Swallow Craigmonie Inverness

... a handful of photos on the way up - the weather didn't do it justice, and typically there was nowhere to stop off the main road whenever I wanted to take photos... so it's fair to say I bypassed quite a bit. Nonetheless, my favourite (non-mist shrouded) bit of the ...

... the bus onwards to the Isle of Sky. It sits just west of the mainland, over a very pricey bridge - the budget had been about 8 million pounds which blew out to over 32 million pounds, due to ****** weather and some endangered otters nearby. The government then drew the locals ire when they bought the ferry terminal (which had been the other form of transport to the island) and closed it down - meaning everyone had to use the bridge and pay the toll - which was the SAME as what you ...

... It's about 24 miles end to end and about 1/5 miles from side to side. Despite our best Aussie haka, Nessie didn't come out to visit. <br> Further along the Loch to where we are staying tonight AND tomorrow night - two nights in one place, how amazing! We're in a 4 bed room with our own ensuite - our room for those playing along at home? Braveheart of course! We're heading off soon to a Highland History performance, then back to the hostel for some ...

... today was our longest driving day) and to Carbisdale Castle - which seriously is a castle - complete with a multitude of resident ghosts - the Lady in White, The Piper or the Nursery which is so haunted people can't stay in it! So we've had a big old feed, and we're looking forward to an early night. We're in boys and girls rooms, so Josh and I have been split for the first time this holiday! Who will escort me to the toilet in the middle of the night! <br><br>XO

... 1950smovie scene fantasy. I&#8217;m a big guy (read: fat), and found myself crabbing sideways down each carriage. I eventually came to the seated section of the train, where those less eager to part with their money (the Scottish have to travel too) were going to sit upright for the next 12 hours or so. When the door to the carriage opened the smell nearly knock me over. It wasn&#8217;t so much a bad smell, but the thick, sweet aroma of too many people jammed for a long period in a ...

... 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 ...

... good photos Our last day was spent on another Haggis tour doing the Loch ness. Even though i have already done this on the 5 day tour the day we went there it was wet and horrible so all we did was go into the tourist store then leave and get stuck in the snow storm! (may be over exagerating that but to me it was a storm!! but then again that was the fist time i saw snow so i was just mesmerised) The tour was good and we ...

... I thought it was hailing. But it wasnt it was snowing. The first time in my life i have ever seen snow fall. All the mountains were covered in snow. It was quite amazing. It sucked though, I was on the wrong side of the bus and all the good views were on the other side. Arrived in Inverness after 4 hours. It was absolutley pouring, like in Glasgow. Didnt do anything the first day because it was ...

... and swiftly moving water of the River Ness was probably no colder than the air. <br><br>In the last of the daylight we tracked along the western edge of the 23 mile long but very narrow Loch Ness. Previously I had wondered if the monster myth had been a creative attempt to get tourists to come to an otherwise unremarkable place (a tactic similar to the creation of a ridiculously long name for a certain nondescript village in North-West Wales ...

... ferry accross to the Orkney Islands! Oh my goodness - what a fantastic place. Why has nobody ever told me to go to Orkney before! Two days definitely wasn't long enough, but I tried my hardest to get my fill of gorgeous vistas, neolithic cairns and stone monuments. I must must must must go back. After my brief sojourn in Orkney, I finally hooked up with Susy-Q and we toured northern Scotland together. I ...