Invergordon, Scotland (British Isles Cruise)

Quite far north on the Scotland mainland is Inverness, our next stop.  Our tour first took us to stop by and meet some farm animals, including some photogenic alpacas, highland coos, and goats.  The alpacas had really skinny necks that were revealed since they must have been recently sheared.

We got to visit the famous Loch Ness, and toured the Urquhart Castle, built around 1230 AD. 

A trebuchet at Urquhart Castle.  The castle saw plenty of action and conflict over the four hundred years it was in active use, most notably during the Scottish Wars of Independence, and raids were attempted (sometimes succeeding) many times.  Trebuchets like this one were used when laying siege to the castle.

Despite our best efforts, we were unable to spot Nessie in Loch Ness.  However, Derek did the next best thing, and found her baby:

I thought the water in Loch Ness was pretty rough, but later learned the waves there sometime reach 10 feet, which sounds crazy to me. 

The castle is on a picturesque location overlooking the loch.  It would have been an important strategic position centuries ago. 

We made a quick visit to Beauly Priory, ruins of a monastic community founded in 1230. 

 

 

Later that day, we toured Cawdor Castle, which dates to the 14th century, and is still inhabited today.  After touring a lived-in, many centuries old castle, I can't say I would want to live in one myself.  The cold floors and walls, no insulation, etc. make it impractical even if the outside is impressive. 

The gardens were gorgeous and we found many butterflies too. 

We spent some time watching bees buzzing and butterflies flying through the flowers in the garden.

 

 

 

We also stopped at Clava Cairns, which dates back about 4,000 years! It is an ancient cemetery with several chambered tombs, each enclosed by a circle of standing stones. It features a precise, intentional alignment with the winter solstice. On the shortest day of the year, the setting sun shines directly down the entrance passages into the chambers, symbolizing the return of light and marking a crucial turning point in the season.  I am amazed that the ancient people could have positioned it so exactly.  

Our last stop of the day was Culloden Battlefield.  Culloden is the harrowing site of the final Jacobite Rising battle on April 16, 1746.  In under an hour, Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was defeated by government forces, ending the Stuart claim to the throne. The site features a visitor centre, clan gravestones, and the historic Leanach Cottage, which is the only surviving structure of the battle.  

I was impressed by how much our guide wanted independence from the United Kingdom.  It seemed to be a running theme among our guides that they did not like the English or their rule.