Woke to a much better day today and had another leisurely breakfast in the conservatory. Left Ji m& Susan’s and Montrose at close to 11 am and set off across the mountains towards Inverness. We took the scenic tourist route thru pretty villages, winding valley roads and across barren mountains. We crossed the Dee river to stopped for coffee at a pub by the riverside. Then drove through the Scottish highlands, skirting around Balmoral. The scenery was mind blowing – barren hills that obviously see plenty of snow in the winter (might have been winter today up there it was so cold and windy). Past one of the highland ski fields – all grass covered now and almost boggy after yesterdays rain. Hard to imagine it covered by snow. We stopped many times for photo opportunities, and then came upon a café in the middle of nowhere where we had a lovely lunch – me soup and Paul a baked spud.
We eventually arrived in Inverness and quite easily found our B & B, incidentally not the one I booked weeks ago – they stuffed it up, but found us another one closer to town and probably much nicer. Fortunately I rang them this morning before we left Montrose to confirm. All good.
After checking in we wandered down to the town, across the River Dee and around the town. Stopped for a while and listened to a Scottish band – all young people, guitar, 2 x fiddles and a drum set, amplified to heck, but playing traditional Scottish music. Could have stayed for ages. Found a pub on the way back which was showing the Scottish Open golf (just being played down the road in Inverness) and watched that for a while, then came back to freshen up and then off to dinner in the town.
More tomorrow.
Love to all the family xxxx