Skye, 28 September A friend, intent on visiting Skye, sent me a list of 20 places to visit on the island (found on a website somewhere, I guess). What did I think? I suggested, cruelly but realistically, that if he avoided those places he might enjoy his visit. (We have ‘honeypots’ in Shropshire too. They help to keep all the other attractive places quiet…)
This afternoon the wind was still howling north of Uig, but it remained dry. Somewhere sheltered would be good for a walk (avoid clifftops etc…) – perhaps I would take a walk from Uig, up to the Fairy Glen (one of the 20 mentioned earlier). Geographically, it’s a magical place, but as the years have gone by, it’s become busier and busier. At the end of September, might it not be too bad? All I can say is, it must truly be a nightmare during the main holiday season. I really can’t imagine any of the fairies would want to stay there a minute longer – they’ve gone, I’m sure. As I dodged the seemingly endless procession of cars, camper vans and minibuses, I thought to myself that this might be my farewell to the Fairy Glen too – unless we find ourselves up here in the darkest months of winter. It might then retain a glimmer of its former magic.

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Skye, 27 September Uig wood: it’s tiny by the standards of such things, but it’s a different world in there. The woodland is very damp and mossy, and the lichen in the trees is wonderful! Huge (a couple of inches across) flakes of tree lungwort adorn the tree trunks; elsewhere are more delicate (and more familiar) filament-type lichens (I’ve no idea what they’re called). This is temperate rainforest, apparently.

Before visiting the wood, we take a walk up to Idrigill, to look down on the works at the pier, and the views across Uig bay. A great little outing for a grey (and later, wet and windy) day!

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Skye, 26 September  The day began wet. Not a problem – I have to take the household authorities to Portree. But after lunch, the clouds clear and soon the sun is shining. I’d better make the most of it – how about a walk from Kilmuir village hall to the Bornesketaig clifftops? Perfect!

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