Lochs & Rocks-The Outer Hebrides & Loch Ness

31st June-5th June 2012

Remote, windy, small population, few tourists...

The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles are a series of Islands off the North-West coast of Scotland and were absolutely stunning!

We spent four and a half days driving around and exploring the larger and most northerly of the Islands-the Isles of Lewis and Harris as well as driving across the Isle of Skye and making a quick stop at Loch Ness.

We flew up to Inverness, picked up a hire car and drove to Ullapool, the port for the 3 hour ferry to take us across to Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis. 
Filled with history and beautiful scenery, the Isle kept us busy...

Callenish standing stone cirlces

Just one of the innumerous lochs

 We headed to the Isle of Harris after a couple of days where the scenery was just as beautiful and history just as plentiful.  Also in abundance were the sheep!  They were everywhere but mostly seemed to congregate by the roadside or on the road.  So not only were the roads a hazard (generally one car only in width), especially with Danielle behind the wheel but the wildlife proved a potiential greater danger! 

 After braving the minor roads and spending up on famed Harris Tweed products we said a sad farwell to these magnificent isles and headed across to the Isle of Skye via ferry (only 90mins this time).
Different to the Outer Hebrides but equally as pretty we admired the scenery of Skye from the car as we made the trek across to Fort Augustus, a cute little village on the southern end of the Loch Ness. 
Once there, one had to do as all tourists do, and take a little boat ride around the Loch.  We chose to be a little daring and take a rib boat ride-it did take us almost from end to end of the Loch including passing Urqhart Castle, so was definitely worth it!

 Although we had no sighting of Nessie, mountain goats or golden eagles (the last two we obviously didn't expect to see in the water!) we did walk away with a cute souviner :)

For some more pictures of this awesome adventure, click here