Sunset at Dunnet Beach

Sunset at Dunnet Beach, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photos: August 5, 2011
We reached the north of mainland Scotland. Our B&B was a restored manse house in the middle of an agricultural area in Brabsterdorran (a collection of just a few homes). We could hear the sheep in the field behind our room.

The house has quite a history. J.M. Barrie visited frequently and his sister was engaged to marry the minister. Unfortunately he had an accident; he was thrown off a horse and landed in a stream and died. Barrie came up for the funeral. We went to a nearby town for dinner and enjoyed a walk on the beach afterwards.



With the tide out there was a huge expanse of sand. The setting sun painted the sand dunes gold.

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Edderton

Edderton, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photos: August 5, 2011
It is wonderful to wake up to sunshine, even if it doesn't last the whole day. It was a beautiful morning for a walk in this rural area. Sheep and cows were plentiful.



The countryside soundscape is full of baas and moos. From a distance we could see some highland cattle - but we hoped to see some close up.

Back in the car to head closer to Thurso where we would get the ferry for the Orkneys. We stopped in Golspie to admire the beach and wander through the town.

The beauty of the countryside is only exceded by the beauty of the people - friendly, helpful and welcoming. As we were driving northward I spotted a herd of Highland Cattle and luck was with us - there was a parking area near enough for us to stop and gawk.



I'm not sure how they see; their hair droops over their faces. After admiring them for a while we continued our drive, taking a small road to see some standing stones.



These stones at Achavanich have been standing here for about 4000 years. They are unusual in that unlike most stone circles, the sides of the stones, rather than the flat surfaces,  face the centre of the circle. These stones were in a remote field, reached by a one track road. Fortunately with the treeless landscape it was easy to see if someone was coming and you could pull into one of the passing places.

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Heather in the Scottish Mist

Heather in the Scottish Mist, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photos: August 4, 2011

Scotland - mist, rain, heather and sheep. That is what we often encountered. The heather was just starting to open, but the mist and rain were in their glory!

Driving from Dromnadrochit to Beauly we passed by lochs and hills. A side trip took us to Portmahomack.



Shortly after we arrived a truck pulled up - the Highland Libraries - with books in English and Gaelic. It was nice to see children arriving with books tucked under their arms, ready to exchange them for a new stack.

We headed for Edderton, our destination for the night. Fields of sheep greeted us.



Now what is the best antidote to the damp weather in Scotland? Whisky, of course. Just down the road from our hotel was the Balblair Distillery, so in their honour we had a "wee dram" of whisky to warm up.

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Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

The end of the day, the sun shone on Urquhart Castle, situated on Loch Ness near Drumnadrochit. We couldn't get close as the visitor centre was closed. The next morning, in typical Scottish weather (dark cloud, light rain, harder rain...) we explored the ruins.

The castle was first built in the 1200s, though there is evidence of people in the area long before that. It was destroyed in the 1600s to prevent it from becoming a Jacobite stronghold.



While we were at the castle a piper marched out, playing familiar Scottish airs. The plaintive sounds added to the mood as the mist surrounded the area. It's hard to imagine life here at the time the castle was occupied. Now it lies in silent testimony to what has gone before.

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Robert Bruce

Robert Bruce, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photos: August 2, 2011

Scottish weather - frequent drizzle followed by brief periods of su, white cloud and more rain. Robert Bruce stands looking over his realm near Stirling Castle.



The castle is really worth a visit, giving a good sense of how it was in the late 1500s. The tapestry studio where they are making replicas of the unicorn series of tapestries found in the Cloisters in New York was fascinating.




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Street Music

Street Music, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

The Edinburgh Festival is about to start( we'll be heading to the Highlands) and the number of buskers has proliferated, from street musicians to musicians to the many human statues. It makes for a lively street scene. we went on a tour of Mary King's Close - a fascinating look at Edinburgh's past. and lots of walking around - fun to explore the city.

More photos at Flickr

Edinburgh Lane

Edinburgh Lane, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

It's lovely to wander the streets of Edinburgh, to stroll through lanes and peek through the many closes(narrow pedestrian lanes which in many cases are on a hill connecting two streets). Edinburgh of the 1600s built high, with 5 story build ins attached in a row.

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