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Published: April 14th 2010
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Loch Lomond
Called here for a comfort stop on the way up. Very peaceful. Every year in February Liz and Phil join several other families and hire a large house somewhere in Scotland for a week - this year the plan was for us to stay and look after the animals as the hired house was barely big enough for them all. Then we decided to find somewhere close to stay so we could join them for a few days - they went Saturday -> Saturday and we drove up on the Tuesday, coming back as far as Barrow-in-Furness on the Sat then home on Monday.
Setting out at 0400 was a bit of a struggle but after scraping the ice from the window and loading the dog we were on our way - passing Gretna Green at 8 but not arriving at our room in Lochcarron until nearly 4 o’clock. Despite the boring hours on the motorways, once we got north of Glasgow it was an absolutely lovely drive and the holiday was already worth it just for the scenery on the way. It had snowed overnight, the roads were clear and dry and with the fresh snow right at the edge of the road it was just delightful - if a little
cool when we stopped to let Jack (2nd name Russell) stretch his legs. Our room was self contained at the back of someone’s house and had at one time been the village jail - complete with bars on the window and no insulation so the heater was going most of the time we were there and the electric blanket got a bit of testing too.
We spent the next two days driving around and joining the others in the big house for dinner. The weather was nice so we went to the Isle of Skye on the first day - we weren’t far from the bridge across so we spent the day driving around the northern coast and just absorbing the scenery. It reminded us very much of the Faroe Islands with the cottages near the sea each with their small plot of land and the barren hills rising up behind - and just the one road around the more remote places. The road however was terrible - seemed to be a series of deep potholes joined by narrow strips of tarmac. Made me very glad I had replaced a few suspension parts the previous week. The other interesting
Isle of Skye
Reminded us very much of Faroe Islands. thing about the roads in this part of the world is that minor roads are mostly single track. With passing places every 100 yards or so it works well but you still have to be prepared to stop and go back - especially if the oncoming vehicle is a large and fully laden logging truck! The Isle of Skye is very beautiful, sparsely populated and was well worth the day it took us to drive around it.
Loch Ness was interesting - especially the exhibition - but no sign of Nessie. Inverness was a nice looking town but we just drove through on our way to Culloden field - the site of the final defeat of the Jacobean uprising by the English. Very thought provoking, especially the short surround screen final battle scene - you felt like you were right in the middle of the fighting as the scenes were projected onto all four walls. The field itself was covered in snow and that gave a good insight to what it may have been like for the soldiers. It had been a long drive across to Loch Ness then on up to Inverness so we went the direct
Isle of Skye
One way to keep the roof on your house when there's a gale blowing. way back - stopping at the little house just long enough to turn on the heaters before going on to the big house for dinner. We had to be a bit earlier as it was our turn (with one of the other families) to provide dinner - before we left home I had smoked a salmon and put it on ice so most of the work was done. Delicious.
The road over the mountains to Applecross is touted to be one of the best drives in the country and so it proved. We went as far as the summit one evening just before sunset and with the road snaking its way up the valley through the rugged hills and bluffs it was indeed a magical sight. The next day we drove the long way around the northern coast road and stopped for a coffee - it was surprisingly busy for such an out-of-the-way place but the village was just lovely. We drove back over the pass and the view was just as stunning.
Our Scottish stay was over all too soon and we took ourselves as far as Barrow-in-Furness to stay with Carol and Keith for a couple
Loch Carron
We were staying in the village of Lochcarron - on the left of the loch. Just beautiful. of days. We arrived in the afternoon to find Mark and Sue were there as well with the three littlies - spent a few very nice hours catching up over dinner before they went home so that was enjoyable. We chatted a lot of course so the time went quickly - the next day we had arranged to go to Coniston to visit Nana Irwin for lunch but on the Sunday morning we woke to falling snow and realised the road to Coniston would be very risky so we made the decision not to go. Instead we visited the Museum which was in an old dry-dock and found it most interesting - Keith then took us on a tour of the town and around so that was good too.
We bid a fond farewell to Carol and Keith on Monday morning and had an uneventful journey back home - despite spending about 40 minutes stopped on the M6 - seemed some LPG cylinders had fallen off a lorry and we had to wait while they were cleared away. Good time to sit and read the paper for a while! Stopped at TESCOs for essential supplies and home in time
Eilean Donan Castle
Old Scottish Castle - and there were lots. to light the fire and plan our next - and last - local trip before leaving to come home to NZ.
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