Today was jam-packed with adventure beginning with our late departure from our Tigh Cilmartin home at 8:24 a.m. instead of the 8:00 time planned on the proving-to-be-unrealistic master schedule. After another scenic drive wrought with hairpin turns, “roller coaster roads” (as Noah’s labeled the funny-tummy-feeling bumps) and stunning views, we left the Isle of Skye behind and made it to our first destination of the day, Eilean Donan Castle.
One of the more recognizable castles in Scotland, Eilean Donan features a lovely stone bridge stretching from the mainland, over the marshy water where three lochs meet, to the entrance of the building. Photographs were forbidden inside the structure, as instead of being in ruins, this castle retains its roof and was setup to show life as it would have been in the early 1900s. Nonetheless, we were still able to capture some great photos from the outside.
Emmie is getting good at waving to people.
A sometimes rare smile from Noah.
Adding to the feelings of nostalgia was the sight and sound of a lone, traditionally-dressed bagpiper playing at the entrance to the bridge. Emmie enjoyed turning in circles to the tunes while Noah enjoyed dropping Mommy’s hard-earned tuppence into the man’s hat.
The bagpiper only enhanced an already impressive castle scene.
Our next stop was in the small village of Drumnadrochit, where we had lunch at Fiddler’s. Gee Gee and I split a salon dish featuring a honey and single-malt whisky-glaze nestled on a bed of greens and orange honey mustard dressing. Both enjoyed the dish greatly. Brian went with the highland burger made with Scottish grass-fed beef, while Grandma Mac preferred to save room for dessert at a planned bakery stop so snacked only on garlic bread. Emmie and Noah had a little bit of everything.
Always documenting our restaurants.
Urquart Castle, the foundation of which dates back to approximately 500 AD, was next on the agenda. Emmie was a bit tired at this point and not exactly cooperative, so Grandma Mac and Daddy took turns sitting in the grass and keeping her from jumping off of a cliff. Meanwhile, Gee Gee, Noah, and I inspected each nook and cranny at this ramshackle piece of history.
Emmie’s face captures her general disposition toward Urquart Castle.
After a climb on my back up four flights of narrow, twisting tower stairs, Noah dubbed the view of Loch Ness and the surrounding countryside as “pretty cool.” He was also very impressed by the leftovers of the latrine, stating, “Wow, that’s the first time I’ve seen a funny potty like that before!”
Our group at the top of Urquart Castle’s tower. (Grandma Mac was watching Emmie.)
The Baking Birds bakery yielded excitement for both Gee Gee and Grandma Mac. Gee Gee discovered the light, fresh sweetness of Drench blackcurrant-apple water and enjoyed delicious shortbread cookies, while Grandma Mac emerged from the shop with an orange Fanta and new brand of tablet candy to try. According to her son Kevin, and confirmed after tasting, Fanta soda is tastier on this side of the Atlantic.
Both children fell asleep briefly on the way to our next attraction: the farm. Family-run and offering a variety of animals to feed and pet, the farm was an awesome stop for the kiddos. For 75 pence apiece, plus admission, each child was provided with a generous bag of grain and shooed outside with only instructions not to feed food to the pigs or donkeys.
Emmie and Noah were delighted and enthralled, and who are we kidding, so were we! We all took turns feeding the friendly sheep, ducks, goats, chickens, rabbits, and alpacas. After watching me demonstrate the proper hand-feeding technique, Noah was thrilled with his new-found talent and took his task of getting each of the animals fed very seriously.
Emmie spent her time screaming at the animals and laughing hysterically at them. She also got in on the farm chore action but instead of a handful, chose to feed the goats one pellet at a time before demanding, both verbally and in sign language, “more, more!” Her farm-grip days were abruptly put to an end, however, when Amanda caught her picking up a piece of goat poop and trying to feed it back to the goats! Gee Gee found this to be hysterical and still cannot stop laughing about it.
Emmie feeding a goat (pre-poop.)
The stop concluded for everyone with a quick pop into the small on-site store to peruse the touristy treats before loading in the minivan, once again, to head to our hotel in Inverness.
Grandma Mac, Gee Gee, Brian, and Noah went out to get takeaway at a shared storefront with an unwieldy combined title: First Pizza Direct/First Plaice Fish Bar. Noah and Gee Gee split a pizza while Grandma Mac indulged (finally) in her first fish and chips meal in Scotland. Her review: “The fish was excellent. Very thick with great flavor. The chips were homemade, and I ordered way too many. No, don’t put that in there.”
Grandma Mac, her fish, ketchup, and big bag of chips.
Upon their return to the hotel, Grandma Mac came to our room to watch over the sleeping Emmie while Gee Gee attempted to corral Noah to sleep in their room. Against my protests, Brian insisted on us having a late-night (9 p.m.) meal at the restaurant he had previously identified for our Inverness stay. At The Kitchen, we enjoyed warmed garlic olives and endured an average prawn appetizer. For entrees, Brian ordered the pan seared ribeye served with fresh-cut French Fries and a delicious garlic mayo. I had a seared salmon with crushed new potatoes and a white sauce that contained pickles.
This restaurant exterior photo would be cooler if the street weren’t torn up (better photo angle.)
While our meals were good, Brian reports it didn’t live up to his exceedingly high expectations. Nevertheless, he attempted to get me to let him get dessert. This time, I won.
On the way back to the hotel, Brian and I zipped into a kilt shop where I made an exciting discovery. One of my souvenir wishes for the trip was to obtain a “MacMillan” clan tartan or kilt for Noah to wear for Halloween. [Yes, their spelling is unfortunate, but “McMillin” did derive from this Scots clan.] While they didn’t have one in Noah’s size, they did have a not-quite-outrageously-priced kilt in Emmie’s size.
On tap for tomorrow is an introductory flight over Inverness and our drive to Edinburgh, where we will go from minivan to public transportation for the remainder of the trip.
Absolutely loved today’s pictures. A high-five and “well done” to Amanda’s post. You are both excellent writers!