Loch Ness, Inverness, Culloden, Clava Cairns
Our beautiful cruise this morning takes us across Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle. The Lord of the Glens pulls right in for us to get a good view. Shortly after, Steve and Konia do presentations on the Jacobites and Highland Life, taking us along the last stretch of Loch Ness and then Loch Dochfour. During lunch we sail up to Inverness.
In the afternoon we enjoy a city tour of Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. With a population of about 60,000, this is a very lively place. We admire the 19th century castle, the remains of Cromwell’s fort and the beautiful river Ness, flowing right through the centre of town.
At Culloden we try to understand this terrible battle with its dire consequences. What if... Bonnie Prince Charlie had succeeded? World history would have been very different indeed. After a Jacobite immersion at the visitor centre, we join Konia and Steve for a historic walk around the battlefield.
We went back into history to the 18th century, now we are going back even further: 4000 years. That’s when the Clava Cairns of Balnuaran were built. In those days it was very important to look after your ancestors and to worship them by building passage graves as well as celebrating the sun. In particular the winter solstice was a time to enjoy, it meant the returning of the light and therefore crops could grow and life could go on. These were sophisticated people, so forget your image of The Flintstones. The beech trees that were added in the 19th century add to the magic atmosphere of this special place.
Once back at the Lord of the Glens, we battle with our suitcases and then spruce up for the farewell party and dinner.
We’ve had a great time. This trip with the Lord of the Glens took us to remote islands of the west coast, we joined in a Ceilidh dance and took in the Lochaber Highland Games as well as sailed through the Great Glen. An experience never to forget, just like the friends we made along the way.
