Date: Tuesday 25th
August 2015
Route: Boat of Garten to
Fort William (via Aviemore, Loch Laggan and Glenfinnan)
Our Listening Pleasure:
Miles today: 101
Total Mileage: 1,575
Today we were driving mostly
through forest!!
As we drove around the
forest lined roads, we saw our first sight of snow! There is was, at the top of
the mountain range in the distance.
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| SNOW!!!! |
We drove through the
shadow of Ben Nevis as we motored along the border of Fort William, heading for
the Harry Potter film location of Glenfinnan. In fact, wherever you go in this area, you
are in the shadow of The Ben!
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| Ben Nevis, shrouded in cloud |
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| Ben Nevis |
Arriving at Glenfinnan
we found out that health and safety prevented anyone from going up to the top
of the Glenfinnan monument (there was no guide there today), but we could walk
around.
This is the location where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed when he came to
Scotland to drive up the Jacobite rebellion, and the monument is a tribute to
him. His statue is prominent at the top. The bay is pretty striking…… the water
was really clear and still.
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| Where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed |
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| Minty with Bonnie Prince Charlie's monument in the background |
Turning around, the
first thing you see in the distance is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a landmark that
will be instantly recognizable to any Harry Potter enthusiasts……this is the
viaduct that the Hogwarts Express choo choo’s over in the Harry Potter films, and just beyond, the Quidditch scenes were filmed.
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| Glenfinnan Viaduct |
The Jacobite Express
steam trains go over this viaduct twice a day, and the next one was due in
about an hour, so we climbed up to the viewing point, found a good spot and waited!
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| View from the Hogwarts Express viewing point |
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| The Beeb settled in - waiting for the Hogwarts Express |
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| The Hogwarts Express |
We heard the whistle and
then saw the plume of white smoke being propelled from the top of the engine as
the express train came across the viaduct, into view.
Even without this being
the Hogwarts Express, it is quite exciting to see this old train powering
across the viaduct.
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| The Hogwarts Express |
Many of the viewers started to make their way down from the
viewing point but we stayed around and our patience was rewarded with a second
train, steaming across in the other direction about five minutes later.
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| The second train |
The
driver of this train was milking it all, and he slowed right down to a crawl and
peeped his whistle a few times as he crossed the viaduct.
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| The second train |
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| Minty with the Viaduct in the background |
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| The Beeb with The Glenfinnan Monument in the background |
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| Bonnie Prince Charlie and the shimmering bay |
Fort William is built in
the shadow of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, known as The Ben to the locals. You know which
one of the many mountains is The Ben – it is like the Big Daddy Bear towering
over everything!
Tonight we stayed at
Hotel Cruachan in Fort William. It is an old hotel, with rabbit warren corridors and wi-fi that
can be connected to only in the area immediately in front of reception!!! But
it was a bed for the night.
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| Our Hotel for the night - Cruachan Hotel |
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| Fort William Main Street |
We wandered into the
main shopping area of Fort William and found a pub, The Volunteer Arms that was
showing the Celtic Vs Malmo European match and we spent the rest of the evening
in there enjoying a few San Miguel’s, but not enjoying the result of the football!
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| Clan Chief monument in Fort William |
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| The pub where we watched the football |
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