North Coast Route to Loch Maree, Scotland

25TH AUGUST 2018 APPLECROSS PENINSULA TO LOCH MAREE, SCOTLAND

We left Balmacara to head north to Strathcarron and join up with the North Coast 500 Route.

From Wiki: "The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile (830 km) scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle.^[1] The route is also known as the NC500 and was launched in 2015, linking many features in the north Highlands of Scotland in one iconic touring route.

The route runs through the traditional counties of Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Caithness. 

Working clockwise, the route starts at Inverness and runs via Muir of Ord, Applecross (including the notorious Bealach na Bà), Gairloch, Ullapool, Scourie, Durness, Thurso, John o'Groats, Wick, Dunrobin Castle, Dingwall then back to Muir of Ord and Inverness.^[2] The route of the North Coast 500 takes in many areas of the North Highland Way, a walking route along Scotland's North Coast."

Kishorn, Scotland 

Loch Carron

Loch Carron from the Bealach Na Ba Pass

On our previous trip in 2013 we didn't drive the Applecross Peninsula. Hubby asked me if I wanted to go to Applecross and I said No as I'd forgotten that it had been recommended to us by a British couple living in the French Alps. Since then I've realised what we missed out on so we just had to do it this time round. The pass from Strathcarron to Applecross is mentioned above as the notorious Bealach na Ba - Pass of the cattle was built in 1822 and is a single track winding road with a very steep gradient. And the most amazing views.

Bealach na Ba Pass, Applecross Peninsula, Scotland 

Bealach na Ba Pass, Applecross Peninsula, Scotland 

Bealach na Ba Pass, Applecross Peninsula, Scotland 

In Applecross we saw some deer roaming the streets!

Deer, Applecross, Scotland

Views west to the Isle of Skye in the far background and the Isles of Raasay and Rona.

Applecross Peninsula, Scotland - Views to Portree, Isle of Skye.

We then continued around the peninsula to Sheildag.

Sheildag, Scotland

Then through the Torridon Hills...

Torridon, Scotland

...drove passed some Scots Pine trees that look like they are from the Jurassic age...

Scots Pine trees in the Torridon, Scotland

and Beinn Eighe mountain range...

Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve

to Loch Maree.

Loch Maree, Scotland

Views from Slattadale....

Waterfalls, Slattadale, Loch Maree, Scotland

Views of Loch Maree from the lookout at Slattadale, Scotland

It was a day of stunning views, just stunning....

Glenfinnan to Eileen Donan, Scotland

24TH AUGUST 2018 GLENFINNAN, OVER THE SEAS TO SKYE AND EILEEN DONAN CASTLE

From Inchree we drove north through Fort William and then west to Glenfinnan. It was at Glenfinnan on the shores of Loch Shiel that Bonnie Prince Charles raised his standard/flag in 1745 to start the Jacobite Rising. Seventy years later this 18m/60ft high monument was built to commemorate this event.

And an awesome viaduct has been built...From Wiki -"Sir Robert McAlpine had the Glenfinnan Viaduct constructed between 1897 and 1898. The structure, which is built entirely out of concrete, has 21 arches with spans of 15 m (49 ft) and reaches a height of 30 m (100 ft) above the valley."

And twice a day during the high season the Jacobite Steam train crosses the viaduct - aka the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express. As a fan of viaducts and steam trains this was a highlight of our trip.

We continued west to Malliag.

Then caught the ferry over the seas to Skye.

We travelled around Skye in 2013 so this time we headed to the Kyle and the mainland.

We went to the small coastal village of Plockton...

We stopped once again at Eileen Donan castle - one of my favourite castles I even have a couple of their calendars which show the castle throughout the seasons. I love it because it's a small castle built on a tiny island at the meeting point of three rivers and has a cute footbridge - the fact that the bridge and the castle were built and rebuilt in the early 1900's just adds to the romance of the story as the castle was originally a Christian monastic cell in the 7th century and the castle was built in the 13th century and destroyed in the Jacobite Rebellion in the 1700's.

Then headed to our accommodation at the Balmacara Old Post Office bed and breakfast.  It was a great day...sigh...this was the view the following morning...

Callender to Fort William, Scotland.

23RD AUGUST 2018 FROM CALLENDER TO FORT WILLIAM VIA GLEN COE

We left Callendar and travelled north to the Falls of Dochart in Killin, Scotland.

great views heading north....

Glen Coe was spectacular....

Travelled around Kinlochleven and took a walk to Grey Mare's Waterfall.

Views around Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe....

We drove up to Fort William for a coffee then returned to Inchree to stay the night...

Lockerbie to Callender, Scotland

22ND AUGUST 2018 FROM LOCKERBIE TO CALLENDER VIA FINNICH GLEN AND THE TROSSACHS.

We woke up to a rainy morning and headed out to Lochmaben Castle where Robert the Bruce lived in 1306.

We then visited the Garden of Remembrance and Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial - it has been nearly 20 years since this tragedy occurred.

We continued north through Glasgow to the Mugdock Country Park which is free to enter and has several castles and buildings as well as a cafe and gift shop. Mugdock Castle was the stronghold of the Clan Graham from the middle of the 13th century. 

We then went to Finnich Glen aka the Devil's Pulpit which has been used as a location for the television series Outlander. We found directions from a blog on Pinterest and it was quite an adventure to find the 150 year old worn stone steps down to the tannin coloured river and the moss covered gorge. The effort was worth the spectacular scenery.

We then continued on through the Trossachs and to Loch Katrine and stayed the night in Callender.

October 2018 GPE Inspiration

I have created a challenge per month for my Gelatin Printing Enthusiasts Facebook group.

October 2018 Inspiration is to make cards. This time of year many people are thinking of sending out Christmas cards or you may like to get a stash of cards ready for next year - blank cards or thank you cards or cards to sell.

Buy your envelopes first so you know what size to make your cards.

Gather together all your art supplies - cardstock, gel prints, good quality glue, good quality ink that doesn't smudge and stamps, punches, wash tape, ribbon, pens...

Peruse Pinterest for ideas - there are hundreds of different cards....

You can print straight onto the cardstock or collage onto it.

Here are some videos - many more on youtube and Pinterest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlNwv0V36xE&t=15s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj5WQ0Lnzdo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LnbPo5Ag6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIMqOIDHDVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQwShAhB58

Here are some of the cards I've made: (note the smudgy ink, argh this is terrible ink so get yourself some good ink that stays on - I've since used sprayed on varnish because I was getting ink all over my fingers and cards.)

Pontcysllte Aqueduct, Wales

21ST AUGUST 2018 BANGOR, WALES TO ECCLEFECHAN, SCOTLAND via Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wales by Kevin Reynolds

When we woke up the clouds were clearing and it was sunny so I took some more pics of the views and Bangor pier.

We drove south east to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct which is a navigable aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee in north east Wales. The 18-arched stone and cast iron structure, which took ten years to design and build, was completed in 1805 and was designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop. It is now the oldest and longest navigable aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest in the world. We watched people motor their narrow boats across the aqueduct and my husband took some great photos from the river.

We saw the Cefn Mawr viaduct whilst crossing the aqueduct.

We then drove north through England to Scotland and stopped at Gretna Green.

We stayed at a small hotel in Ecclefechan, Scotland which is the birthplace of Thomas Carlyle (1795 - 1881) - who was a Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, translator, historian, mathematician, and teacher.