The Highlands

Off we headed the first couple of days it was forecasting rain and there were gale warnings we were hoping for snow.

We headed north stopping at Perth then off to Inverness and our first night at Tulloch Castle in Dingwell.

The sun? set at 4.30 and we did the last couple of hours driving in the dark and rain with strong winds.... still managed to find the castle, checked in and then got a call from reception to say that our booking was for February but never fear he would sort it out. And he did and changed all our bookings back by a month.

It was a lovely hotel and had a nice comfy sofa in front of a big fire that we settled into after dinner.

Next day up ( free brekkie provided , I had porridge as I felt I should) and off to Fort George for P to do some research in the museum at the army base.

It is built on a peninsular and got the wind from every direction, it must have been a horrible place for 100s of recruits who have done their basic training there right back to Napoleonic war times.

I walked about with an audio tour and then settled into the library and read my book.

After 2 hours or so he was done and we headed off to the Isle of Skye.

The colours in the highlands are predominantly russet based, the bracken has all died down and a very deep red and the hills are tan and the greens quite bright , add lots of waterfalls and lochs full of grey water it was very picturesque.

Sadly it had been a sunny day with blue skies and we missed most of it.

Drove and drove and drove north a bit worried that the bridge to the island would be shut because of the gale force winds. Found Skeabost House a beautiful white lodge on the edge of Loch Snizort. ( great name, hotel has a golf course and private salmon and trout fishing river but we used neither)

We settled in our room and then went to the dark wood paneled dining room where we had a lovely dinner, because I was not very hungry I had the cheese board and it was 4 cheeses, grapes, quince and lots of different crackers.

Nice sleep then more free breakfast and off south to Loch Fyne. We went via Loch Ness and Urquart castle but it was cold and blowing. Visited lots of small fishing villages, Lochs and valleys very pretty and lots of waterfalls with all the rain.

Down through Oban which seemed to have a large ferry doing some sort of docking in the middle of town, then driving in the dark again and finally arrived at Stonefield castle ( 1837) on the banks of Loch Fyne at about 8.00pm.

Got shown to our room and it was very average 1970's decor but what do you expect for £40 per night, but then P noticed the bed was not made and the towels on the floor so we rang reception. The manager was there in seconds and took us up a floor into the main wing and gave us a suite, four poster bed, view of the Loch and Egyptian cotton sheets... wow what a room on the rate card this one was £255 per night.

Nice! Our room is the first floor in the middle with the curved bay window )

We headed down for dinner in the large dining room after checking out the drawing room and library, settled in dinner to be told all our drinks were on the house to apologise for the mix up with the room. So I had a lovely deep red Merlot from Spain and he had a beer.

A complimentary starter of game terrine for him and Camembert and cranberry for me followed by an entree and dessert ( a cheesy scone, toasted with melted cheese home and home made apricot chutney followed by a superb creme brulee) for me and himself had chicken with stuffing and a melty chocolate pudding.

As we had booked for 2 nights here ( I thought we might be sick of travelling) we slept a bit longer had the free breakfast, and went for a drive round the Mull of Kintyre, stopping to watch a small ferry trying to dock in very rough seas, deciding not to go on any boat trips after watching it toss up and down.

Lots of interesting villages, those weird caravan/holiday parks that are relocatable homes ( that never move and nearly always green) always in what seems a very unholiday like spot, maybe they are nicer in summer, not quite so windswept.

Back to the hotel for lunch a super penne pasta with leek and smoked cheddar sauce then we went for a walk around the island that the castle owns. the grounds are full of hundreds of rhododendrons that were grown from seed that some early Lord of the castle collected in the Himalayas and bought back. It must be stunning in summer when they are out. ( Best collection outside of Kew gardens they say)

Another lovely meal tonight free taster was green pea soup as p hates green food and peas I got both yummy..then goats cheese souffle for me and pheasant for him followed by a game of snooker , both really bad, then off to the four poster. Only us and one other couple there ( Sunday night ) so we were seated in the bar, all dark purple, greens and dead deer heads.

Last free breakfast so P had the full Scottish and we headed off ( the bill for 2 evening meals a lunch and an afternoon tea, various wines, beers and coffees only came to £93 so I think they had treated us even more than we thought).

Headed off to Stirling castle where P did 3 hours research and I did the castle tour, a tour of a stately home and then then a wander in to the town.

The castle is being restored and they are even re making the tapestries, a huge and complicated job, but they look great.

Finally back in Edinburgh, we have Done the Highlands, A lot of driving, a lot in the dark due to the short days, some fantastic accommodation and food and great scenery.

( rainbow shot taken from the ramparts of Stirling castle)

All in all a very good trip.