Picturesque Eilean Donan Castle, linked to the mainland with an elegant stone bridge, is one of Scotland’s most photographed castles. The castle was built in the 13th century and restored in the 19th after it was destroyed during the 18th-century Jacobite rebellions. We took the scenic train ride from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh, and had a great day day touring the area by bike.
Below are trip highlights from October 9, 2017 in the Scottish Higlands. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at http://mvdirona.com/maps
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ScotRail
Position: -4 13.40, 57 28.80
Richard Green recommended we take the scenic train ride from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh. So we purchased tickets and also booked bicycle reservations to ride out to Eilean Donan Castle.
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Caledonian Canal
Position: -4 15.33, 57 29.38
Crossing the Caledonian Canal by train. We’ve been to this crossing by bicycle and train now. Soon we’ll be here by boat.
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River Conan
Position: -4 26.57, 57 34.09
Pedestrian and car bridges crossing the River Conan near Mayburgh.
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Loch Garve
Position: -4 39.28, 57 35.59
Loch Garve with Meall Ruighe an Fhirch (left with antennas) and Carn Fearna (right). Both are 1417ft (432m) high.
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River Bran
Position: -5 6.47, 57 32.95
The River Bran draining Loch Gowan near Achnasheen.
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Loch Dughaill
Position: -5 21.78, 57 27.81
Looking south to Loch Dughaill with 2,000ft (600m) ridges beyond.
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New Kelso
Position: -5 24.86, 57 25.93
2,391ft (729m) Glas Bheinn in the distance, with tree farms on the lower slopes.
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Plockton
Position: -5 38.23, 57 20.22
The tree-covered islet of Sgeir Bhuidhe with Plockton visible across the harbour.
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Skye
Position: -5 43.11, 57 18.67
The hills of Skye visible in the distance across Inner Sound.
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End of Line
Position: -5 42.83, 57 16.76
Kyle of Lochalsh is the literal end of the train line. We’d really enjoyed the trip—the scenery was fabulous.
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Lochalsh Hotel
Position: -5 42.85, 57 16.76
The grand-looking Lochalsh Hotel along the Kyle waterfront.
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Main Street
Position: -5 42.94, 57 16.90
Main Street in Kyle of Lochalsh. Before the bridge to Skye was opened in 1995, Kyle was the main ferry terminal to Skye. Kyle still is a popular tourist destination, but is less busy than it once was.
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Hector’s Brothy
Position: -5 42.93, 57 16.84
We had a good lunch at Hector’s Brothy cafe in Kyle and got a giggle out of some of their retro posters on the wall.
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Loch Alsh Viewpoint
Position: -5 41.89, 57 16.86
After lunch, we set out on our bike ride to Eilean Donan Castle. We had to climb a reasonable steep hill initially, but the reward was this view from the Loch Alsh Viewpoint. In the foreground is the Kyle commercial docks, with the bridge to Skye visible beyond and the Isle of Skye in the distance.
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Loch Long
Position: -5 31.16, 57 16.71
Looking up Loch Long, near Eilean Donan Castle, with the village of Dornie on the opposite shore.
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Eilean Donan
Position: -5 31.16, 57 16.71
Picturesque Eilean Donan Castle, linked to the mainland with an elegant stone bridge, is one of Scotland’s most photographed castles.
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Bridge
Position: -5 30.84, 57 16.48
The bridge to Eilean Donan castle. The castle was built in the 13th century, was destroyed during the Jacobite rebellions in the 18th century and was later restored in the 19th century.
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Gate
Position: -5 30.95, 57 16.43
The castle gate and operating machinery weigh 1,000 pounds and it’s a nice design with appropriately-sized counterweights such that a single person easily can raise and lower it.
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Projection
Position: -5 30.98, 57 16.43
Several effective video projections and other exhibits told of the castle’s history. It’s a fun way to present a video by using super-bright projection directly onto one of the original stone walls.
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Loch Duich
Position: -5 30.98, 57 16.42
Jennifer taking in the view along Loch Duich from the courtyard at Eilean Donan castle.
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Inner Courtyard
Position: -5 31.00, 57 16.43
The inner courtyard at Eilean Donan castle. Inside the castle are displays and recreations of 19th-century life in the castle, but photographs aren’t allowed.
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Bridge
Position: -5 30.96, 57 16.43
Looking out to the bridge from the castle bastion.
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Last View
Position: -5 30.92, 57 16.45
Last view to the castle before we leave.
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Dornie
Position: -5 30.92, 57 16.70
We made a quick pass through the tidy village of Dornie before cycling back to Kyle.
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Royal Scotsman
Position: -5 42.82, 57 16.77
The Royal Scotsman luxury train was at the station when we returned. The interior looks beautiful, but at over £1,000 per person per night, we’ll stick with ScotRail.
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RNLI
Position: -5 42.89, 57 16.81
The Klye of Lochalsh RNLI lifeboat lives in a shed and is launched via tractor when needed.
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Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.
On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at http://mvdirona.com/maps. |
Love the projection on the rocks…have always mused that these pico projectors could be great Point of Sales or Remote Signs projecting images on walls OR on clouds of atomized water vapor…..fun! I thought it would be much colder weather than it appears from these images….
The projectors are remarkably effective mostly because the resolution is so high and the they are super bright. Using them for advertising and even interior and exterior decoration seems like a likely outcome as projector costs fall.
Weather was pretty good for early October when we did this trip but it’s cooled off since. Dublin is currently 45F and some days has been dipping down to the 30s.