The bus ride to Ullapool from Durness was stunning. More mountains and lochs, but there was something different about this mountains. Maybe it was the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack I was listening to, but my imagination was just going silly. The landscapes were all very dark, moody, and almost sinister.

Most of the mountains are partly covered in grass, which gives them the appearance of big rock beasts trying to shed their grassy skin. It really does appear like they are molting. It also reminds me of the huge turtle mound in The Never Ending Story that comes to life as well. Many of the smaller mounds look like they are creatures slumbering under a blanket.

As you can tell, I was sitting there imagining all the cool fantasy movie prospects this area of Scotland has. It just SCREAMS witches and fairies and evil guys on horses, sort of like Willow.

There is also a massive lack of trees due to the harsh winds and also the massive deforestation and clearing of the lands by past occupants. Mostly what we were driving by yesterday was tall grasses, heather, and peat bog. In the middle of all that nastiness, we passed a huge herd of massively antlered stags, which again reminded me of The Narnia Chronicles (of which The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is part) and the white stag.

The only other beasties were saw though were the stupid sheep that like to run in front of the bus rather than along side or behind.

They didn't slow us down too much, and the ride was well worth it.

I spend tonight in Ullapool, and then tomorrow I will head to the Isle of Lewis and the town of Stornoway.