Glasgow sorta

Twas on to Glasgow we went but the day was taken up with washing and visits to the pharmacy, the doctor, the hospital, the NHS, the doctor, the pharmacy, the hospital, the doctor and finally the pharmacy to get some meds for Jude. I love the efficiency of Britains medical service. I think you’d bleed out if you were injured although they may be able to clone you back to life  – Dolly the cloned sheep lived and died near here (well a little further north but you get the picture). So, bottom line, we didn’t see much of Glasgow and we had a commitment further north so onwards and upwards we went.

Drumnadrochit was calling (What?). Its at the side of Loch Ness and it really was the Lochs that were calling us home but Drumnadrochit was where we had to stay. Lets say first up that this was the most expensive yet worst accommodation we’ve had so far – nearly $200 a night and not even breakfast included….

Now, given that these two buildings are pictured in the hotels blog as being side by side one might get the distinct impression that they are one and the same and consequentially this place looks at least interesting. Nothing could be further from the truth.We didn’t actually go into the Loch Ness visitor centre cos it cost money to do so but we did drag our weary bones up the stairs in the hotel, to find ourselves in a miserable little room with no acoustic properties whatsoever. You’ve heard the term ‘banging’, now we know what it means. Trouble is it was all next door as their bed kept hitting the adjoining wall. The only saving grace was he was a quick finisher. Then the next night 50 or 60 asians moved in and they don’t know how to be quiet let alone close a door without slamming it – all f…… night. To add insult to injury the bloody toilet wouldn’t flush properly and the one breakfast we had in their so called cafe should have been flushed first.

It was though close to Loch Ness and the village of Drumnadrochit was … interesting! We had dinner twice there, once good, once ordinary (but same place). This Loch and all others including Lomond are nonetheless beautiful, as is the countryside…

the first 3 Loch Lomond the next 2 Loch Ness. You might notice the only monster was the cruise boat and I should add we did look hard but Nessie didn’t favour us this time…

and I get the very distinct impression she doesn’t appear for just anybody.

We had determined to visit niece Renee on Skye which was another reason for staying at Drumnadrochit as it was the closest accommodation we could get. Skye, this weekend and indeed for days preceeding and after was booked solid, so a 2 1/2 hour drive (each way) was in order. Along the way we were intoduced to Eilean Doonan Castle. Billed as a fully restored 13th century castle it had to have some attraction, as indeed it did even on the most miserable and first wet day we’ve had since leaving home……

It is now a private residence although open to the public (for a cost of course) but it’s worth every penny to see…

Ah! Whoops. No photography allowed!

We did with permission get one photo, albiet not a good one as we had to look like we weren’t taking it…

as it’s not often you get a Fergusson with two s’s. Look up the connection Fergussons!

But we did get some outside shots through the rain and mist which I guess fairly accurately reflects the usual climate of the area…

It is worth a visit if you’re ever here.

On to Skye and the scenery is incredible…

and on to lunch with Renee, Matilda and Sean at their cafe at Bog Myrtle (Isle of Skye)…

Lovely lunch, good chat and catch up with niece and great-niece, but then back to the place they call Drumnadrochit (I’m fairly sure that means something unholy in Gaelic).

Moved on then to Edinburgh via Inverness and ended up spending four nights in Edinburgh because there is so much to see. I’m not sure I have effectively conveyed the beauty of the Scottish scenery here but even the drive back down south didn’t disappoint….

and whilst not strictly in sequence you get the picture.

There are many more shots I could bore you with but they’ll have to wait until you visit us at home. Uh, don’t use that as an excuse not to visit – I could just give you a USB just to piss you off.

Anyway, Edinburgh is a whole ‘nother story, a chapter in its own right so tune in to the next instalment coming soon.