Wet and Dry in Scotland

Friday, June 06, 2014
Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom
Wed, June 4
So the saying goes . . . . "All sunshine maketh a desert". Here's a new one . . . "Now it's time to be wetteth". And it is . . . very wet! Hasn't stopped drizzling and showering the entire day and evening . . . so far. 
Here we are in grey Edinburgh, just returned from a day on the Royal Mile, visiting the Castle and Edinburgh Museum. Tomorrow is Holyrood House day, and if we don't run out of time, the Royal Yacht Britannia. And still having a thoroughly good time. Just bought a small heater so we don't use our gas all the time; we're toasty and full of spicy pasta - watching Lewis of all things. The satellite TV is now working perfectly after a five minute discussion with the 'dish' people. We're told that we'll still get English FTA programs through much of France and Southern Germany, if we really are hard up for entertainment! Haven't watched a skerrick of news. 
Since our last blog this is what we've been up to . . .
But first a reflection on blogs. The main purpose in keeping this journal is to be our aide memoir. Without it, we'd have no chance of keeping alive what we've seen and heard . So, bear with us if some of what you read seems mundane. We want to remember some of the mundane stuff too!
OK, so this is what has happened . . .

The weather yesterday, driving from Berwick Seaview to the campsite at Edinburgh, was stunning, mild and sunny. The afternoon was spent housekeeping which included a ton of washing and drying. It's amazing how easily washing and drying machines seem to swallow one sock. We can now do an Edmond Capon i.e. wear socks which do not match.

We took the brand new tram (light rail) into Edinburgh - it's only been open for a week - and this delivered us to the centre of Princes Street which seems to be the commercial/retail heart of the city. A short walk across the North Bridge saw us walking up the Royal Mile, first of all stopping at St Giles' Cathedral for a quick recce. Interesting. Next port of call was Edinburgh Castle, just in time to be startled by the 1 pm gun salute .

The castle is mainly an outside attraction, so the drizzle did not make for a comfortable experience. We were able to view the apartments used by Mary Queen of Scots, including the Great Hall which is still used for some great occasions, and the room in which the future James the First was born. Why is this so interesting? Dunno, but it is. There were wonderful views of Edinburgh from the ramparts. Sadly we missed meeting Alexander McCall Smith today.  

After lunch we visited Edinburgh Museum which was an interesting look at life in Edinburgh through the ages. By this time the drizzle was becoming a downpour, so we decided to return to the comforts of Le Van. 
 
