go, after attempting to pay. The credit card failed the first couple of attempts due to his Mum being on the phone. Lol.
We wondered how long the oldest bakery on Skye would survive?!
In the evening, we set off to the Granary restaurant in Portree, which turned out to be a good recommendation from the internet. (Thanks internet).
Day 8 Boat Trip to Rassay then Golf (Wed)
We have to be off in good time to get to Portree and find the pier and the good shop "Spindrift". As it turns out it is no trouble to find the pier and park in the free car park.
Mr Spindrift is waiting for us and we board early while he goes to fetch Mrs Spindrift and their granddaughter. The weather is great clear blue skies and not too cold to venture out on top for views of Skye and Rasssay. Mrs Spindrift knows lots of information about the coast, the sea and the wildlife and also provides us with coffe and some "Boat Munchies". All this is greatly appreciated.
The trip is about 45 mins and we have an hour on shore. We take a stroll up to the Rassay Hotel and get drinks and stuff before strolling back for the return journey. This is a real treat as we have the Spindrift to ourselves . On the way back we all get out on top (even E) as the views and weather are still amazing. The best is yet to come as we get a great view of a Sea Eagle swooping down to get a fish then perching on the rocks near the sea. Mrs Spindrift is very helpful at his time as she knows exactly where to look. Again we have coffee and more boat munchies and Mrs Spindrift offers to send us the recipe. What a nice lady!
We all agree that the boat trip was a very good idea.
No time for messing about though we have to get a bite to eat in Portree (soup?), then its off to Sconser so that S can have a round of golf (yippee) and A2 can stroll along the sea shore.
The round of golf is great fun. Two times 9 holes to make up 18 with slightly different tee positions on each round. The views are amazing. You cant beat playing golf by the sea with the ferry and mountains in the background.
A and E have a snooze in the car while admiring the views and the great golfer S!
Then its off to a local pub (can't remember the name) for a pint.
Then we call into the co-op at Portree to get supplies to make cottage pie (yum) and its off back to the cottage for dinner.
That was a VERY good day.
Mr Spindrift is waiting for us and we board early while he goes to fetch Mrs Spindrift and their granddaughter. The weather is great clear blue skies and not too cold to venture out on top for views of Skye and Rasssay. Mrs Spindrift knows lots of information about the coast, the sea and the wildlife and also provides us with coffe and some "Boat Munchies". All this is greatly appreciated.
The trip is about 45 mins and we have an hour on shore. We take a stroll up to the Rassay Hotel and get drinks and stuff before strolling back for the return journey. This is a real treat as we have the Spindrift to ourselves . On the way back we all get out on top (even E) as the views and weather are still amazing. The best is yet to come as we get a great view of a Sea Eagle swooping down to get a fish then perching on the rocks near the sea. Mrs Spindrift is very helpful at his time as she knows exactly where to look. Again we have coffee and more boat munchies and Mrs Spindrift offers to send us the recipe. What a nice lady!
We all agree that the boat trip was a very good idea.
No time for messing about though we have to get a bite to eat in Portree (soup?), then its off to Sconser so that S can have a round of golf (yippee) and A2 can stroll along the sea shore.
The round of golf is great fun. Two times 9 holes to make up 18 with slightly different tee positions on each round. The views are amazing. You cant beat playing golf by the sea with the ferry and mountains in the background.
A and E have a snooze in the car while admiring the views and the great golfer S!
Then its off to a local pub (can't remember the name) for a pint.
Then we call into the co-op at Portree to get supplies to make cottage pie (yum) and its off back to the cottage for dinner.
That was a VERY good day.
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