ng on the mainland we drove to Glenelg and went hunting for the Dun Te
lve broch, a 10 metre tall, double skinned, dry stone roundhouse dated from 2,300 - 1900 years ago. Spot Kay in the picture!
Lunch at this view of Loch Duich.
The lochs between Inverness & Fort William were formed during the Ice Ages along an active fault line. The Caledonian Canal was built 1803-22 to connect them & save ships the hazardous 270 mile voyage around the top of Scotland. The 22 miles were dug by hand and contain 29 locks.
Right - Queens View
Left - the remnants of an old village in the forest.
Blair
Castle, owned by the Earls of Atholl. The Comyns built the initial tower here, as squatters when the original owners, the Stewarts, were away. Of course the Comyns had to leave when they returned!
The town square in Dunkeld. The village was burnt down by the Camerons after the battle of Dunkeld in 1689. It was rebuilt and these buildings have been recently restored under the National Trust for Scotland 'small houses' scheme.
Above - a lock at Fort Augustus.
Right - a swing bridge at Fort William, with cars waiting until the boat passes.
Our first view of Ben Nevis, near Fort William.
Our first view of Ben Nevis, near Fort William.
We stayed in a B & B there, coincidentally run by Mary & Bob Cumming. Bob gave Kay information on the Cumming clan
. The Comyns arrived in Britain with William the Conqueror in 1066. They acquired land & built castles in Scotland. After John Comyn was killed by King Robert the Bruce in 1306, the clan lost their power, land & castles. So no land claim here!
Left - Loch Laggan dam for power generation; there are windmills in Scotland too.
. The Comyns arrived in Britain with William the Conqueror in 1066. They acquired land & built castles in Scotland. After John Comyn was killed by King Robert the Bruce in 1306, the clan lost their power, land & castles. So no land claim here!Left - Loch Laggan dam for power generation; there are windmills in Scotland too.
We stayed in a B & B for 2 nights at Pitlochry. An interesting area with lovely scenery, below. 
Right - Queens View
Left - the remnants of an old village in the forest.
Blair
Castle, owned by the Earls of Atholl. The Comyns built the initial tower here, as squatters when the original owners, the Stewarts, were away. Of course the Comyns had to leave when they returned!
The town square in Dunkeld. The village was burnt down by the Camerons after the battle of Dunkeld in 1689. It was rebuilt and these buildings have been recently restored under the National Trust for Scotland 'small houses' scheme.
A red squirrel having breakfast. These are rare further south as they have been decimated by the larger grey variety.
A visit to the collection of local Pictish stones at Meigle, as we drive south.
Scone ("Skoon") Palace, now home of the Earls of Mansfield. This place was once the centre of the Pictish - Scots kingdom.
Note a replica of the Stone of Destiny in the top left of this picture, said to have been brought here by Scotland's first king, Kenneth MacAlpin, in the 9th century. The original is now in Edinburgh Castle & is still used in the king/queen crowning ceremony.
Next stop - Bob & Hilda's at Gorebridge, near Edinburgh.
A visit to the collection of local Pictish stones at Meigle, as we drive south.
Scone ("Skoon") Palace, now home of the Earls of Mansfield. This place was once the centre of the Pictish - Scots kingdom.
Note a replica of the Stone of Destiny in the top left of this picture, said to have been brought here by Scotland's first king, Kenneth MacAlpin, in the 9th century. The original is now in Edinburgh Castle & is still used in the king/queen crowning ceremony.
Next stop - Bob & Hilda's at Gorebridge, near Edinburgh.