One morning we got up early to go and get some early morning misty moody photos on Rannoch Moor. I just LOVE that landscape and all the lochs, small and large. One day, maybe next summer if I am still here I want to do the Great Glen walk - or at least part of it.
We also went to Glasgow, by bus which was great to be able to actually take in a bit more of the scenery and not have to concentrate on the road. That day the reflections on the lochs on Rannoch Moor were stunning, sadly they weren't on our early morning trip. We'll have to go again.
Glasgow was crazy busy, as you would imagine a city hosting the Commonwealth Games would be. I met a friend for lunch - which was an exercise in itself, but fun and we wandered about soaking up the Games atmosphere. We'll need to revisit when it isn't quite so busy I think.
We went to Culloden Moor near Drummossie and Inverness - the site of the brutal battle of Culloden. It is such an eerie place, and both times I've been - windswept. We went up through the Cairngorms and then drove back down the side of Loch Ness. No Nessie to be seen though.
We didn't have time to stop in Inverness, so we went back the next day - just up and back the same way this time. When we walked out of the mall in search of a better selection of food we came upon a caravan with owls. We had to stop, donate and take photos.
We found somewhere to eat (finally) that doesn't just serve toasties and mac cheese or nothing vegetarian at all. It was lovely though apart from the giant size servings. While we were eating the heavens opened and the rain poured down. It had eased off by the time we left and made our way back to the mall. After another unsuccessful shopping expedition (you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a skirt here) we returned to the car park to drive back to Fort William.
We made it back to Kilmonivaig by the skin of our teeth, to be able to see inside the church which is celebrating its bicentenary this year. A lovely lady told us a lot about the church and its ministers, some of whom were related to Lauren. She produced a Gaelic bible which had belonged to the minister and had been passed to his brother in law and then his brother, and also a communion plate which dates from 1814 so surely had some DNA on it.
The fiercely loyal Highland spirit still seems strong here, with local Highland games and Shinty tournaments, signs written in Gaelic and English and such pride of their history and struggles with those sassenachs from the south. The people are so friendly and welcoming, it makes it hard to have to leave.
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