August 2nd began our five-day tour through the Highlands and up to Orkney Island. If you’ve ever tried to drive on a narrow winding one lane road over hills in a foreign country, you know why we chose to do a tour instead of renting a car. It was well worth it!
Along the way we learned a lot about Scottish history and saw some beautiful sights.
The drive took us through Glencoe in the Highlands, site of the Glencoe massacre. In 1692, men, women, and children of the MacDonald Clan were murdered in their sleep by troops of the Clan Campbell. It was ordered by the government but violated clan hospitality that Clan Campbell had requested because of a winter storm.
We drove past Ben Nevis Mountain, the highest point in Scotland.
And through Loch Lomond National Park.
Of course we stopped at Loch Ness. Nessie didn’t make an appearance, but we did see some brave swimmers in the icy water.
Inverness is on Scotland’s northeast coast, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. It’s the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands.
We got to spend the evening there.
I even found some wolves on a church along with some other critters.
Dinner was a MacGregor’s Bar which had this lovely quote from Sir Walter Scott.
