Trip to Scotland 1983: Four and half months in the Highlands and Islands

**DCampbell16B** · 4th August 23, 05:26 AM

You absolutely may add! This type of information adds so much to my notes. Such a long time has passed since I was there, and so much has changed, that comments about what it is like now or what can be seen is like gold to those of us who are so far away. Local knowledge is just not available to the average tourist who has little or no connections, or limited time for what is possibly a once in a lifetime chance to visit.

**DCampbell16B** · 4th August 23, 05:42 AM

22p ferry
£2.55 to Portree
£1.00 bus

Am actually on Skye. No room to stay in Kyle last night. Bus to Portree. Caught Youth Hostel bus to Uig. Driver is very interested in folk music. Try to stay through Sunday. Walked up Glen Conon(?). Saw falls and lots of ruins. One standing stone w/in sight of hostel. Mist on hill, don't know how far to go [I just went off for a walk eastward across the moor]. Turned back and had tea. Sat around playing pipes (Highland) and whistle all evening. Scottish wardens and assistant warden into folk music and Irish girl came in, plays whistle and guitar. Good and Gaelic speaker, Cork. Quite a number of Americans here tonight [if I remember correctly, I think I avoided them. I see Americans all the time ]. Am actually on Skye in Uig (Trotternish). Heard Gaelic on the bus today. 3 older people talking (seat mate). [I still remember them. It was an older couple seated together and their friend or relative was sitting behind with his head right up between the couple. I don't know what they were talking about, but there was a constant, good natured "Cha robh, cha robh!"]

https://postimg.cc/YvZGV0k4
Small waterfall in Uig

https://postimg.cc/jwQDLhfN
Uig Loch Snizort Idrigall

**kilted scholar** · 4th August 23, 11:46 AM

May I say that this is a very interesting, fascinating, thread. Keep it going!

**DCampbell16B** · 5th August 23, 06:18 AM

£1.30 Dunvegan
30p guidebook
£2.10½ food
£2.30 hostel

Sarah, second wife of Norman 23rd Chief looks like Annalies. This morning weather spitting rain. Hitched a ride to Portree, Dunvegan, Uig crossroads w/ man, wife and granddaughter. He was BBC Gaelic broadcaster. Walked one mile, picked up by Australian couple and taken to Dunvegan castle.

https://postimg.cc/HjRWCbLm
Dunvegan Castle

Walked almost back to Loch Greshinish before getting a ride w/ Leicestershire couple who were heading to Portree. Changed rides [?unclear] and took me all the way back to Uig. Bought food, came back to the hostel and tried to sleep. More Americans here than I've seen in hostels total I think. Should call MacLeod tonight. Dunvegan ok, but not as comfy as Cawdor or as ritzy as Inverary or Blair. Very wet from knees down. Try shower and bed for a while? Dry pants anyway. [Many hostels, especially places that attracted serious hill walkers and climbers, had special rooms set aside with clothes lines and some heat to dry wet things] Free Church next door. Noon service English, 6pm Gaelic. Sitting in hostel can see Waternish Pt. across Loch Snizort. Can see Harris? No, it is North Uist. 1st sight Outer Hebrides. Met Canadian Vancouver who had been working repairing heavy equipment Libya. Also long discussion language w/ man from Cambridge and one other. Later 2 Germans, and American (traveling w/ [unclear].

[I met so many really interesting people both at hostels, but especially from hitching rides. I had many rides from locals, but also from all over the world who traveled to see Scotland

**Jock Scot** · 6th August 23, 02:10 AM

With reference to your comment about quite a presence of a fair few Americans at Dunvegan. Your visit may have coincided with a MacLeod international gathering that happens every four years at Dunvegan. As they have just done this year. I will let you do the calculation!

**DCampbell16B** · 6th August 23, 05:16 AM

2023 - (4x 10) = 1983

QED

**Jock Scot** · 6th August 23, 05:57 AM

**DCampbell16B** · 6th August 23, 06:57 AM

Was going to hike but weather looked threatening. Is now raining. Was clear this morning. Most everyone staying again. Change to kilt just for change of pace?

Sat around in afternoon and played pipes, whistle. Not much else. Decided not to go to Gaelic service. Reread a copy of Blood Sport [Dick Francis novel. I was a big fan of his books. There were some days that I just needed to read, even though there was so much else I could be doing considering where I was.] Sat in the quiet room and watched the sunset. Played solitaire [patience] and watched folks come in from the pub and card tricks.

**Iain Ruaidh** · 30th August 23, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by DCampbell16B

In Skye - Free Church next door. Noon service English, 6pm Gaelic. Sitting in hostel can see Waternish Pt. across Loch Snizort. Can see Harris? No, it is North Uist. 1st sight Outer Hebrides.

Is that the white Snizort Free Church on the A850?
My wife's cousin is the minister there now.

**DCampbell16B** · 30th August 23, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Iain Ruaidh

Is that the white Snizort Free Church on the A850?

I really can't say for sure. I didn't note which church it was. I actually went to Google Maps to try to find out. The hostel is no longer listed there, so I couldn't use that as a point of reference. The A850 runs more toward Dunvegan. I believe the A87 runs toward Uig. It looks like there are Free Churches on both roads, and both are white.