megram - Index

megram - 55GTA - Index

round) from Fort William to Mallaig is
a must. Have your camera ready to
capture an intensely beautiful and varied
landscape that is hard to rival:
rugged rock outcroppings, soaring
mountain ranges, open fields, lakes,
moss-filled forests and deep gorges
with raging streams below.And a high
point of this trip — crossing over the
historic Glenfinnian Viaduct made
famous in the Harry Potter films.
At Mallaig you can take a 30minute
ferry ride to the Isle of Skye.
Here is an opportunity to visit a
remote, wind-swept, timeless place of
stark beauty.The tiny village of Elgol,
with a population of fewer than 100
people, sits on the western coast.The
journey to Elgol is a bit complicated
but a worthwhile adventure. After
arriving by ferry on Skye at
Armadale, take a bus to Broadford,
then a taxi to Elgol. Savour the 30minute
drive to Elgol that is reputed
to be one of the most scenic on Skye.
A memorable stay awaits at Cnoc
Ban B&B, a traditional croft house nestled
amongst trees with the Cuillin
Hills as a backdrop. Mary MacIntosh,
your welcoming and charming hostess,
has spent her life here and will
inform you about the sites.
From the Elgol Pier, take a cruise
on the Misty Isle to Loch Coruisk set
in the Black Cuillin Hills. Along the
way, you’ll see seals sunning on rocks
and a variety of sea birds.The highlight
of the trip is the hour and a half you
have to explore the magical Loch
Coruisk, whether it’s to take some
awe-inspiring photos, or to just sit and
contemplate the solitude of the place.
There is little doubt as to why the
Cuillin Hills, with their rocky ridges
and barren, jagged peaks, carry the
prestigious title of being Scotland’s
most spectacular mountain range.
From Elgol, an early morning bus
September 2008 • 69 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
takes you back to Broadford where
you can get a bus to the Kyle of
Lochalsh. From Kyle, take a train to
Plockton. It is reputed to be the prettiest
village in Scotland and a mecca for
the 55-plus crowd, with its neat cottages
and palm trees lining the shores
of Loch Carron. It’s a delightful destination
where you will find many
B&Bs,inns,craft shops and many walking
trails in the immediate vicinity,
such as the Park Forest Walk, which
offers wonderful views of the Loch.
The train ride from Plockton to
Inverness offers more stunning
scenery of lowlands with bright
splashes of yellow gorse (in May) and
mountains with craggy peaks.
Inverness, a scenic city, is an ideal
place for taking leisurely walks along
either the Caledonian Canal or the
River Ness where a highlight is a visit
to the “little isles.” A six-mile cruise
from Inverness along the River Ness
View of Edinburgh Castle.