I’ve just returned from a week on the beautiful Isle of Skye, and thought I’d share some of the highlights of my trip with you.
The first thing to say is that I deliberately go to Skye outwith the tourist season, when most of the attractions are still closed. That’s because my annual visits there are not so much about what I do, but what I don’t do. My normal daily life is packed full of planning and timetabling and organising, all of which is essential to ensure the smooth running of a huge operation like “The People’s Friend”. But once a year, I give myself a week off from all of that; the time and space to simply just be in a place of wide, empty landscapes, big skies and deep blue seas.
The beautiful sights of Skye
During that week, I do a lot of walking. This time I walked to the very west-most tip of the island to remote and windswept Neist Point Lighthouse, and scaled steep slopes to reach the base of the Old Man of Storr. I enjoyed the birdsong as I hiked through the forests of Leitur Fura, and spotted fossilised dinosaur footprints on the beach at Staffin.
I read two books, ate more cheese than was good for me and spent hours gazing out of the holiday cottage window at the ever-changing vista of Broadford Bay. I scanned the skies and waters for wildlife sightings, breathed fresh, clear air and emptied my mind, for just a few days, of plans and schedules and deadlines.
It’s done me the power of good, and I’m refreshed and raring to go once more as I settle back down to work. But I’ve left a little piece of my heart on that beautiful Hebridean island . . .
Catch up with one of Angela’s previous blog post, Snow day cheese scones – yum!
Angela Gilchrist I am the former Editor-in-Chief of “The People’s Friend” magazine. My passions include cats, Highland ponies, good books, vegetarian food and long walks in the Scottish countryside. My favourite place to get away from it all is the magical Isle of Skye.
