Another excellent castle to visit on Isle of Skye is Dunvegan Castle. The castle was first opened to the public in 1933 by Sir Reginald MacLeod (27th Chief). What began for charitable purposes has grown into the castle welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. It is interesting to think of that many people crowding into a space that was originally intended to keep people out. Dunvegan Castle is particularly interesting in that it covers ten different building periods, from 1200 through the 1850s, and is compromised of five separate buildings, each with unique character. Restorations were carried out between 1840 and 1850, nearly 100 years before the castle was opened to the public. 

The beauty of the castle is matched by the magnificent backdrop of the sky, mountains, and sea. The landward side of the castle has been adorned with extensive formal gardens and woodlands and the seaward side is used for boat launching, including seal watching expeditions. Regardless of the season or weather, take a few moments to explore the five acres of award-winning gardens including the Water Garden, Rose Garden, Walled Garden, and woodland walks. The interior of the castle is adorned with several paintings and heirlooms which serve to preserve the history of Dunvegan Castle and the MacLeod clan. The castle has welcomed several famous visitors over the centuries, including Sir Walter Scott, HM Queen Elizabeth II, and HRH The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, to name a few. 

We opted for an early dinner at The Lower Deck Seafood Restaurant in Portree. The restaurant opened at 5pm and we joined the queue that was already forming at approximately 4:30. We thought the line, in combination with favorable Google reviews, was an indication of the quality of the establishment and, most unfortunately, we were disappointed. I rarely give a negative review and instead try to find the positives but this one was hard. We ordered the salmon served with couscous for myself and J, R ordered the fish and chips, and J ordered a fried seafood platter. My salmon was quite good in terms of flavor and texture but it was served over a curry-flavored couscous which was not so appetizing and made the meal feel disjointed. It was almost like the couscous had been used for something else and they threw it with the fish to move it. J’s salmon had several pin bones which was also disappointing. I know it’s fish but I have never seen anyone served a salmon filet with that many pin bones still in the filet. I should have realized something was wrong with R’s fish and chips when he was primarily eating the fries. The poor man didn’t say much until we were out of the restaurant but he described the fish as being inedible (somehow freezer burnt and over-fried). We had a good laugh at the misfortunes of this particular dining experience but, all things considered, one bad dining experience won’t ruin our trip. The Lower Deck only accepts cash so be prepared if you opt to dine here. In fairness, we were treated to a view of the harbor with a lovely and vibrant rainbow as we waited in the queue. 

We returned to the AirBnB for snacks, laundry, and relaxing time before a long day in the car tomorrow.