We went to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens this morning. What a great restoration, even though it is privately owned. Well preserved artifacts, excellent thorough information, beautiful woodwork and walls. The gardens were also spectacular, forcing us to wander longer than we had planned.

Next we drove to the Neist Point, the most western point on Skye, and tried to see the Neist Point Lighthouse, but the viewpoint was a long way, and we had reservations at a distillery too soon. Fortunately, the landscape along the way was beautiful.

Talisker Scotch is world-renowned. Known for its spicy, citrus flavors, this Scotch is a favorite. The tour was excellently led by a young woman, a native to the area. We learned a lot, then Clare tasted three of their whiskeys. A road law in Scotland states that no one can drive with any alcohol, so at the tasting part, all the drivers were only allowed to sniff. Then our guide gave the drivers three tiny bottles to take their tasters home to try. So we poured our whiskey extras into the tiny bottles, and drove to the Fairy Pools.

The Fairy pools are a series of pools and small waterfalls in the River Brittle that runs down Glen Brittle, a glacial valley. These are particularly spectacular because of the large amount of water and the steepness of the terrain. Many tourists enjoy this site. 

After an unremarkable dinner, we decided to hike up The Lump, a hill above the harbor in Portree. The forest was deep and lush. Birds serenaded us as we walked. It seemed more like a tropical forest than what I expected in Scotland. 

• Scotland 2024