Redcliffe Hotel Inverness

... like me... hmm! This road literally passed over the top of the world... jaw-dropping...





When the road came out, almost in civilisation, we were around Braemar. Not much civilsation for long though - the other side was Glenshee, home to ...

... in our ears. Where was the camera when you needed it (yes, in my rucksack!). The jet was gone within seconds and I had no time at all to get the camera out of my bag.

We got back to the hostel, get showered (separately!) and then headed out to the local fish and chip shop for dinner and then to the pub next door to the hostel for a pint!

Can't get internet here tonight so I will have to upload some pictures later.

... the time I got everything sorted and left the hostel it was around midday so I decided to head over to Aviemore via Loch Ness for a few pictures, first stopping at Foyers Falls and then a few places along Loch Ness south shore.

I arrived at Aviemore at around 15:00 and checked in to the Bunk House, got my room sorted and then went for a walk around the town, stopping at Tescos for some food for dinner. Yep, pasta and chicken again!

... Augustus from Inverness I intended to go the quieter route on the north shore, but somehow coming out of Inverness I must have taken the wrong turning as I ended on the busier south shore route. I guess I will just have to go back that way tomorrow.

Got over to Fort Augustus at around 15:00 today, booked into an independent hostel Morags Lodge ...

... phoned ahead to make sure that there
is some availability and there is. Great, my first night back in
Scotland is a SYHA Carbisdale Castle, and what a hostel this is. I arrive at the castle at 7pm and
dinner is just being served so I treat myself to a cooked dinner after my 8.5 hour drive up, I think I deserve it.

... the UK; you really do need to Google them for opening times before you set out. Summer, July to August most of the significant houses are open daily but during the off season most of them have severely restricted hours mainly due to reduced numbers of visitors and also the costs of heating these cold and drafty stone buildings is prohibitive. That's why we are seeing Blair this time round it was only open one day a week when we were here last time.

The castle looks ...

... and caught a ferry to the Orkney Islands. It was a 2 1/2 hour bus ride and a 45 minute ferry ride. We then boarded another bus to tour the island. The highlight of the tour was Scara Brae, a viking village uncovered during a storm in the late 1800's. It is 5000 years old. It is really neat. The bottom half of the houses are intact, and they have beds, cupboards, shelves and furniture all made of stone. Kind of reminds me of the Flintstones, without the cars! We ...

... Inverness followed river, over the island and then through the streets. Up to old hospital then up to followed drovers road through the forests. Chatted to a local guy as we walked along the road. Excellent views over the Loch between the trees. Many extra climbs during the day. Guy wild camping over looking the Loch. Dinner in the Fiddlers. Bed by 21:00 Sunday the 1st of July 2007 Drumnadrochit to Invermoriston 14 miles ...

... interesting - Cam impressed the elderly lady on the door by correctly identifying her tartan tablecloth was MacLeod tartan (!). Next stop was Portree, the main town on Skye - still more of a village than a town but quite pretty with a nice little harbour. We decided we needed to sample some of the lovely fresh seafood so had a scrummy lunch of mussels (me) and crab linguini (Cam) - see pic! We then headed back south to the Talisker distillery. We had a very ...

... 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.

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.