At the legendary castles of Dunvegan and Armadale

It was Sir Reginald, the 27th descendant of the MacLeod dynasty, who first opened the doors of the legendary Dunvegan Castle to visitors without blue blood. Since then, this manor house, boasting a layered architectural style dating from 1200 to 1850, and in particular defensive battlements running the entire length of the roof, has continued to be an irresistible attraction for those visiting Skye. Its position on the edge of the cliff, the backdrop of the sea, and the woods and formal English gardens that surround it benevolently never fail to enchant: compared to the barren moors and heathland characteristic of the island, in fact, the so-called Water Garden, the Rose Garden, the Enclosed Garden and the forest paths evoke a Germanic atmosphere. Armadale Castle is also a must-visit for the beauty of its grounds: originally designed by Lord Macdonald in the early 19th century, it still covers forty acres where ancient trees, shrubs left to grow wild, ponds teeming with water lilies, the walkways on the terraces, the carpets of flowering bluebells, the orchids, and the Victorian arboretum all demonstrate a typically British attention to botanical detail. At the heart of the park stand the castle ruins, the former home of the Macdonald chieftains overlooking the Strait of Sleat, which even boasts a 19th-century Gothic-style bridge as well as several sculptures by contemporary artists Julie Brook and Laurence Broderick.