We started the day at the Clava Cairns. 2000 BC circular burial grounds. Amazing that Bronze age structures remain today. There are 50 in the area. Each burial ground had one or two bodies.
Stumbled across this train trestle - it was a Wow moment. The Nairn ViaductIt spans the River Nairn at 1,800 feet it is longest masonry bridge still used daily in Scotland.
We went to the Culloden Battlefields. Let’s just say there isn’t much interesting about a field...Big Smile. Everyone told us it was a must see. Not so much. It is simply for the history. Lots of battles won and lost here starting in 1745. It was freezing and started to rain sideways with what must have been 50 mph winds. Time to go!
Went down the shores of Loch Ness. We watched for a while but didn’t see Nessie.
Urquhart Castle built in the 1296 by William the Lion and was won and lost by the Jacobites, Clan Grants and the MacDonalds. In May of 1690 The castle was turned to rubble when the soldiers loaded the entry with gunpowder and blew up the gatehouse to prevent reoccupation of the castle by the Jacobites.
Since it was so cold that we could see snow flakes we decided to visit a couple of distilleries. First was Glen Ord. Notice the different shape of the copper distillers at each place. Each claim they make the best tasting scotch. I preferred Glen Ord. All scotch is aged in oak barrels previously used to age sherry, port, wine, bourbon or rum.
Then to a very different style production distillery, Tomatin. They let us walk into a masher where the malt is made into grist. They ferment in stainless. Notice the locks in the glass case where the alcohol is collected... those are placed by the government so the distillery can’t cheat the government from alcohol volume tax. Which is about 77%
Tomatin has their own “cooper” to maintain the barrels and offers housing to their workers on site.
I found a barrel that has been aging since I graduated from high school. That is a looooong time!
And just to prove we were really there.
Dinner was at the Mustard Seed. We tried to get in last night but they had room for us today. We hated the food. Not! The fresh mussels were the best I have had in a very long time.
Night time photo of the Inverness cathedral and castle. The castle isn’t very impressive. .
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