We went to this castle on the Scottish mainland twice. Here are some photographs from the second photo shoot. For the last three photographs we drove up above the castle with the group.
Eilean Donan is a small tidal island in the western Scottish Highlands, located where Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh meet. It is best known for its picturesque castle, connected to the mainland by a footbridge and widely recognized from photographs, films, and television.
The island is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint believed to have founded a church there in the 6th or 7th century. The first major castle was built in the 13th century as a defensive stronghold and later became associated with Clan Mackenzie and Clan MacRae. Over the centuries, it played a role in clan conflicts, Highland politics, and the Jacobite uprisings.
In 1719, during Jacobite activity supported by Spain, Royal Navy ships bombarded and destroyed the castle. It remained in ruins for nearly 200 years until Lt. Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap rebuilt it between 1919 and 1932, adding the bridge and restoring the castle in a romanticized medieval style.
Today, Eilean Donan Castle is one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. It is known for its scenic setting, historical associations, and frequent appearances in films and popular culture, though the current castle is largely a 20th-century reconstruction rather than an exact medieval restoration.
Gaelic is spoken on the Isle of Skye and is an important part of the culture. The Old Man of Storr translates to Bodach an Stòir in Gaelic. When the weather is clear, the iconic landmark: The Storr – Official Site.
The ridge that the Old Man of Storr is on began to form around 65 million years ago, during the Paleocene epoch, as the ancient continents split apart and the Atlantic Ocean began to form. Volcanic activity along the rift zone in the Earth‘s surface formed multiple layers of basalt rock.
These eruptions continued into the Eocene epoch until around 23 million years ago, building up the tabular mountains and sea cliffs that characterize much of Skye‘s dramatic scenery today. Some of the rocks 3 billion year old Precambrian rocks exposed on the Trotternish Peninsula are among the oldest in Scotland.
The Storr, a 719m (2,358 ft) peak that marks the highest point along the Trotternish Ridge, and the surrounding clan of rocky spires were created much more recently. At the end of the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago, the immense weight of retreating glaciers caused the basalt lava to fracture and slip, creating cliffs and leaving behind the iconic pinnacles we see today. The name “Storr” itself comes from the Old Norse word “Stórr,” meaning “big” or “great.”
The Old Man of Storr and His Fairy Wife
Long ago, before the winds carved the cliffs and before travelers came to Skye, an old man lived high on the Trotternish ridge. He was gentle, quiet, and known for one extraordinary secret — his wife was a fairy from the Hidden Folk.
She had wandered into the human world on a moonlit night, shimmering like frost on heather. The old man found her lost and frightened, and instead of trapping her — as some humans foolishly tried — he offered her shelter, warmth, and kindness. She stayed for one night, then another, then a lifetime.
They lived happily for many years, but fairies do not age as humans do. One morning she woke with sorrow in her eyes. “My love,” she said, “my time in your world is ending. I must return to the realm beneath the hills.”
The old man begged her to stay, but fairy magic has rules older than stone. She promised him one gift: “I cannot remain, but I will make sure you never forget me.”
She touched his cheek, and the world shimmered. When the light faded, she was gone — and the old man stood alone on the ridge, his heart heavy as winter.
He climbed the hill every day, hoping to glimpse her again. One dawn, as he reached the summit, the earth trembled. The sky dimmed. And the old man felt himself turning still, rooted, rising, becoming part of the land itself.
The fairies had kept their promise.
Where he stood, a great stone pillar rose — tall, solemn, watching the horizon. Beside it, smaller stones clustered like the folds of a cloak. The people of Skye named it The Old Man of Storr, saying the fairy wife shaped the rock so her beloved would stand forever, guarding the island, waiting for the day she might return.
And on certain misty mornings, locals swear they see a second shape beside the Old Man — slender, shimmering, like a woman made of dawnlight.
Some say it’s the fairy wife visiting her husband. Others say it’s just the fog.
But Skye has a way of blurring the line between the two.
The second image is of a mural on a wall in Portree.
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We stayed in Fort William twice. It is a half way point between Glasgow airport and the Isle of Skye. The trip leaders took us to some lovely places around the nearby lochs (see other posts).
Sunset overlooking Uig. Uig: from Norse – Vik – or Ùige (Scottish Gaelic)- Meaning Bay. Set in a sheltered bay on the Isle of Skye’s north coast, Uig has a ferry port connecting Skye with the Western Isles.
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A stream at sunset called Lon an Eiriannaich near a schoolhouse near Carbost, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
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Cill Chriosd, also known as Kilchrist Church, is a ruined 16th-century parish church on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, located on the B8083 road between Broadford and Elgol in Strath Suardal. It served as the parish church for Strath for over 300 years, including the clearance villages of Boreraig and Susinish.
