In about 525ad, a group of weary Irish monks, traveling across Scotland, came across Loch Ness. When one went to rejuvenate his legs in the loch, Nessie turned up. The head monk wasn’t having any nonsense, engaging Nessie in a lengthy conversation. The upshot was a promise from the monster that she would never harm a human. Mr monk must have had considerable negotiation skills!
Roll on 1500 years, and Nessie has become a supporter of local industry, generally only revealing herself to those who have spent considerable coinage imbibing whiskey. Everyone can see, though, the beauty of the loch.
Further on, the Isle of Skye beckons, with it’s waterfalls, and purple-heathered mountains. The ground looks solid, but it’s an illusion, being spongy underfoot, fed by high rainfall. Not that we had a ‘rainy’ day; it was essentially sunny, but in what a local said was normal, showers came through regularly.
Skye is attached to the mainland by a bridge; at times the locals must feel like blowing it up. Portree, population 2300, is over-run with tourists. Every shop is visitor orientated, with long queues. Tartans, wool, whiskey; the cliches are all there. Cruise liners regularly call, dropping 4000-plus visitors each time. For the land-based tourist it seems nearly every house offers B&B.
Further on there is a cliff face promoted as being in tartan, but no amount of squinting brought the pattern forth; maybe like Nessie it would only show in a sense-altered state.
What caught my eye though was the mix of native plants on the cliff face; how cool to see these in their natural environment.
Up at the Fairy pools, visitors can ask the fairies for eternal life and beauty. But be careful; the five sisters who asked a witch for such things were granted their wish, becoming the five youngest mountains in the area.
A trip to Skye is full of stories and immense views, but I wonder if theirs is a house of cards. Our local guide said virtually everyone on the island now lives off tourism. Farming has virtually disappeared. But much tourism there seemed built on illusions, like the castle we visited on the way back to Inverness, where modern-day brides get to be Princesses for a day in their very own historic edifice.
Stories for you - Enjoy! 
Well that was gay I hope you packed up some fibre with my tartan
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Did you think Skye was over rated? I likened it to Queenstown,very full of itself.! Living down the sounds has spoiled my views on beauty! We went to Porttree then half way accross island on the road less traveled,one way in parts shingle like driving on a farm track. From there we went to Drummadroitch which is half way up Loch Ness for the night. We stayed in a quashi baronial scottish hall, all tartan, everywhere,next door to omg Nessieland complete with large blow up nessie.At least the venison was nice for tea.
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