Thursday, 5 June
Well, waddaya know? Woke up to overcast but dry weather with the promise of sunshine to come. Decided that one hour of driving to a park and ride and catching the tram was a waste of time, so we chose a mini bus service that picked us up at the campsite and delivered us to the centre of the City less than fifteen minutes later
Just an aside - the first order of each day is to look for a coffee hit. Hate to say this but the most consistently decent (not great) coffees are from the chains - Costas and Nero. They're all over the place. Still can't even contemplate going into a Starbucks though. Would seem like treachery. 
We completed the Royal Mile walk (not accomplished yesterday because of the rain) and arrived at Holyrood Palace. Good time to visit because at the end of June the Royal Family take up residence and it's closed to visitors. Another wonderful trip through history as well as bringing to life the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. Stood and looked at the breakfast room where her jealous husband (Lord Darnley) and a band of friends came to haul out and kill her clerk, the Italian - David Rizzio (also rumoured to be the real father of her son James). Days of our Lives??? Revenge??? All the plots have already been written!
Anyway, it was a real pleasure visiting and Peter even enjoyed the Queen's Gallery exhibition of fashion over the period 1500 to 1700
We spent so much time in this area that a visit to the Britannia was out of the question and we nipped into the National Gallery for a quick look. As usual it was stunning so we'll have to come back for a proper look. 
Decided to walk (half an hour plus) to visit the Cramond Inn where we had the usual delicious local bitter and a glass of La Mancha (semi dry white). Our mistake was to order food. Should have known better. Kathy's Greek salad was OK but Peter's fish and chips turned out to be half a whale and a small sack of potatoes all on one gigantic plate. After that we cabbed it home.
Friday, 6 June
Has dawned bright and sunny and 18C, and we're off to Inverness via Perth and Newtonmore ….. We’ve just arrived in the campsite at Inverness and it is hot, sunny and dry – very much not what we expected. It’s definitely sandals and shorts weather for the next few hours. The drive from Edinburgh to here was uneventful, save for the breathtaking scenery we passed, skirting the Western Highlands. On our right hand side we passed mountain peak after mountain peak with clumps (swathes, runs, slopes?) of snow . Our first real stop, after picking up a coffee at a roadside Costa, was Pitlorchy renowned for its fly fishing, or so we’re told. Anyway, the town was historic which we’ve come to expect, and quite enchanting to walk through. Every second shop, however, if not a coffee or eating establishment, seemed to be aimed at the great outdoors. Our next port of call was Newtonmore whose claim to fame is being, you guessed it, an historic village with lots to see and do. On driving down the main road, we passed 10 parked cars and no living person. Needless to say, we didn’t stop. A little further on we were confronted by the Highland Folk Museum. Someone had recommended this, so we decided to give it a try. Are we ever glad we did. It was a wonderful look at Highland life in the 17th and 18th Century run by a band of dedicated volunteers. The museum stretches over one mile with a vast number of individual exhibits comprising such places as The Aultlarie Station, The Smoke House, The Sweetie Shop, The Shepherd’s Bothy and Fank . We were even introduced to shinty, a form of hockey, still played in Scotland and in another form in Ireland. Well, you get the picture. In the words of Billy Connelly “Och aye! It’s fan-taaaaas-tic!”  
Saturday, June 7
Shopping this morning, then off to look for Castle Urquhart near Loch Ness. Brief period of rain, followed by sunshine! Just what we've come to expect. Lunched in Drum - something - or the other, and then found the Castle. Well worth the search. Spectacular position on Loch Ness and a very interesting history. Seems most of these castles in Scotland passed from hand to hand depending on which clan was in the ascendancy. After a while though all the fighting and whatnot caused so much damage over time that it fell into ruin. Being quite late we drove helter skelter for our next port of call - Brora.
Brora was an excellent site. All Caravan Club sites are in excellent condition and worth the price. This one is situated right next to a links, which is of course, right on the coast Next morning we had our first walk in the UK on a sandy beach! All the others have been stoney because the tide's been out
Decided to call in at Dunrobin Castle before starting our next lap. Another terrific experience. All the more so because the current Countess who is in her nineties lives on the estate, and, the house still feels like people have just left. While there we watched a display of falconry. Awesome! Those birds can fly (hawks and falcons).
So, now we're sitting in the Museum Cafe in Thurso after a fabulous drive from Brora, most of it along the coast - and what a lovely coastline in the sunny conditions. This is the only 3G connection we could get so don't expect any more posts till we get South again!
A word about the weather. Last night it rained in Brora but this morning dawned bright and sunny. Around 18C. All the way to Thurso we were catching up to a large bank of clouds and finally on parking the drizzle started BUT true to form, it is clearing as we type! Love this Scottish weather.
 


    

 
Other Entries

Comments

turandot
2014-06-08

Enjoying the blog. You're both looking lovely. Beautiful countryside. Safe travels.

Andrew Gardiner
2014-06-08

Fantastic stuff. If you went through a village called Kiltearn and saw a raggedy homestead called 'Culcairn' then that is the place some many moons ago my little town got its inheritance from. If you did not then sadly you probably will not have missed much.

Joan McMurray
2014-06-09

Hi Travellers
Thanks birthday wishes had a good weekend with the kids etcetera. I love the new skill I trust you will be buying a cow and keeping it in Sydney so you don't lose that skill (lol) Wow you're sure moving around must be such fun seeing the other half of the world and how they live. I would just love that.

Lotsa luvvise Joan

Laurel & Derek
2014-06-10

Don't you find all that drizzle makes you appreciate the 18 degree heatwaves? Love the blog and your terrific photos.

Anne Day
2014-06-11

So interesting reading your blog and knowing you are having such wonderful experiences. Safe travels and enjoy it all.

2025-02-12

Comment code: Ask author if the code is blank