"From rising to sleeping, spinning and weaving, words in a garment, loose around my life, talking and singing, eating and meeting, such is the Ceilidh, the joy of my life." ~ Robert Urquhart

Ceilidh, a gaelic word pronounced Kay-lee is an informal gathering where everyone contributes something to the evening, be it singing, dancing, storytelling...


This idea was the basis for The Ceilidh Place, which had its start in 1970 by the actor Robert Urquhart.


"He started a small café in the boatshed with aspirations that it became a place for eating, meeting, talking and singing.  A place to be.  A place where not only postcards but life histories would be written." The Ceilidh Place website


In each room...

there is a small library...

of books chosen by employees, some of whom have worked at this unique "gathering place" for many years.

We reluctantly left, and stopped for a copy of Issue No. 1937, circulation 1200 of the Ullapool News for road trip reading...

where missing medication...

was front page news!

Priceless!

As we drove south towards our ultimate destination, Isle of Skye,  I was busy looking for...

the unique black sheep...

among the hundreds of ordinary white sheep...

 

who all seem very content munching away all day long.

However...

there are those who risk the roadside spa getting a massage by scratching their backs underneath the guardrail.  

Entertaining to say the least!

Just outside of town, we discovered a tree garden.  

Yes, a tree garden and when we return to Ullapool we will take the time to slowly stroll through this incredible forest.   

Click on Discoveries to discover more...

Just across from the tree garden...

there was a bridge just begging me to cross over...

and I would've...

if Ren Man had slowed down.

Meanwhile...

our vista was one continuous ooh...

and aah... as we traveled along lovely lochs...

and rambling rivers through the Wester Ross,

"referred to as one of the top five 'Lonely Planet' places to visit in the whole of the UK."  Wester Ross website  

We veered off into the loch side hamlet of Strath...

for a quick bite...

coffee drinkin'...

and post card writin'.

It always amazes me how you see one view when arriving but get to enjoy a completely different view when you depart.

Leaving town we noticed a small unassuming cottage...

like so many others,

surrounded by rolling hills of green,

adding pops of color to the landscape.

There is a story there...  

Back on the main road south, which was constantly changing from one lane to two lanes depending on the surroundings, 

you are never more than...

a phone call away.

  

Foot passengers only can walk up that path to the train station.  

How cool is that?

Now, the Isle of Skye was serviced by ferry beginning around the 1600's but in 1995 was made accessible by bridge...

and this is where I will leave you today as our destination is just across the way.

Please drop by tomorrow...