Darryl B Traveling: Get Back

September 5, 2022

"Get back to where you once belonged"

Just a quick aside following my automobile setback.

I was able to get a replacement car in Inverness and take a nice walk in the city. The wait for my car also gave me a chance to visit the local weaving shop and order a kilt! In the introduction of Some Like It Scot, I wrote some about my maternal family history and how we may be linked to Highland MacFarlane Clans. So I am getting the MacFarlane Modern Hunting Tartan.

Modern Hunting bottom left

I was measured and fitted for the kilt, which will need to be constructed and shipped, hopefully by January, 2024. Stay tuned for that.

But the walk along the River Ness was quite pleasant and pretty. My stress level subsides.

Always a McDonald's somewhere, or is it "MacDonald" in Scotland?

Despite missing the opportunity to see Culloden the previous day, I was encouraged by locals that I could still visit. It isn't far way. So although a slight detour, my plans could get back to normal! Where I once belonged.

The Jacobite Rebellion led by Scotland's Stuart Monarchy descendant Prince Charles Edward Stuart, aka Bonnie Prince Charlie, came to a decisive and bloody end at the Culloden Battlefield. 1600 men were lost, 1500 of which were Jacobites. Men are still buried on the site. It is a moving place on this heather field below the surrounding hills.

There are several trails to take in the fields, so you can take as little or as long as you like. It is free to roam, but there is a fee to watch a short film and participate in a tour.

Maybe my car in the ditch was somewhere in those hills way over there. The new car is a manual transmission too, so driving on the other side, steering wheel on the other side, shifter on the left. At least the clutch is in the right place.

With that, it is off to the west coast of Scotland and the search for monsters!

Nessie

Another short drive west back toward Inverness and south, you will find the road follows the Caledonian Canal, mostly a man made canal with several locks along the waterway to lower ships to the next section. One bus driver said there are not lochs in Scotland. Locks are on the canals. A "lake" is a lochk, with a more guttural gch sound. For what it's worth 😉

Driving down the A82, there are plenty of views of both the canal and the Loch Ness. You may even stop at the somewhat touristy Caledonian Canal Center for close up looks at the locks near the loch.

I decided not to stop but rather continue on to some castle ruins and stunning views of Loch Ness at the Urquhart Castle.

Urquhart is yet another castle on a strategic bluff jetting out of the loch that changed hands between Scots and English many times. Not only were there battles between countries, but also battles between highland clansmen and lords occupying the castle. Grants and MacDonalds fought for it vigorously. In the end, withstanding a siege at the hands of some Jacobites and the defeat of the Jacobites later, the small garrison of troops under William of Orange gathered their gunpowder and blew the castle to bits. Further looting of the stones and large storms left the castle in ruins and what we see today.

See any monsters? Nessie? Also along the route you can visit cheesy Loch Ness Monster visitor centers or tourist traps. And always silly Nessie souvenirs. I looked but I didn't see her. Maybe she's out there somewhere!

Next it was time to head for the Isle of Skye for the next couple of days. More spectacular scenery and hiking. And finally a time to relax and reflect on a hectic last two days.

These are photos of glens and the loch along Loch Duich, west of Fort Augustus and east of Skye.

Come on Eilean

Just before reaching the Skye Bridge to the island and town of Kyle of Lochalsh, a picturesque and oft filming location of Eilean Donan Castle on Loch Duich. Ok, so the Eilean here isn't a woman's name, and spelled differently, and the band singing that song isn't even from Scotland, they're from Birmingham, England.

Eilean is a Scots Gaelic word for Island. An island castle just before reaching Skye. I didn't go in for a visit but I loved the scenery here. Filmed here are Highlander, The World is not Enough, Made of Honor, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Entrapment, Rob Roy.

Arriving in my Hotel Sligachan on the Isle of Skye, I finally have time for relaxation a highland burger (Lochalsh local beef) and gorgeous views. Next to my table I meet a cute couple who just got married on the Island. Apparently that is a big thing here to be married on the bridge seen below or in nearby glens, or even on a mountain, or Munro as they are called here. As we ate, we saw another couple in wedding attire head to the bridge. I could stay here a while!