Homes in the Highlands and Skye

This photo above has to be my favourite picture of the week, what a view, and what a cottage I would love to have looked inside! It looks idyllic but it was probably a hard life in centuries gone by. 


We visited Colbust Croft Museum to see how the crofters would have lived in the 1800's. The entrance fee of £1.50 was left in a metal box with no attendant in sight, and you were free to wander around the croft. The croft had two main rooms, one room was used to house the animals. There were no windows just a chimney for the smoke from the peat fire in the centre of the floor. It was smoky and we all came out reeking of the peat smoke, although I didn't find the smell unpleasant.

The stones on the roof were there to stop the thatch blowing off the roof, we saw a few crofts with this feature in Skye.

Can you imagine how dirty everything must have become with the smoke of the fire.

Maybe a castle would be more your choice? This was Eilean Donan castle, which was restored in 1911, the restoration took 20 years. It felt very cosy and homely, which is quite unusual for a castle. Unfortunately you weren't allowed to take photos of the inside.

Of course my preference would be for one overlooking the sea , how about this one?

Or one of these?

The view below was from our bed and breakfast accommodation in Skye, which was fantastic. I just wanted to sit there and take it all in!

The view constantly changed as the sun set.......

 However it was a bit different the following morning! 

 Finally this cottage with a fantastic display of lupins,it was situated on the banks of Loch Ness  - I think maybe it's too close to the monster for me!

We saw some many beautiful displays of lupins during our travels. I haven't seen so many growing wild since living in Germany as a child. Our American companions thought that they were very similar to the Texas Bluebonnets.

Welcome to my new followers Devon and Flori it's wonderful to have your company.

Sarah x