With the weather rather appallingly rainy, I decide to forgo the north of Skye and find better weather south.
In pouring rain I ride until the turnoff to the Armadale ferry, where I catch up to two english cyclists, who show me the hidden old road next to the main road (it’s unmarked and they just found it, too). It is wonderful to ride, especially after the heavy traffic of the main road of Skye. The Englishmen and I ride together for a few miles and only part ways as they need to hurry to catch an early ferry.
I take my time and go on a tour of the brand new (built in 2017) Torabhaig distillery. The distillery buildings are an old farm stable and the tour is very nice and informative. I learned that whisky isn’t really ‘made’ at all. Instead malt is fermented and spirit is distilled, which then ripens in barrels (sherry or bourbon usually), and then after a while becomes whisky. All of its own. If it is to become Scotch, it needs to ripen for three years and one day on Scottish soil. That’s why there’s no Torabhaig whisky yet and probably won’t be until 2021.
The sea on the ferry ride from Armadale to Mallaig is, as the seaman who fastens my bike says, ‘really rough’. I’m amazed that the cars don’t start shifting around as the ferry ploughs through the waves. At £ 2.90 for a 45 minute ride, it is a much better price than any fun fair ride.
In Mallaig the wind hasn’t let up and since I’m in no hurry, I ride along the very hilly coast to Camusdrach campground. Where it starts raining again promptly, while the storm continues. At least there are no midges 🙂