Christian worship at this site is thought to date back to the 7th century, when St Mael Ruba preached from nearby Cnoc na-Aifhreann (“Hill of the Mass”). The first stone church here likely appeared in the medieval period, and the present ruins replaced that earlier structure in the 1500s. Written records begin in 1505 with chaplain Kenneth Adamson. The first Protestant minister, Neil Mackinnon, was appointed in 1627; he was known for his strictness and reportedly reporting Catholics to authorities. The church was used until 1840, when the parish was moved to Broadford. The site now stands roofless, with parts of the earlier medieval west gable still visible.
The ruins are a low, rubble-built rectangle, about 53 ft long by 17.5 ft wide, with walls up to 8 ft high and over 2 ft thick. The south wall has three inwardly splayed windows, and the east gable features a balustraded burial enclosure for Clan Mackinnon. Inside, the nave measures roughly 52 ft 9 in by 17 ft 6 in. The building is oriented about 30° from east–west and has no openings on the north or west walls.
Cill Chriosd sits atop a small mound, with a graveyard containing 18th–19th century gravestones, some Celtic crosses, and a section of a crudely carved cross head. Nearby, Beinn Na Caillich rises to the west, and Loch Cill Chriosd lies to the south-west. The site offers panoramic views of Strath Suardal and the surrounding mountains.
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Highland cows, or “coos,” can be seen across the Isle of Skye, with Hector’s Highland Coos in Sconser being a popular spot for visitors. Duirinish: Close to the Skye Bridge, this traditional village often has free-roaming Highland cows. Plockton: A picturesque coastal village nearby where cows may be seen grazing.
Highland cows are a hardy Scottish breed known for their long, shaggy coats and impressive horns, adapted to survive Scotland’s unpredictable weather. On the Isle of Skye, these gentle giants can be spotted grazing in fields, often near small villages or along scenic roads.
Always keep a safe distance, avoid sudden movements, and do not attempt to feed or touch them, especially if calves are present. They are calm and docile but large, so respecting their space ensures both visitor and animal safety. Spring (April–May) is calving season, offering the chance to see adorable calves, while summer provides lush green pastures ideal for photography. Highland cows come in various colors beyond the classic ginger, including black, white, yellow, dun, and brindle.
The Isle of Skye primarily raises hardy sheep breeds such as Cheviots, Scottish Blackface, and Hebridean sheep, well-suited to the island’s rugged and wet landscape.
Cheviot Sheep: Cheviots are a resilient breed favored for their ability to thrive in Skye’s wet and windy conditions. They are known for their hardiness, good mothering abilities, and quality wool, which is often used for textiles and sheepskin products.
Scottish Blackface: This breed is another staple on Skye, particularly valued for its toughness and adaptability to rough grazing land. Scottish Blackface sheep produce coarse wool suitable for carpets and tweeds, and they are also raised for meat.
Hebridean Sheep: Hebridean sheep are a smaller, native breed with distinctive black coats and multiple horns. They are well-adapted to the island’s steep, species-rich grasslands and are kept for both meat and wool. Their wool is often used for felting and craft products.
While Cheviots, Scottish Blackface, and Hebrideans dominate, some crofters also raise other breeds such as Suffolk, Texel, Zwartbles, and Lincoln Longwool for meat or breeding purposes. These breeds are often selected for specific traits like growth rate, carcass quality, or wool characteristics.
Sheep on Skye are typically raised on small-scale crofts averaging 2–15 acres, often with access to common grazing land. Crofters prioritize sustainability, animal welfare, and traceability, with sheep grazing on natural pastures and being supplemented with feed during harsh winters. The crofting lifestyle also integrates sheep management with other activities such as vegetable growing, poultry keeping, and small-scale tourism, reflecting the diverse and community-oriented nature of Skye agriculture.
Highland Coo (Bos taurus taurus), Torvaig Road End, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Highland Coo (Bos taurus taurus), Torvaig Road End, Isle of Skye 5/1/2026Highland Coo (Bos taurus taurus), Torvaig Road End, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Highland Coo (Bos taurus taurus), Torvaig Road End, Isle of Skye 5/1/2026Highland Coo (Bos taurus taurus), Torvaig Road End, Isle of Skye 5/1/2026Sheep, Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Sheep, Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Sheep, Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Sheep, Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Sheep, Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Sheep, Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026White Wagtail (Motacilla alba), Cill Chriosd, Isle of Skye 4/30/2026Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Portree, Isle of Skye 5/1/2026Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos), Portree, Isle of Skye 5/1/2026Blackbird (Turdus merula), Portree, Isle of Skye 5/1/2026
