Three Summers: Speed, bonnie boat

We spent two days exploring Loch Ness and the Great Glen before heading for the Isle of Skye and Acharacle, Ardnamurchan - the west highlands. It was fun to see how the Loch Ness legend maintains the area as a tourist attraction. In the newspaper yesterday - an article of a possible sighting! People will forever be looking for Nessie and on the banks of the south shore of Loch Ness, where we stopped for lunch in the Dores Inn, is the caravan home of Steve Feltham. He has lived there for 20 years looking for the Loch Ness monster!

The Great Glen and Castle Urquhart on the northern shore of
Loch Ness, just near Dromnadrochit where the whole Nessie
business began in the 1920s.

Ah, the heather! Everywhere the highlands were
covered in mauve loveliness.

It's nearly time to put orders in!

Professional Nessie hunter's home on Loch Ness

She looks something like this.

As we left Inverness and headed south west the weather deterioriated. The tail end of hurricane Katia that had wreaked its havoc on the US east coast had arrived in south west Scotland and with it were warnings of excessive rain and gale force winds.

The drive through the highlands was spectacular. Torrents of water cascading in great streams from the cliffs and crags of the highland peaks.

'over the sea to Skye'- well over the Skye bridge to Skye.
'Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air'.
They sure did.

We drove with great care. The next sign we saw
advised....'possible landslides ahead'!

Crofters cottage, Isle of Skye.
That's one way to keep your roof on in gale force winds.

Eilean Donan Castle

The weather conditions caused by the tail end of the hurricane
forced this couple to eat their 'addock'n'chips in a phone box!
Poor things.

So much rain fell that all through the highlands
the hills and mountains were pouring
with streams and riverlets. It was an amazing sight.

The rivers were fairly flowing and rising. In some
villages there was flooding and road closures.

Rob Roy MacGregor's grave at Balquidder

Pretty Plockton

In the Scottish Highlands our hiking boots earned their
place on tour.

The weather began to clear as we headed east for our final Scottish destination - Edinburgh. Handsome Edinburgh. A bit like a weathered but brave Scottish soldier really. It was good to park Cecile for a couple of days at our centrally-located accommodation and walk our way around the city. Firstly, the UNESCO heritage listed old town, along the Royal Mile, then Georgian new town, up Arthur's Seat, and all over the Royal Yacht Britannia. Fabulous city, fabulous time we had.