Sleat perfectly Skye

Since we had spent so much time in the car yesterday, we decided to explore Sleat.  We had seen several signs for the Blue Studio, and we liked the idea of it, so this is where we headed off first.  We took a little narrow road toward Ord.  

The road to Ord

This is where we encountered our cow.  She was so lovely, but she did look a bit crazy.  As a result, I did not get out of the car - like no way.

Beauty Queen - I like the road in the mirror

Once we crossed Sleat, we were on the water.  We followed this along until we got to Toravaig.  It was here that we saw a small heard of beach cows.  They were ambling along this horrible rocky beach.  Gill and I could hardly walk on it.  I think they were hunting for seaweed, as one had this big chunk hanging out of her mouth.

See the two camouflage cows on the rock beach below?

After the cows we followed the little signs to the Blue Studio. Once we got there, the artist immediately greeted us and took us in.  He did water colors and wood block prints.  His paper was from Tibet - he'd been using it before it got all popular.  Gill bought this amazing wood cut print of chickens.

Blue Studio

View from the Blue Studio - Artist's Inspiration

After the blue studio, we wandered around a bit until we found our way to Armadale.  We parked at the ferry and spent the rest of the afternoon on foot.  We did some major damage in a store called Ragamuffin.

We each got one of these - photos were required for reassembly

After checking out a photographer called Grumpy George, we went to a pottery place called The Bay Pottery.  The owner/potter had taken a year sabatacle, so a friend was working the studio and throwing pots.  She had great stuff, and we spent the rest of our money here.  We listened fairly incredulously while she explained that there were no ATMs, but we could get more money at the gas station.

We went to a very expensive painter's place called Nigel Grounds, and then found that the gas station was closed.  I admit I was a bit panicked here - I mean we had NO MONEY and many places wouldn't take cards.  We wandered down to Armadale Castle and then back and did get some money - crisis averted.

We went back to Armadale Castle - which isn't really a castle and the Clan Donald museum, which could also be called a shrine to all injustices ever down to the Scots.

The ruins of Armadale Castle - notice the girls above the stairs?

After the castle, we headed back to the hotel.  We were a bit sick of eating at the pub at the hotel, but all our other choices were pretty far away.  We made a half-hearted attempt to go to Broadford, but only made it as far as the Kinloch Lodge.  We stopped here because the sign on the road said cookery courses and shop.  The shop was a very large closet with lots of cookbooks, jars and a few implements. It was very funny and random and Skye.