[Photos] UK 21 - Eilean Donan Castle
Jun. 5th, 2019 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonvoiceThe day was uncommonly lovely when we went to Eilean Donan. We took a more northern route in, and a more southerly route back, and stopped off to take lots of photos on the way. (We also ducked quickly onto the Isle of Skye just to say we've been, lol).
There was a lot of the interior I skipped. I just wasn't interested in seeing more historical reconstructions (photography wasn't allowed also, though this wasn't a huge deterrent, I'd already planned to skip a lot of the interior to be gentler on my body and avoid a lot of crooked, uneven stone stairs).
The exterior was incredible. I talked to strangers. Took a photo of a woman visiting from Spain who had a very thick accent and complimented my hair. I spoke to a volunteer at the castle who told me that he'd actually been to Australia for many months and his favourite place was Tasmania, and I laughed and said 'because it's like here?' and he laughed and said 'because it's like here.' I discovered more about the whiskey in Tasmania from him, than I actually knew beforehand, and it was great.
He also said he wished he could tase the kids sometimes, so you know, keep an eye on those volunteers, parents. (Though, I sympathised at the time, because god, it must get so awful. He talked about some of the behaviours of some of the tourists and I knew instantly I couldn't do the job he was doing because I'd just start entertaining thoughts of homicide more often than not).
Eilean Donan.
Our brief foray into the Western Highlands only taught me that I want to spend much longer specifically in the West and the Outer Hebrides. Eilean Donan is situated on a tidal island at the confluence of three sea lochs: Duich, Long and Alsh.
Off to the right is a gift shop and a cafe/diner. We ended up eating there because we didn't like our chances of finding somewhere to eat on the two hour drive back. The gift shop was actually really lovely and tasteful, and unlike some of the others, stocked some genuinely amazing local produce and crafts, and was where Glen and I ended up spending the most money during the entire trip.
It's a very small castle. More like just a really fancy fort. For which my entire body was grateful.
I cared so much more about the landscape around me than the actual castle.
The sun was impossible, the waters were bright and clear. Here I fell in love, and I'm so glad I have so many photos of this place. I can remember the cold, clean air. The clarity. The smell of salt water and seaweed.
This dove flew back and forth, looking for bits of seaweed with which to build its nest in the castle itself. Which is some real estate.
The bridge we drove over to the get to the castle. Tbh, walking back along the footpath on the bridge would have yielded an incredible photo, but I was too tired. The volunteer at the castle was like 'oh tourists in peak season - especially Americans - just stop their cars on the bridge, get out, take photos and hold up locals in peak hour traffic.' I just stared at him in dismay.
There was a lot of the interior I skipped. I just wasn't interested in seeing more historical reconstructions (photography wasn't allowed also, though this wasn't a huge deterrent, I'd already planned to skip a lot of the interior to be gentler on my body and avoid a lot of crooked, uneven stone stairs).
The exterior was incredible. I talked to strangers. Took a photo of a woman visiting from Spain who had a very thick accent and complimented my hair. I spoke to a volunteer at the castle who told me that he'd actually been to Australia for many months and his favourite place was Tasmania, and I laughed and said 'because it's like here?' and he laughed and said 'because it's like here.' I discovered more about the whiskey in Tasmania from him, than I actually knew beforehand, and it was great.
He also said he wished he could tase the kids sometimes, so you know, keep an eye on those volunteers, parents. (Though, I sympathised at the time, because god, it must get so awful. He talked about some of the behaviours of some of the tourists and I knew instantly I couldn't do the job he was doing because I'd just start entertaining thoughts of homicide more often than not).
Eilean Donan.
Our brief foray into the Western Highlands only taught me that I want to spend much longer specifically in the West and the Outer Hebrides. Eilean Donan is situated on a tidal island at the confluence of three sea lochs: Duich, Long and Alsh.
Off to the right is a gift shop and a cafe/diner. We ended up eating there because we didn't like our chances of finding somewhere to eat on the two hour drive back. The gift shop was actually really lovely and tasteful, and unlike some of the others, stocked some genuinely amazing local produce and crafts, and was where Glen and I ended up spending the most money during the entire trip.
It's a very small castle. More like just a really fancy fort. For which my entire body was grateful.
I cared so much more about the landscape around me than the actual castle.
The sun was impossible, the waters were bright and clear. Here I fell in love, and I'm so glad I have so many photos of this place. I can remember the cold, clean air. The clarity. The smell of salt water and seaweed.
This dove flew back and forth, looking for bits of seaweed with which to build its nest in the castle itself. Which is some real estate.
The bridge we drove over to the get to the castle. Tbh, walking back along the footpath on the bridge would have yielded an incredible photo, but I was too tired. The volunteer at the castle was like 'oh tourists in peak season - especially Americans - just stop their cars on the bridge, get out, take photos and hold up locals in peak hour traffic.' I just stared at him in dismay.
no subject
Date: 2019-06-05 03:32 pm (UTC)Having been there, YES! I feel like I could easily move to anywhere in Scotland.
And since we've discussed the gorse, thought you might like my own pic of this lovely castle. ;)
no subject
Date: 2019-06-08 02:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-06-12 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-06-08 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-06-12 01:48 pm (UTC)Never mind that they could watch the bear, just from further away and not blocking traffic?
I get angry enough when visitors at zoos and wildlife parks tap or bang on the glass, tbh I'd be so rude if I had to deal with it professionally. I would find it very hard to be like 'excuse me, but could you not do this thing' I think I'd be more along the lines of 'HEY YOU CUT THAT OUT' and I'd be fired in short order lmao.