{"id":560,"date":"2011-09-24T01:28:32","date_gmt":"2011-09-24T01:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=560"},"modified":"2019-03-26T11:40:11","modified_gmt":"2019-03-26T00:40:11","slug":"scotland-continues-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=560","title":{"rendered":"Scotland Continues. 2011 \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f"},"content":{"rendered":"

We spend the afternoon driving through valleys, lochs and hills in The Cairngorms. \u00a0The A road is narrow and winding, as the shadows lengthen we decide to take a short cut. \u00a0Taking a B9009 north we head for Dufftown, Dave’s spiritual nirvana . \u00a0I have never heard of Dufftown, other than the Simpsons. \u00a0Dufftown is apparently a key town on the whiskey trail through the Scottish highlands. \u00a0The B9009 is sealed but only a single lane for long sections, quite a challenging drive. \u00a0At one stage we are sure we’re lost, we appear to be driving up some farmers driveway only to turn just before we go through his barn.<\/p>\n

\"Main<\/a>
Main Street, Dufftown, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
Dufftown Library, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We arrive in Dufftown just before dusk, it appears deserted. \u00a0The town itself is like many others through Scotland, mostly local stone, neat and tidy. \u00a0From the top of town there is a wonderful view of the surrounding valley. \u00a0We have a walk along Conval Street and find a Restuarant with a B&B above. \u00a0It’s a lovely old building and we book two rooms. \u00a0The host has a whiskey bar and we have a tasting before heading off for dinner.<\/p>\n

\"Enjoying<\/a>
Enjoying a Scotch at our B&B, Dufftown, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pam and I rise early and head of for our morning walk. \u00a0The morning is still and misty as we walk down the hill. \u00a0The smell of whiskey is heavy in the air. \u00a0The further we walk the stronger it becomes, we pass a lovely old Church and cemetery then cross the River Spey before heading back to Dufftown for breakfast.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Cemetery, Dufftown, Scotland 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The Glenfiddich. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We have booked into the 10am tour of the Glenfiddich Distillary. \u00a0It’s a really enjoyable hour culminating with tasting of the 12, 15 and 18 year whiskey. \u00a0I have always been a bourbon drinker but I think I may have developed a taste.<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/a>
Michael and Pam at the home of Glenfiddich, Scotland, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Enjoying<\/a>
Enjoying a Glenfiddich with a dash of the clear, clean waters of the Robbie Dho, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where on our way again, bound for Inverness. \u00a0The highlands are truly picturesque but we are soon on the rugged Scottish north coast.<\/p>\n

\"City<\/a>
City Hall, Inverness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We found Inverness to be a traffic black hole, there seemed to be hundreds of cars circling just like us looking for a parking spot. \u00a0Many of the public buildings are restored and the pedestrian mall a pleasant walk. \u00a0We head off again this time to the castle and score a parking spot within sight of a pub just down the road.<\/p>\n

\"Inverness<\/a>
Inverness Castle, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We lunch, beer and wine at the Castle Tavern, then walk the Castle grounds. \u00a0Inverness Castle was only constructed in 1836, but apparently a castle of some type or other has existed on the site since the 10th century. \u00a0It is a handsome red stone structure with beautiful lawns and views of the River Ness. \u00a0It is currently used as the Sheriff’s Court and goal before heading off across the River Ness and turning south to follow the river towards the Loch.<\/p>\n\n

\"Views<\/a>
Views of Inverness past the River Ness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we cross the River Ness, are path is blocked as a swing bridge opens to allow some small boats to pass down river. \u00a0It’s the first time I have every seen one in operation, in its time, quite an engineering feat, I imagine.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Swing Bridge, River Ness, Inverness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Loch<\/a>
Loch Ness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we head sound the River Ness opens and Loch Ness begins. \u00a0The afternoon is cold but dry and we only spot the odd boat. \u00a0No Nessie. \u00a0The Loch is 37km long \u00a0and varies from 1-3km in width. \u00a0It is very deep at over 700m in some points. \u00a0The water look dark and univiting.<\/p>\n

\"Tourist<\/a>
Tourist Trap, Loch Ness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Urqhart<\/a>
Urqhart Castle, Lock Ness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We stop briefly at Urqhart Castle which sits on the banks of the Loch and at the Loch Ness Museum which is little more than a tourist trap. \u00a0We have the names of some B&Bs, but we are having no luck getting two rooms and continue south. \u00a0We find a little B&B near Fort Augustus at the southern end of the Loch.<\/p>\n

\"Sonas<\/a>
Sonas B&B, Fort Augustus, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After settling into our rooms we head of to find a drink and dinner. \u00a0Our first stop is the quad set of locks at the end of the Loch. \u00a0This marks the junction of the a River Oich and Loch Ness. \u00a0We chat with the Lock Keeper as several small boats make there way downstream. \u00a0We soon decide that the view from the Loch Inn would be a little more comfortable and we settle in for a drink.<\/p>\n

\"Fort<\/a>
Fort Augustus, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The quad locks, Fort Augustus, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pam and I are up early walking the shores of the Loch and the River Oich. \u00a0It is still, quiet and a little mist is hanging here and there to add to the magic. \u00a0The water of the Loch is ink black, it does not deter a family of swans from enjoying the morning.<\/p>\n

\"Morning<\/a>
Morning on Loch Ness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dave<\/a>
Dave and Michael, Loch Ness, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We head back to the B&B for a full Scottish breakfast. \u00a0The Sonas B&B is relatively small, a family home really. The proprietors are friendly but a little special. \u00a0There are little notes with instructions about this and that everywhere through our room and the rest of the house. \u00a0Breakfast was a very strict affair, no variation, no substitution. \u00a0This culminated with the now famous red hot plate incident, often spoken of after a couple of drinks. \u00a0We head south past Loch Lochy, Fort William and the Inner Sea. \u00a0The scenery is wild and beautiful, but isolated with only a couple of ski resorts and the odd group of a couple of homes.<\/p>\n

\"Trossachs<\/a>
Trossachs National Park, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we near the English border we see a sign for Lockerbie, the name rings a bell and we turn off.<\/p>\n\n

\"Lockobie,<\/a>
Lockerbie, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We lunch in Lockerbie, then drive out to the memorial site just on the outskirts of town. \u00a0The memorial itself and the tributes built by the families of those murders in 1988 are very moving. \u00a0It doesn’t seem that long ago, but then the case is regularly in the news.<\/p>\n

\"Memorial<\/a>
Memorial to Pan Am Flight 103, the Lockerbie Disaster, Scotland. 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anyway where off again and back travelling through Northern England 30 minutes later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We spend the afternoon driving through valleys, lochs and hills in The Cairngorms. \u00a0The A road is narrow and winding, as the shadows lengthen we decide to take a short cut. \u00a0Taking a B9009 north we head for Dufftown, Dave’s spiritual nirvana . \u00a0I have never heard of Dufftown, other than the Simpsons. \u00a0Dufftown is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":554,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,25],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-560","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-scotland","8":"category-united-kingdom","9":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=560"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23371,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560\/revisions\/23371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}