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Sunday, June 25 2006
Sarah and I began our day with a nice morning run. From the village there was a nice smooth bike path alongside the main road that we were able to use the entire way. Lots of horses grazing as we ran.
Our B&B, Bridgend, in Drumnadrochit was incredible! The house is on the village green. It’s run by a woman called Ros and her spaniel, Molly. This place is a must stay if you are in the Loch Ness area. We spent a long time at breakfast talking to Ros. She told us a few stories – it’s too bad we got in late last night, she probably would have sat with us talking for ages. Bridgend is exactly the type of B&B that makes people love to stay in a B&B.
Bridgend House, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
Our room at Bridgend House, Drumnadrochit
From the house we went to Castle Urquhart on the shores of Loch Ness. The visitor’s center here is pretty good. The English blew up parts of the castle in 1689 to prevent the Jacobites from capturing it. It’s too bad, it would have been even more incredible if it was in tact!
Castle Urquhart
The bridge across the moat to the front gate
Loch Ness (no monster)
No monster here either
Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness, Scotland
A view of Loch Ness from Castle Urquhart
Loch Ness
After we finished poking around, we made our way from Loch Ness west into the Highlands. The Glens along the road to Ullapool were striking, especially along Loch Glascornoch and Loch Broom. We pulled the car over for a moment to check our map and discovered this ridiculous view out of our windows…
Beautiful scenery along the road to Ullapool
Ullapool
We continued on and stopped in Ullapool for some Ice Cream. The weather has been perfect so far, 14°-18° and sunny. It was a beautiful day in this coastal town. I was able to go to a book shop across the street from the Ice Cream shop. This trip was necessary because even though the gift shop at Stirling Castle was selling a book I had been trying to find for a couple of years (Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie), I decided not to buy it. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t. I was immediately sorry, so I was thrilled to find it at this shop.
Enjoying the sun in Ullapool
View from the bridge in Loch Inver
After our Ice Cream, we proceeded to Lochinver after a brief stop at Ardvrek Castle. We had to split up in Loch Inver (we couldn’t find a B&B that could house all four of us together since we hadn’t booked ahead). Sarah and I stayed at a B&B named Tigh Guithais, run by Rachel and Graham. The house was built in the 1860s, but they’ve added on the back. It’s a more homelike feel than many B&Bs – it used to be their holiday home – but Sarah and I really liked it. For dinner, we walked into the village (a major fishing port) and ate at the seafood restaurant you can see to the left – The Lochinver Larder.
The Tigh Guithais sign on the road
Tigh Guithais, Loch Inver, Scotland
The view of Tigh Guithais as you walk from town
Our room at Tigh Guithais
Scotland Itinerary – Day 4
Castle Urquart/Loch Ness
Ullapool
Spend the night in Lochinver
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