June 23, 2013– Loch Ness, Ft Augusts and Ft Williams

So, after spending a night in a youth hostel with the bathrooms down the hall, we boarded the bus again and headed for Loch Ness. We are the oldest members of the group, but we are having a great time with all the college age “kids.”

Our first view of the famous Loch Ness. No monster at this point, but wow what a vista.

Elaine finds the first “Nessie.”

Above, a cruise boat on Loch Ness and Elaine standing on the shoreline.

Another sighting of “Nessie!”

Edward has to stick his hand into the cool waters of Loch Ness.

Look! There is a castle on that point in the distance below. We will arrive there soon.

The hillsides along Loch Ness.

Below, we arrive at Urquhart Castle on the narrowest point of Loch Ness. If you control this castle, you control the entire lake and all the boat traffic to Inverness. Long before the castle was built there was a fortress on this site so it has been a fortified site for over 1,500 years.

  

We found some of the famous Highland Cattle, the shaggy cows with the long “bangs” Or, as they are called in the Highlands, “Hairy Coos.”

Hike up to another waterfall. How is it that we are getting in over 10,000 steps/day on a bus ride????

Back with the friendly Hairy Coos. They are the most gentle and docile of creatures. We thought it sad that their bangs would not allow them to see, but we learned later that the shaggy fur was protection from the harsh winters in the Highlands. They lose it in the summer. The hairy bangs protect their eyes from driving sleet and snow in the winter and from biting insects in the summer. So, no, they do not want their bangs cut.

Arriving at the town of Ft Augustus which is a town on the Caledonian Locks that allow a complete transit by boat through the line of Lochs from Inverness to Inchree.

Boats waiting to go through the locks.

A foot bridge to cross the Locks.

Below, the almost ever present clouds. There is always a chance of rain in the Highlands. As a result, it is the greenest area we have ever seen.

We arrive at the ruins of yet another castle.

 

 

Sign shows what the castle would have been before being destroyed.

 

Below, photos of the “Hogwarts Express!” This is the train used in the Harry Potter films and was parked temporarily in the rail yard near the castle. Note that Elaine, of course, is standing near the sign that prohibits entry. Did that stop her?

Below, more views of the green hills in the Highland countryside.

  Elaine finds a mother sheep and her lamb.

Below, Edward is on the hill overlooking the valley where all the battle scenes from “Braveheart” were filed. The fortress was in the clearing where the sheep are grazing and the small village was located by the stream.

Below, the Braveheart battlefield is behind us below this hill.

We begin another hike to a high waterfall. How many hikes is that today?

Viaduct for the steam train.

Below are panorama photos of the area.

The Glenfinnin Monument on Loch Lochy below Loch Ness. The monument is to one of the last Jacobite battles against the English.

And the gorgeous scenery continues.

Arriving at Ft Augustus we have a talk about the Clans of the Highlands, their lives and customs. The Scots were actually a number of disorganized clans with a Viking warrior way of life. They were fearsome in battle with one clan often in battles against another. The only thing that united them was their hatred of the English.

Haley and Lucky get their lesson in Kilt tying, wardrobe and weapons.

The locks at Ft Augustus.

Now we are off to spend two nights in the local youth hostel, but this one has its own pub and serves meals.