Date: Thursday 20th
August 2015
Route: Auldearn (Nairn) -
Tongue (via Culloden, Inverness, Helmsdale, John O’Groats)
Our Listening Pleasure: Haynes Driving Anthems
Miles today: 208
Total Mileage: 961
The drive today
consisted of mainly hairpin bends, single track road and some stunning views!
It was the first of our two long driving days too.
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| The Cairn at Culloden |
Culloden was first on our
itinerary today. This is the desolate site of a battle just east of Inverness
that lasted for only an hour, but is remembered forever in the annals of time.
The Highland battle was the English (who actually had some Scots on their side)
versus the Jacobites who were fighting to get the Stuart King back on the
throne (Bonnie Prince Charlie). Our tour started in the Heritage centre where
we learned each side’s version of events.
Then we progressed outdoors to the moor,
where blue flags way in the distance showed the Jacobite line and the red flags
showed the English line. Let battle commence.
Although it was a lovely morning, there was a definite chill in the air about this place. Pretty spooky.
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| Culloden = desolate |
There were “mounds” to
show where the fallen had died, the clans were buried in mass graves and these
have now been identified and appropriate gravestones have been placed.
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| Just one of the many common burial spots for the Clans |
It was at the Culloden
grounds that Minty saw her first Highland Coo – she fell in love with the
animals and we now have our own toy coo: he is called Hamish. However, he is not to be confused with the "real" Hamish who we will meet later on our tour.
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| Minty sees her first Highland Coo |
Next stop was Raigmore
Hospital in Inverness. This is the birthplace of Minty and she left the region
at 6 weeks old. This was the first time back in 46 years and quite emotional. No doubt the hospital as it is today is vastly different to how it was back in 1968!
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| Minty goes home! |
The
trip through Inverness was brief and before long we had crossed into the Black
Isle (which is neither black, nor an isle!!) and headed towards Helmsdale. The roads were dug out of the hills and mountains, and we could see the road way ahead of us at times as we rounded each bend! This was also our first steps on what is now being promoted as "North Coast 500," Scotland's version of Route 66.
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| Lunch Stop in Helmsdale |
Helmsdale is another sleepy village which has really just one main street and we stopped here for
lunch and had a great experience at
Thyme and Plaice…. Hot food, GOOD food and The Beeb had a lovely chat with the
waitress.
The Beeb had another good chat with the lady who ran the local gift shop. On the wall behind the counter, there was a photo of her husband with JD Souther and Scotty Moore, two members of Elvis' band. Her husband had been a Rep for Peavey (amp manufacturer for those not in the know!) and had met these two at a convention.
On our travels we encountered many sheep who just wandered into the road, without a care in the world. Some just lay on the edge and ate their grass lying down! It is obviously a hard life to be a highland sheep!
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| Dounreay Power Station |
On our way from John O'Groats, we passed the Dounreay power station, and in a wee parking place, The Beeb found a set of miniature standing stones!
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| The Beeb and the Standing Stones |
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| Hello Tongue |
The next stop was
Tongue, and while Minty chilled out, the Beeb went walking up to Castle Varrich, a ruined structure steeped in mystery as no-one seems to know the background or history of it.
Our accommodation tonight was at the Ben Loyal Hotel and we were lucky enough to have a room with a great view looking out at the castle.
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| Room with a view |
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| You can see the hotel from here! |
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| Inside the castle |
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