Lovat Lodge Hotel Nairn

... 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 ...

... the last tour!).

So out of Edinburgh we set, over the Forth bridge (whic is very pretty and sexy if you're into bridges), past Perth (the Anicient Capital of Scotland) and had a quick break at Dunkeld. It's a pretty little village, set on the river Tay, which an ancient cathedral and an oustanding bakery.

A little bit further up the road we stopped at the Hermitage Walk. Evidently in older times it was fashionable to have a 'walk' on your land ...

... 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!

... my packed lunch that Helena has made for me.
Cheers Sis!
I
make it all the way to Carlisle before stopping at Tescos for break and
some food, straight to the hot food counter for some hot chicken legs,
mmm! That will keep me going for a bit! I keep going and head to
Culrain where my next hostel is ...

... of an independent nation evaporated at Cullodon on that fateful day in 1746.

Sue

We used our couple of days at Inverness to rest up - and simply wandered around the centre of the city at random. There was a lovely tourist walk along the River Ness and across a series of bridges. Part of the walk went across an island which was like being in a huge forest/botanical garden with people fly-fishing in different spots ...

... What made me smile today:

The End-to-Enders - John Arris and friends.  It was great to hear their stories and get their advice.  One of them even gave me a donation for my charities.  Good luck with your next stage!

The eccentric Rory and his thieving chickens.  He runs the Abriachan Forest eco-campsite and cafe halfway along the path today and I stopped for tea.  One of his chickens actually jumped into the air to steal shortbread out of my hands!

... was delayed, but Ike pt my composure – I had many hours at my disposal and barring getting stuck on the underground for 10 hours (a possibility in London), I was going to have plenty of time. I made it home, albeit 5 minutes later than expected, but still cool and calm. I was determined to be happy, because I was technically already on holiday, and there are few better feelings I know of. OK, I’m sure intimate relations with a pair of 18 y.o. Czech twins is up there, but ...

... later.

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 ...

... 8211; we’d surely have died of exposure.

Through Dundee and Perth we then turned northwards and threaded between the Monadhliath and Cairngrom mountains. We kept an eye on the car’s outside temperature gauge with great interest as it dipped below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, eventually bottoming out at 13 degrees. At -10.5 degrees Celsius this was easily the lowest temperatures either Ali or I had faced, and we so quickly pulled ...