Loch Lommand to Glasgow

July 1, 2023July 1, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / 1 Comment

Started the day on Loch Lommand and saw Dumbarton castle which has had the longest stronghold in Scotland. It was also free because they are fixing the masonry so we didn’t get to go to the top of the volcanic plug.

Next we headed to Glasgow. Since we had extra time (because of the shortened castle tour) , we stopped at a Scotch whisky distillery named Auchentoshan. We couldn’t get a tour but we (primarily me since George was driving) got a sample and made it to the pie, a pint and a play on time.

The play was about Mary (queen of scots) kinda outlanderish( with time travel and humor). After the play we checked into our last air bnb and finally dropped off the rental car and got another double decker bus back to Glasgow. We found an Irish pub that had music and we closed out our night there.

Balloch on Loch Lommand

June 30, 2023June 30, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Long day of driving (2 hours) from Fort William to Balloch on Loch Lommand. We took a pit stop at the highlands soap factory and at the Ben Nevis distillery, but I forgot to take any pictures of us sniffing either soap or scotch. It rained the whole way here, but we did stop in GlenCoe for a short hike. It also rained on Balloch today so we found a castle and a brewery.

Fort William, Glen Coe

June 29, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / 1 Comment

Another great day in Scotland. We went from Ft. William to Glencoe. Just a bunch of Monroes (that’s what the Scots call a mountain over 3000 feet) #beautiful #scotland and waterfalls. Two major hikes, one right out the visitor center where it was raining in one valley and the sun was shining in the other.

Next hike, we went to the lost valley. The girls were a little traumatized by our 2 mile hike that turned out to be 5 miles, but their legal representation contacted our lawyers and we negotiated another round of fish and chips as compensation for an additional 4 mile walk.

Fort Williams, GlenFinnan viaduct

June 28, 2023June 28, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Left isle of Skye today. It was raining, so it made it easier to say goodbye. It was a pretty drive all the way to the viaduct (where that train. Flying car scene from Harry Potter was filmed) but it rained the whole way there. BUT at the viaduct we got the sun. (Thank you Scotland)

Next we got to Fort William, we made dinner at the house and took a walk. We got a double rainbow and a castle. The castle was so random. We were just walking. They have so many castle ruins, they just don’t know what to do with them.

Isle of skye

June 27, 2023June 28, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Today was rainy and we slept in until 8:30. We pretty much geared up after breakfast to walk to the fish market for dinner, but George noticed the mobile seafood van was right in front of our house. We stocked up for lunch and dinner. After a stroll about town, we convinced the girls to go with us to brother’s point.

At brothers point, we were the only people there. The rain stopped for our hike so I felt like it would be best to pay our respects in the pub that was once a church… We went to the pub and I had a wee pint and listened to the band.

Isle of Skye, Quiraing

June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Today we left in the 9’oclock hour (9:58, not counting when I went back in to get the charger)… We went to the Quiraing and mostly avoided a down pour.

After the Quiraing we went to the Fairy Glen, which is notorious because they filmed the Teletubbies here. The Fairy Glen was pretty cool, but after this morning the pictures bar is set so high.

After dinner we walked around Portree and it’s a beautiful little town.

Featured

Isle of Skye, Man of Storr

Featured / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

Neist point light house was super rainy when we got there but immediately took a turn for the better.

The day only got better from there. Next was Dunvegan castle.

The gardens at Dunvegan castle were amazing, but I am limiting my pics or this would get ridiculous. Next on the bucket list was the Old man of Storr.

Isle of Sky, Eileen Donan castle and Fairy Pools.

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / 3 Comments

Uhm, I’m so late today, but it was an amazing day and I was too tired to post yesterday. We started off the morning with a run through Inverness before we picked up our rental car. We got to ride a double decker to the airport

After picking up the rental car, we drove past loch Ness. We did get a great shot of the monster, but I’m not going to share it because it will ruin the mystery for you. George drove us to the ilse of sky. We stopped at Eilean Doran, a beautiful castle where 3 lochs meet, then we went straight to the fairy pools.

We started heading home and the day just got more and more beautiful. T we stopped at Sligachan old Bridge and took a short walk up the John Muir trail.

Day 5 biking to Inverness.

June 23, 2023June 23, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / Leave a comment

We started our day with a quick jaunt up to loch Morlich with Tim. I saw a reindeer as well, but it was not the one that ran over grandma on Christmas Eve (at least as far as I know).

After the biking trip and a quick shower we let Scotrail take us to Inverness

After dropping out bags we got pizza at Black Isle brewery.

Day 4, Duthil, Grantown on Spey

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 / rugreen4u4632 / 2 Comments

Today was the last long day for biking. It was almost a false start, but Scott from Scotland (shout out to Ravenscraig of Aviemore) really saved the day by dropping the biking shoes after the ‘oh shit, I forgot my shoes’ moment. He raced up the hill , a good 15 minute trek to deliver the goods. After that, all was well.