June 22, 2013–Bus Tour Edinburgh to Inverness

We began our 7 day tour of Scotland on the first leg of the trip, Edinburgh to Inverness. On the map it looks so far, but in reality it is only a 3 hour drive not counting stops. We start with Highland forests and beautiful mountain vistas.

Our first stop was the ancient village of Dunkeld. In Gaelic, “Dun” means a hill and “keld” is a fortress, so the town of the hill fort. It is on the edge of what remains of the Burnham Woods famous for the witches location in Macbeth. The river through the town is loaded with Salmon and fly fishermen are often seen.

The Dunkeld Cathedral is mostly a ruin, but services have been restored in a part of the cathedral. This area suffered a great deal during the years of the protestant Church of England break from the Catholic church during the time of Henry VIII. Scotland was long a stronghold of Protestantism and there were many attacks on catholic cathedrals. The cathedral in Dunkeld is now a protestant church. Nearby is the grave of the king mentioned in Macbeth.

The blooming trees along the river and Elaine on the edge of the river flowing through Dunkeld.

“Spill the Beans” coffee shop in Dunkeld.

The Thistle is the national symbol of Scotland. It achieved this status when a group of Vikings walking through the forest intent upon attacking a Scottish Clan walked barefoot into a field of thistles. The sharp pain from the pointed thistles set off shrieks among the Vikings warning the Scots and allowing them to prepare for the attach. So, the thistle is the national symbol.

Part of the Burnham Woods forest. Below, the king used to pay the hermits to live in the area and attract visitors whom he could tax.

Below, a walk up a trail through a beautiful pine forest to a waterfall.

Below, Elaine at the waterfall.

Below, Edward testing the texture of the heather that grows all over the Highlands.

We found some Blue Bells, the national flower of Scotland. Note that the Blue Bell is the national flower, the Thistle is the national symbol. Try to keep them straight.

The ever present sheep grazing in the Highlands. In fact, the English drove thousands of Scots from their homes and farms to create grazing lands in the Highlands for the sheep in order to feed the English. One of the many English abuses of the Scottish people.

Below, the Scottish mist on the hills in the Highlands.

At last we spy the Tomatin Whiskey Distillery in the distance.  We stopped for a tasting.          

The first bottle above sells for 450 pounds ($684.56), the bottle to the side sells for 185 pounds ($281.61). We did not buy either of these, but did buy a variety of airline size bottles.

Below, the road to Inverness.

We stopped at the famous battlefield of Culloden where the Scots fought their last great battle against the English. We received a demonstration of the weapons used in the battle and one of our group got the privilege of seeing how a kilt is tied. Note in regards to kilts, this is a Highlands garment only. Not all Scots wore kilts, it was only the Highlanders of northern Scotland. When you see Mel Gibson in “Braveheart” wearing a kilt, it is not accurate. William Wallace (“Braveheart”) was a lowlander and would not have worn a kilt.

Building for the Culloden Battlefield Memorial.

Poppies.

We arrive in the town of Inverness where we spend our first night in a youth hostel!!!!

Below, the Ness River flowing out of Loch Ness through Inverness to the sea.

Below, views of the Inverness Castle.

Thus, a great day stopping at Dunkeld, Tomatin Distillery, a hike through a forest to a waterfall, the historic Culloden battlefield and finally arriving in Inverness. We are going to like this trip.