Instead we saw Lock Ness where we were told a trap was set for the monster. Gullible us as it turned out to be one of the super engineered locks on the Caledonia canal system.
So we drove off on the first overcast, damp, chilly day on our trip. We’ve been amazingly blessed with the weather. Off to the far Northern Highlands.
Before our start on a boat ride along Loch Ness we explored the ruins of the lakeside Urquhart Castle. It’s one of Scotlands most visited attractions.
Dating to before the 13th century, the castle is surrounded on three sides by water; a formidable advantage in battle.
From the castle we made our way down the hill to the boat landing to catch our booked cruise along Loch Ness. It was so chilly and overcast on the water that we all stayed below decks. It was OK because the mist made the shoreline almost invisible. Photos were out. But Marsha and I ended up sitting with a charming young couple (she from England, he from Scotland) celebrating their one year anniversary with their beautiful and well behaved dog, Max. It was time happily spent without worrying about some elusive monster.
We moved on in a much more somber mood to take in the historic Culloden Moor battle site. The above shows you the incredibly difficult conditions the men had to endure and die in.
We first spent over an hour in the beautifully designed, expansive museum with interactive displays describing everything leading to the final battle from the Jacobites point of view on one side and the government forces view on the other. A room with a realistic reenactment of the battle was extremely difficult to watch, bringing the horror of the event to excruciating “life”. We couldn’t photograph there…probably a good thing.
The battlefield itself (especially on this dank, depressing day) was much larger than expected, and maintained exactly as it was on that fateful day. Grave markers punctuated the aura. Even grazing livestock gated and moved from place to place kept the moor authentic.
The site hosted the last battle of the Jacobite Rising in 1746. Over a thousand Highlanders lost their lives in the span of an hour. It was the last battle on Scottish soil of the most famous in British military history.
We could photograph the explanation of the uniforms and armament, and descriptions of recruitment (and inscription) of troops and the people who made them up on both sides.
Filled with emotion and with the cold, we made our way to our Hotel for the next two days near Inverness. Tomorrow join us for an excursion along the Pictish trail.
Thanks for sharing. You guys look great and still fit!