The Ordinary versus the Extraordinary – A year of travelling with three children: 21 August 2015

As the weather was predicted to be fine, we decided to head up further north to Inverness and some historic places of significance in that region. It was about a 2 hour drive but along such a scenic route that the time passed quickly. We were soon at Culloden in the Highlands.

At first he was a Red Coat...

I remembered going to Culloden Battlefield many years ago on a bleak Autumn day. Today was a bit warmer but there was a bit of rain about. Culloden is often mentioned as we explore historic buildings and Bonnie Prince Charlie is a national hero. It was good to put all the history in context.

Feeling brave holding a real sword

I suppose lads of Tim's age really did head off to fight - a sobering thought.

Just for the fun of it!

Culloden Battlefield is the site of the last major battle fought on British soil in 1746. It was between the Jacobites and the ruling government army. It was an utter defeat, there was no chance of the Jacobites winning and everything seemed to conspire against them as the government forces outnumbered them and were more organised. The soggy, boggy heathery terrain only added to their troubles. Over 1200 dead within an hour before a hasty retreat sent Bonnie Prince Charlie, “ The Young Pretender” into hiding as he slipped “over the sea to Skye”, dressed as a maid, as the well-known song tells us. The 360 degree film was a great portrayal of the event.

Luke being dressed as a Highlander

As we have found with all the National Trust displays, this was well done. Luke had a great time being dressed as a highlander. Apparently they rendered their tartans waterproof by urinating on them, a fact which 7 year old boys love!

Serious business

And he's off in full battle dress!

The forlorn battlefield at Culloden

We then used the audio guides to walk around the battle site. It really is still a forlorn exposed moor where there was nowhere to hide

Memorial stones are placed in the field.

A quick and awful defeat remembered

Soggy, boggy, heather...

We said a quick hello to the most endearing “Hieland Coos” and drove on to find a nice spot for a picnic lunch by Loch Ness. Loch Ness is the second largest loch in Scotland, 56 square kms, and more or less stretches from Inverness to Fort William. Luke is convinced he saw the forehead of the Loch Ness monster!

Just chillin'


Adorable Hieland Coo (Highland Cow)

We called by Urquhart Castle but didn’t go in as we have seen many castle ruins but it was good to have a peek at it from above. We found a picnic spot looking over the wonderful Loch Ness on our way back to Inverness. Geographically, it is on the Great Glen Fault and contains more fresh water than all the lakes of Wales and England combined!

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

Along the side of Loch Ness there are parking bays every few kms and so there were a few options to pull over. It was late by the time we ate and we really enjoyed our fairly basic picnic lunch. The water looked a rich blue similar to the blue of the Blue Lake in Mt Gambier, South Australia and then it changed depending on where we saw it from.

Loch Ness

Lovely spot for lunch looking over Loch Ness

Bold and brave!

Our car and us!

Panorama doesn't quite capture the blueness

The Great Glen sheer cliffs

As the day was so sunny and good for touring, we called into Inverness, on the River Ness. We parked near to St Andrew's Cathedral, had a quick look inside then wandered along the Ness and over the bridge. Up on the hill is the castle, now used as a courthouse where we enjoyed a good view and wander about.

Front of St Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness

The choir stalls had one mythical creature on four corners with the names of the 4 Gospels: here is Luke.

River Ness

Inverness Castle

Crossing over the Ness

Brothers having fun

Flora MacDonald - she helped Bonnie Prince Charlie

Enjoying the sun!

Rather liked this t-shirt

After some refreshments at a very Scottish sounding place with clean, free toilets, McDonald's (!), we walked back over the Ness on the suspension bridge and headed home.

Good to see Mc Donald's is respecting the Gaelic in Inverness

Roughly translated we thought it might mean "greasy food in here"..but probably not!

Street scene Inverness

Faith, Hope and Charity

River Ness

We think the Tom Tom took us on the Whiskey Trail on the way home as we passed at least four distilleries but we won’t complain as we had the most delightful scenery of the Cairngorms and Highlands as we drove in the early evening. We will never tire of this gentle and beautiful landscape. The colours at this end of summer are rich and so very different from the brown golds of Australia.