Every traveler has certain destinations that lodge in her heart. One of mine is Castlebay, Barra, where the ferry swings into the harbor to be greeted by Kisimul Castle. I love the long ferry ride from Oban, the first glimpse of the castle, then snuggling into a room with a view:

The Castle was originally a Viking stronghold in the 11th century. In medieval times, the castle was used by the MacNeill Clan for their nefarious piracy around the Western Isles. Renovated during the 20th century, modern travellers with romantic hearts overlook its dark past and enjoy it for its beauty and imagination.

We are on the edge of the world now, with only the vast ocean between us and North America. From here we will drive up the islands of the Outer Hebrides as we make our way to Callanish.