Armadale and Eilean Donan

Today was our day to explore some of the Isle of Skye and visit two nearby castles. As we headed out on our adventure, we stopped to walk a bit of the land--not the road, not a sidewalk, not a pathway, but the land itself, wild and untouched, tangled with a rich tapestry of grasses, ferns, purple heather, thistles and other colorful wildflowers.

Our first destination was the Clan Donald Skye 20,000 acre estate in south Skye featuring historic gardens, the world class "Museum of the Isles" which tells the story of Clan Donald, and the remains of Armadale Castle. It is difficult to express just how moving it is to visit a museum devoted to the story of your own family heritage. From DNA, I know I am descended from the legendary Norse-Gaelic warrior, Somerled, and the Clanranald branch of Clan Donald. On our next visit, I hope to spend time in the Archives and Library which is housed in one wing of the museum. Read more about this lush estate and rich historical site at Clan Donald Skye.



Next, back across the Skye bridge we went to Dornie and the iconic Eilean Donan castle, which dates to the mid 13th century and is one of the most familiar sights in all of Scotland. Photography was not allowed inside the castle, so there are no pictures to share of the many delightful nooks and crannies, not to mention the furnished rooms. Explore this castle at Eileen Donan Castle.