Over the sea to Skye

We took our first proper holiday from our jobs and jaunted up to Skye. On the way we climbed a small hill called Ben Nevis, you can see Mark halfway up or so. There were quite a few small children and large tourists climbing too so we felt the challenge was somewhat dimished. The crazinest bit was meeting Kieth Agmen from Christchurch on the top (when we didn't even know he was in the UK).

Skye has a reputation for beautiful scenery, rain and midges. We only managed to see one of the these; luckily it was the first. There was also a heap of castles - the one to the left was a particular favourite with the swarm of camera wielding tourists (I don't really have the right to be scathing about this do I).

We roughed it the first two nights but our last night we splashed out on a hostel room which contained the usually early-to-bed snorer so I do wonder if the tent wasn't the better option. The free hot chocolate was a nice touch though.

The spectacular Cuillin mountains had Mark eagar to return with his climbing gear (and a decent climbing partner) but since he had neither we contented ourselves with a trek to some iron-age remains (that we never found - navigation by tourist map should be a new orienteering event).