Back Home at Last

Sorry I didn't get to post anything while I was in Edinburgh for the Gathering. Internet wasn't available where I was staying and I only made it to a wifi hotspot a few times.
Pictures for the Gathering and some sightseeing are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/kiltedcelt67 .

The Gathering was very well done, with good entertainment and even an appearance by Prince Charles. The production of "Aisling's Children" at Edinburgh Castle was a very moving presentation of the history of the Scottish people and their spreading across the world.

For some reason I can't put any pictures in this post like I have my previous ones so I'll just leave you with a heartfelt "Thank you" to everyone that followed along with my travels and enjoyed my pictures. I've enjoyed the comments as well, it's nice to know others were interested in my trip.

Slainte Mhath!

Down to Dumfries

I didn't get to post any the last couple of days because the last night in Inverness I was in a pub and then I didn't get internet access at Dumfries until today.

Tuesday I started at Elgin Cathedral. It was built in the 13th century and was the 2nd largest cathedral in Scotland.

Next was Spynie castle just outside of the town of Elgin. It used to guard the port of Elgin before the loch was purposely drained about 200 years ago to make more farm land available.

Next up was Huntly Castle, at one time home of the Gordons.

Wednesday I stopped by Urquhart castle and went inside.

Then I left Loch Ness and went into Glencoe, famous for the massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692.

Now it is known more for it's fabulous scenery.

and the occasional highlander is known to show up from time to time:

After Glencoe I came to Dumfries and got settled in and this morning went to Caerlaverock castle. This is the 'new' castle which was started around 1278.

This is the 'old' castle. It was built about 50 years before the new one was started but they realized the site they had chosen was too close to the water so they moved to the new location several hundred feet away.

My next stop was Sweetheart Abbey, which was founded in 1275 by Dervorguilla of Galloway in memory of her husband, John de Balliol.

It's amazing to think that something over 700 years old is still standing.

After touring the abbey I had lunch at the little cafe next door, and the toffee shortbread sundae for dessert was just about the best thing I've eaten in a long time.

The views around Dumfries are beautiful. We're no longer in the highlands but it is still impressive.

My last stop was at Threave castle. It is on a small island in the river and you have to take a boat across to visit.

Friday morning I will be going to Edinburgh for the Gathering 2009 this weekend.

Searching for Nessie

It was a beautiful sunny day in Inverness today.

Too bad I wasn't in Inverness.

I drove down the eastern coast of Loch Ness, avoiding the tourist crowded A82 and instead took a nice single-track road. That means 1 lane. For both directions, not 1 lane each.

It was rainy at times, sunny at others and on occasion very bright and sunny while it rained. One constant was the wind, it was very strong all day.

Here is a view of Loch Ness and across the water to Urquhart castle.

Heading further south through little towns and villages I saw a sign for the Falls of Foyers. Having never heard of these before, of course I had to stop. From the road you can hear the roar of water and then you follow a trail down the side of the mountain into a large ravine. At the end you find the Falls. They are very impressive and beautiful, and there are many nature trails around the area.

A little further on up the road, I passed a sign marking a cattle grate. Yes there was a cattle grate set in the road. The single track road even narrowed down nicely and had a gate as well, in case the cows manage to get over the grate I guess. When you pass the gate and grate you top a little rise and BAM!

The heart of the Great Glen.

When you picture the highlands of Scotland in your mind, this is what you see. For everyone that dreams of coming to Scotland I wish I could find the words to describe the feeling as I saw it for the first time. I wanted to grab the phone and call someone just to share the moment. Then I realized it wasn't even 6am at home so I didn't think anyone would appreciate the gesture.

Photos really can't do it justice, it is so overwhelming.

Finally I left that part of the Glen and went to Fort Augustus which is at the south end of Loch Ness.

And at Spean Bridge I stopped at the Commando Monument.

Then on to the Glenfinnan monument. Yesterday I saw where the Jacobite uprising ended, today I saw where it began. This marks the spot where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed and raised his standard to begin gaining support. The tower is topped with a statue of an unknown highlander.

From the top of the rise across the road from the monument you have a great view of the memorial and the Loch behind it. Then you just turn around and you see the Glenfinnan Viaduct that was used in the Harry Potter movies.

After enjoying the view from this height, and glad that I didn't get blown away by the high winds, I started north on the A82 back up the west side of Loch Ness, with a quick stop at Urquhart castle. I was too late to take a tour so I just got some pictures.

Back in Inverness, I stopped by the castle to enjoy the view of the city and the river Ness.

And the rabbits. The castle lawn is full of rabbits. I'm sure they are killer rabbits, with fangs...