Scotland Day Six

Today was a very long day. We left Uig headed for Armadale, at the south end of Skye. Armadale Castle is located there, with the Clan Donald Centre. This is a more recent castle, built mostly in the 1800's, and it was occupied until fairly recently. The clan decided that the taxes were just too great on the property, so they removed the roof and allowed the structure to be destroyed by the Scottish weather. So all the stone parts are intact, but there are no floors or inner structures. The grounds of the castle, however, are absolutely beautiful. There are very large trees, plants and flowers of every variety, and paths over the 20 acres of gardens.

From there, we traveled by ferry to Malaig, where we boarded the Jacobite train. This is a steam train, the one used in the Harry Potter movies, and it takes passengers on a two-hour ride back to Fort William. The train actually burns coal. Having traveled now on a coal-burner, I can tell you that there are very good reasons trains now use diesel. The noise of the engine (we were in the first car) was not quite deafening, but close.

The biggest problem was the smell of burning coal. Once, we started moving uphill inside a tunnel, and our cabin was filled with steam and smoke. If there had been a lung disease patient on board, they would have had a very hard time. At it was, I was glad I had an inhaler in my bag. We did see the bridge that is famous from the Harry Potter movies, and I got a few pictures by sticking my camera out the window of the door between cars. I'm sure the grandkids will appreciate those.

When we arrived in Fort William, we got on our coach again, and took the 90-minute ride to Inverness. In between naps (it's hard to stay awake on a bus), we saw stunning views of Loch Ness. No monster was in evidence.

We reached our hotel about 6 PM, and after dinner we took a walk downtown, shopping. The shops here stay open until 10 PM, wisely. I found a Scotland jacket that I can use instead of the sweater I've been wearing the whole time. We also got teeshirts for the grandkids, along with other assorted miscellany.

After dropping our booty at the hotel, Denise and I went on a long walk and found the bed and breakfast where we stayed in 2002. It was a lovely walk along the Ness River, which is beautifully landscaped on both sides, and reminds me of the Seine in Paris, in miniature. There are several well-kept churches that look more like cathedrals to my untrained eye, and we walked by the Inverness Castle, which is right across the river from our hotel. We arrived back in the hotel at dusk, which is Scotland is ten minutes before eleven.

Tomorrow, we have free time in the morning, and a tour in the afternoon. We might just sleep in.