Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye

Stunning scenery at every turn as we travelled north to Dunvegan this morning. It is the oldest continously inhabited castle in Scotland, the ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years.

A tour around the castle, we viewed Raeburn and Ramsay portraits, a stunning portrait of Dame Flora MacLeod, and of course their famous treasure, the remnants of the Fairy Flag. There was also a very interesting exhibition of black and white photographs of Staffa taken by George Washington Wilson back in the late 1880s.

A beautiful afternoon, to enjoy these wonderful gardens. So many varieties of lilies, hydrangeas, heathers, colour at every turn. The peaty waterfall crashing down into the Water Garden, the Walled and Round gardens, and the woodland walk.

A drive on to the ruined church just outside Dunvegan, where the Clan Chiefs are buried, then to Portree, for photographs of that very famous Pink Guest House.

Dinner at The Lower Deck beside the harbour. We all much enjoyed the Cullen Skink soup (smoked fish, potatoes and cream), and then crab and prawns wrapped in plaice, delicious.

The views across to the Cuillin range this evening were magnificent. Very clear, with clouds just dancing around the high tops. But, oh dear, the midges were at their worst, and I am really suffering this evening.