Messages from Scotland
Message 4: Inverness and the Highlands
Hello from the Scottish Highlands!
Yesterday we were off again to another part of Scotland. The Highlands are defined by a geologic formation but it is roughly the northwest side of the country. Gone are the stands of tall trees, there are more rolling hills and less vegetation. Heather is frequent but it is now just starting to green up for the summer. Depending on the terrain, lots of sheep are in the fields and we stopped at a working sheep farm for a demo of dog skills. They are amazing animals and the communication between them and the shepherd is spectacular to watch! I had been looking forwards to this and it didn't disappoint! There were also 8 week old lambs to hold and snuggle. So very sweet!
The second stop of the day was at Loch Ness. Loch is the Scottish word for lake and it kind of sounds like you are clearing your throat when you say it! We took a boat ride down the loch, looking for a monster, but no sightings today. Our destination was the ruined Urquhart Castle out on a peninsula jutting into the water. We had time to explore the grounds and the visitor center before we jumped back on the bus for the ride to Inverness.
Before our dinner together a group of tour members went to a pub for a brew and a few songs from a local band. Brian had described the Scots as "dour" people and had been telling us the history of the clans, particularly in the highlands. Watching the band I got my first understanding of the people of Scotland. To me they seem proud and tough but haunted with their past.
 Getting ready to heard sheep |  Here come the dogs with the sheep |  The dogs kept the sheep together |
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 I tried my hand at shearing |  Neill brought out lambs! |  It was smiles all around as we each got a chance to hold the babies |
 The dogs got loving too |  Do you see Nessie? Me neither!! |  Coming up on Urquhart |
 What an lovely but isolated place for a castle |  At one time this place was huge! |  Gorse on the field through the entry gate |
 Church in Inverness |  The two-person band was awesome! |  One of the local characters took a liking to Cathy |
 The scene of a fierce battle |  Many clans participated in the battle at Culloden, they each have a reminder of their casualties of the day |  The signs were in Gaelic as well as English |
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 The windswept moors at Culloden |  A thatched cottage on the battlefield |  Tour members wandered, pondering what happened here over 200 years ago |
 A monument of the battle |  Burial cairn surrounded by a circle of standing stones |  We went in one of the cairns |
 These rocks have been here since ancient times |  What was the significance of the stone circles? |  Gathering for lunch |
 A few of the Scottish refreshments |  Brian looked vexed as we settled on the bus at Clava |  Coming up on Cawdor Castle |
 The entrance |  Imagine living here |  Various wings were added on through the centuries |
 I found some heather blooming in the garden |  Margie looked good with the azaleas |
Today we were based out of Inverness and went to areas deeply entrenched in Scottish history. First up, the site of the Battle of Culloden. In the 1700s the Scots and English had been fighting over power for many centuries and this was the final battle between the two. While I am not a fan of military history, I found the remote site evocative. The visitor center was very well done and thought provoking.
Our second stop was the ancient burial site, Clava Cairns. Hard to explain but there were both tombs and standing stone similar (but smaller) to Stonehenge. One of the stones was split and was the inspiration for part of the Outlander story. If you haven't figured out yet, these sorts of ruins somehow speak to me in a big way so I loved this stop. We explored the tombs for a while and then had a picnic Brian and John had assembled of Scottish specialties. Salmon and other smoked fish, Scottish eggs, cheeses, breads, drinks, and desserts. Yummy in that peaceful and thought provoking place.
Our last stop was Cawdor Castle. This one is still occupied and has an eclectic mix of furnishings. Easier to imaging living there than the ruins! Gardens were just waking up for the Spring but would have been spectacular later in the year.
This evening I had fun chatting with the locals and a couple from the tour at a nearby pub.
Martha
