Quiraing: an ancient landslide

Located in the northernmost part of the Isle of  Skye, Quiraing (Gaelic: Cuith-Raing) is a massive landscape made up of towers, needles and plateaus. To truly appreciate its grandness, you need a couple of hours. Unfortunately, we did not have that much time to explore the area. That was a reoccurring theme. Not enough time. The downfall of group tours. Plenty of time to pee and drink coffee, but not enough time to enjoy some of the attractions. 

Signage

A spectacular landscape

Formed by a landslide

Rock formations

Iconic location

Horseshow turn

The Quiraing was formed by a massive, ongoing landslip where heavy volcanic rock slowly slides down over soft, ancient sedimentary layers. The ground is not finished moving and still shifts a few centimeters every single year.

Dark skies

Quiraing walk

Dramatic landscape

Lone tree

Pointy hills

Always sheep

A long hike

Plateau

Up close

Viewpoint

Always plenty of heather

Scotland's fairy-tale church

St. Conan's Kirk is a picturesque, but unusual church on the shores of Loch Awe. Considered one of Scotland's top 10 buildings, it's known for mixing nearly every style of Scottish church architecture into one fairy-tale building. Self-taught architect Walter Douglas Campbell built the original small church ) so his elderly mother could attend services without having to travel too far.  

St. Conan's Kirk, c. 1881-1886

A fairy tale church

Eclectic Architecture
Window

Fully completed in 1930

Campbell heavily relied on historic, recycled, and salvaged materials to build St. Conan's Kirk, most notably incorporating massive timber beams from two decommissioned Royal Navy wooden battleships. The Bruce Chapel inside the kirk was specifically designed to commemorate King Robert the Bruce’s victory at the Battle of the Pass of Brander in 1308. Beneath the floor of the chapel lies a small ossuary (a stone casket) holding an actual skeletal remain of Robert the Bruce. Unfortunately, I didn't go into the Bruce Chapel. The St. Bride's Chapel contains an effigy of Campbell. 

Effigy of Campbell, c. 1929-1930

Inside the church

Big pillars

Wooden carvings

Landscaping

Courtyard

Out back

Church view: Loch Awe

Oban: Gateway to the Isles

We stayed two nights in Oban on the west coast of Scotland. It was our first stop. Oban is a resort town and seaport. It was a pretty decent size town, with plenty of places to eat. Oban is famous for being the "seafood capital of Scotland." 

Gateway to the Isles

My B&B

Waterfront

Waterfront in the evening

Oban's White Norwegian Church (closed), c. 1957

Harbor view

Working boats

Dunollie Lighthouse, c. 1892

Shoreline

Upper right:  Dunollie Castle

Sunset in Oban

Glenelg-Skye Ferry

There are two ways to get to Skye (with your vehicle): via the Skye Bridge or via ferry. There are two ferries. We took the smaller one. MV Glenachulish was built in 1969 and is oldest manually operated steel turntable ferry in the world. It has a capacity of six cars (and 12 passengers) and operates seasonally between Glenelg (on the mainland) to Kylerhea on the Isle of Skye. The crossing takes approximately 5 minutes and saves 36 miles of driving. 

Shortest gap between the mainland and Isle of Skye.

Oldest turntable ferry in the world

Ferry operators

Leaving

Control center

Ferry ramp in Glenelg

The Glenelg-Skye Ferry is over 60 years old and is registered with National Historic Ships UK. According to its web site, archaic land law forces the ferry to pay 5% of its earnings to its wealthy absentee owner. The community is currently petitioning the Scottish government to intervene on behalf of the iconic ferry.

Ready to disembark

Thanks for the lift

We were treated to a "seal show" during the crossing. The little guys bobbed in and out of the water.  

Playful seals

Dog helper

The ferry is based in Glenelg on the west coast of Scotland. Glenelg is also a location on Mars near the Mars Science Laboratory landing site. On October 20, 2012, Glenelg (Scotland) was officially twinned with Glenelg (Mars). Glenelg is also the name of a rival high school in Howard County. Glenelg, Maryland was named after Glenelg, Scotland. The name is a palindrome, meaning it is spelled the same forwards as backwards. 

Home of the iconic ferry

Grazing near the ferry

Misty mountain