Glenurquhart House Hotel Drumnadrochit

... off just before Aviemore onto the A938 - a completely obscure but brilliant road that took me past some beautifully untouched frosty countryside, and plenty of opportunities to pull over.<br><br> <br><br>This road became the A939 soon after, and it really was so ...

... of my mountains?' Now bear in mind the Nepalese man is from NEPAL - you know Everest, K2, all the big ones - so clearly he wasn't too impressed. So the Scottish man challenged him to run up the hill - which the Nepalese man did and was back at the bar having his 6th beer in just over an hour! <br><br>Our final event for the night was the telling of the Tale of the One Eyed Woman. In the area we were, there was ancient rivalry between two clans - both of which names totally escape me ...

... merriment and band playing. <br> Todays meals have consisted of Haggis Sausage Roll for lunch and baked potato with haggis mince for dinner! Mince has come a long way n the past few years - due to EU regulations they have to put some form of normal meat in it, although there is still bit of heart, kidney and liver poking out! Very tasty though, might have to have Haggis Curry one night when we get home!<br><br>To the Isle of Sky tomorrow<br><br>XO<br>

... sightings were in the 1930's by visiting professional man, many didn't believe him until 3 months later their own doctor took the now famous black and white shot of the monster.<br><br>We passed the wells of the seven heads, legend has it that the chief of the Macdonal clan died, his sons, twins currently overseas studying, in their absence the elders ruled. They ruled quite ruthlessly and killed the sons on ...

... a visit to the battlefield of Culloden 5 miles east of Inverness. This is where the differences between the Scots and the English were sorted out by war for the last time in 1746. The history of the relationship between the Scots and the English is a very troubled one which I will try to cover later in the blog <br><br>The tensions building to the battle had been brewing for a long time. It was the Scottish Stuart King James VI who ...

... Because, ********, where else are you going to get a soggy sandwich and a cup of tea?). Although, I have to be honest, at a train station I never find myself looking at the board thinking &#8220;Wow, Tbilisi,why on earth would someone go there?&#8221; and getting jealous. I know why people are going to Leeds. They&#8217;re going to visit Aunt Doris in hospital, where she&#8217;s lying in excruciating pain dying of acute haemorrhoids. Or something like that.<br><br>The boards weren ...

... later. <br><br>Next morning had to get up sort of early-ish to grab out breakfast in the castle. It was really nice sitting in the dinning room with all these portraits of the owners hanging on the wall, felt like I was a Lord or something. Breakky done time to hit the road and we soon arrive at the Queen's estate which you might know by the name of Balmoral. We had a great time wondering the grounds and exploring some of the castle (the bit we were allowed to go ...

... centre to get myself onto a boat trip to look for Nessie. I went to the tourist info place, and the lady told me about all the nutters who come here every year, convinced they will be the ones who will spot Nessie. She told me they quite often get the same people back time and time again. Sad, sad, sad - I mean, after all, it's me that's going to spot Nessie, isn't it?!? I went and booked my boat ticket, then went ...

... just about 150 meters before the turning to the village of Drumnadrochit on the A82. What a charming farmhouse it was, situated on a little hill overlooking the breathtaking Loch Ness. Our room was lovely, we had a four-poster bed with a nice attached bathroom. The room has good heating, which was important for both of us. Brief run at Craigmonie and Balmacaan Woodlands : By the time we settled in, it was already ...

... Nessie or no Nessie, the Loch was an incredible sight to behold, set beneath hills of heather and a dusting of snow, and the ruins of Urquhart Castle at its edge.<br> <br>It seemed a never ending drive in the dark from Fort William to Glasgow and then back to Edinburgh. It had been a very, very long day and we were very glad to be out of the car, but I think it was worth it. After this taster one day I hope to come back and see the Highlands properly.