SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS - Part 2

5 nights was definitely not enough time to explore this area of Scotland - As the weather wasn't great there was no point in trying to walk so we did lots of driving. The ruins of Urquart Castle on the shores of  Loch Ness. 

We drove to a pretty place called Glen Affric - it looked like the whole area was maintained  by the Scottish Hydro system - there were lots of lovely walks.

The sun actually came out which was a pleasant surprise.

Detour on the way home along unknown roads - the countryside was exceptionally pretty.

We had - once again - another day of rain so we decided to take a train trip from Fort William to Mallaig. This was the train used in the Harry Potter movies. Unfortunately we didn't board on platform 9 3/4.  It was a 2 hour train trip,

Over the viaduct (also in Harry Potter)

It was sooo cold when we arrived (This is summer??) We had a couple of hours to kiil - we found a local pub for lunch & left just before our train was ready to depart.

Hopefully tomorrow the weather will start to improve.

THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

The village of Fort Augustus is a beautiful village on the southern tip of Loch Ness

it has a series of 5 locks for boats to enter or leave the Loch plus a couple of very nice pubs.

It was traditional Scottish weather -pretty bleak -  so we spent our first day visiting the Isle of Skye - what a panoramic drive - the countryside was breathtaking - the size of the mountains indescribable

We went via a back road to a little ferry to take us across to the Isle of Skye - that was fun. The operators actually pushed the top of the ferry around to line the cars up with the ramp. Our car was the first one off the ferry.

The drive was a bit scary (well for me it was) blind crests on hills & not knowing where the road was going. The landscape was barren, very cold & rainy

We drove up to Portree which was another very pretty village.

found a cosy cafe -  had local mussels & sea bass for lunch mmmmmm Cliff was happy with his meal (as was I) he felt very satisfied - the look on his face says it all.

a little bit of sight seeing & back in the car for the long drive home. 

We stopped along the way to view Eilean Donan Castle (which was owned by Connor McLeod in the movie "Highlander") and as we all know "There can be only one" but which one???

What a full day - back to our welcoming apartment for a blissful nights sleep - although the sun doesn't set until 10:30pm - by the time its dark it's 11:15 then we wake when it starts to get light at 5:30am - the nights are just not long enough.

SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH - our apartment was in the old part of the city - very close to the castle.

We spent a few hours touring the castle & then the Royal Mile (which is the road that leads directly to the castle)  Edinburgh doesn't worry about the state of the buidlings (unlike Paris) most of the buildings appeared very dirty & looked like they needed to be washed down.

We spent our first night in this little pub, the atmospere was incredible. 2 guys from a group called "The Gorm" were playing scottish music - some very traditional songs from the 1700's & then some they had changed the lyrics & all you could do was laugh. Of couse I had to buy their CD.

We picked up our hire car & boy, what a stressful time trying to get out of the city but eventually we made it & headed towards Loch Ness.

Our first stop was to visit Castle Campbell - it was very enlightening to find out my clan was not as bad as history portrayed them.

LOCH NESS - Our apartment in Fort Augustus was in " No. 3 The Old Convent" we were on the top level & I would thoroughly recommend it. The furnishings were extremely tasteful, a very large bedroom, full kitchen & cosy loungeroom - after a full day of driving it was a wonderful surprise, much more than we expected.

A good nights rest & then 4 days of sight seeing.