On Tuesday, 6th August we crossed the border into Scotland and headed for Perth. A few miles before we got there we had bike trouble, our bike had not been fixed in Leeds, so we decided to hire a van and put the bike in there and continue on our trip. It's not as much fun in the van but it is drier and warmer and you can listen to the radio.
Along the way hubby had collected stickers from all the countries we had been to. The top box contains my 'suitcase' - backpack, shoes. The left panier has hubby's backpack in it and the right has out laptop, box of electrical cords, my art book/supplies.
On Wednesday, 7th August, after getting the bike into the van headed north to Inverness via Loch Ness - we didn't see Nessie though. :(
On Thursday, 8th August we headed north-west towards Dornie, we stopped to take in the scenery of the beautiful Loch Maree. Dornie is home to Scotlands most photographed castle sitting on an isle at the junction of three lochs, Eilean Donan - great history of being built in the 13th Century and ruined in 1719 and the rebuilt between 1919 and 1932. It also starred in the Braveheart movie!
We stayed in Inverate at a B and B on a hill with the best view of the mountains and loch.
The next day we popped over to the Isle of Skye....
On Saturday, 10th August we headed south to Oban and stopped at Dunstaffnage Castle along the way where I bought this book on Scotland's castle with all the pictures in colourful watercolours - so inspiring as I was wondering how am I go to paint 'colourless' castles.....
On Sunday, 11th August we travelled south towards Ayr and stopped at Kilmartin, this are is one of the most concentrated areas of prehistoric monuments and historical sites. There are interesting gravestones, burial cairns and standing stones. If you ever go to Scotland the west coast esp Kilmartin is one of the best places to go.
On Monday, 12th August we had a day off and I went to the laundromat and hubby did some work on the bike. The following day we caught the ferry to Larne in Ireland and started our anti-clockwise journey around the Emerald isle. Right now we are in Milltown, near Killarney and tomorrow we will do the Ring of Kerry driving tour...
Hope your weekend went well, I hope to blog a little about Ireland in the next few days...we're heading to Cork to kiss the Blarney Stone on Tuesday and after that we haven't planned anything....
Bye.....
Great pics Michelle :) You are certainly seeing some amazing things! I was born in Ayr. My Father is Scottish. My mum's Irish :) I was blown away by the stunning beauty of the Isle of Sky. I look forward to your pics of the Emerald Isle. If you pass through Clifden my cousin owns a famous hotel called the The Abbeyglen Hotel.
ReplyDeleteThanks Fi. They are both beautiful places.
ReplyDeleteI love these moody and misty photos of the old castles. I so want to go to Scotland.
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