British Isles Tour - Day Eleven and Twelve Inverness/Loch Ness, Scotland

Day 11 was an "At Sea" day.  We actually aren't too fond of these days because we love to go and see things, but it was a great day to get a few things done since we had been on excursions every day since we boarded.  It started with the amazing Brunch Spectacular in the main tier of the Trellis Restaurant.  I have already posted on Day Three http://georgeandlauracopeland.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html the fantastic brunch we were able to enjoy in such a beautiful setting, with ice sculptures and creatively cut food.  We, also, did some shopping in the little shops on board, did some laundry in our tiny bathroom sinks (brought our own powdered detergent, pounded the clothes dry in between towels, and then hung them all over in our stateroom.  It sounds crazy, but it works!)  We played a little Speed Scrabble, and then got ready for our formal dinner night.  Again, the pictures are posted on Day Three.  Dinner included lobster and Baked Alaska for dessert, with a Broadway Show production afterwards which we all really enjoyed.

 

 Day Twelve we were still in Scotland.  We traveled to Cawdor Castle--a romantic fairytale castle that has been the home of the Thanes of Cawdor since 1370.  The Dowager Angelika of Cawdor still resides in the castle during the winter.

 George sitting by the drawbridge.

Larry and Doug standing by an old cannon there on the grounds.
Thank goodness this cannon hasn't had to be used for a very long time.

This went down to the dungeon area.  Actually this makes me laugh:  "Please Mind Your Back."  George has been doing that for 50 years!

Inside the house was beautiful art, tapestries, and furniture which created such a warm and welcoming feel.  As I said, the Dowager still lives in this home during the winter months, so it feels much more like a real home (large mansion) rather than a cold, dreary castle like we had seen so many days before this.  Too bad we weren't able to take pictures inside.

After a visit through this beautiful castle, we started walking through the gardens.   

 




The carefully manicured and beautiful garden area rivaled any other gardens we visited on this trip. 

 

 

 

 

The field of grass just before you get to the castle is the greenest green you will ever see!

Another bagpiper was there for everyone to enjoy his music.

The guys settled down for a little rest . . .

George and I shared a chair.  Poor George!

And this was so interesting--a little gypsy wagon was there in the field . . . not occupied, of course but just for everyone to take a look at.

 So many beautiful surroundings at this Cawdor Castle.  Just for a couple of hours, we got to see what it would be like to live in a real castle!

We then started on our way to Culloden Battlefield (just northeast of Inverness), and soon learned this is where perhaps the most significant event in Scottish history took place in 1746.   

The walk into the memorial building has stones with the different clan names on them.

 The battle which took place here was the last of the great Jacobite risings--popular attempts to reinstate a Stuart monarch on the throne of Britain.  It was led by Charles Edward Stuart.

As the plaque states:  In one area alone, about 700 Jacobite soldiers were killed or wounded in just a few minutes of fighting.  They had broken through the government front line, but then they were forced back with catastrophic consequences.

 

This battlefield was the place where the Highland clan culture of Scotland sang its last song, quite simply, the end of an era for Scotland.  With over 1,200 dead in just one hour, Culloden was a short but bloody battle.  The extended bricks on this wall mark the death of each clansman who died.

 We then walked out over the battlefield itself where there are markers to show strategic locations of the battle.  Again, referring to the plaque it states that "Archaeologists have found many items here--hacked musket parts, pistol balls, and ripped-off buttons.  All of these are evidence of a desperate close-range fight."   

 Walking through this battlefield reminded me of the time I walked through the battlefield at Gettysburg.  You have such a connection when you are right there yourself.

 

We had a wonderful lunch in the visitor center there and bought a few items in their little shop.  I had to post this little sign which we saw in their restroom--so funny.  Luckily, I have been following the Royal Baby news and learned that what we call diapers are called "nappies" in the British Isles.

We then set off for Loch Ness.  What is a Loch?  It is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a "lake."  So, we passed many beautiful lochs and glens in such beautiful settings as we went.

I took this picture through our van window for Connor to show him a Scottish golf course.  Of course, it isn't St. Andrews, but it did look so peaceful and beautiful.

When we arrived at Loch Ness, I was amazed at how huge it was!  This lake is a mile wide and 23 miles long.  It averages 600 feet deep!  Wow!  So much bigger than I thought it was going to be.

We stopped to take a one-hour scenic cruise across the Loch Ness.  
George walking to the area where the boat would be picking us up.

Boarding the ship.

Larry holding his boarding ticket.  I loved the tickets they gave us:  We were officially a Clansman which are are traditional kinship groups sharing a common surname and heritage.  That fit our little group just perfectly!  And why was it only "One Way"?  Because the van driver was picking us up on the other end of the Loch.

 The day was a beautiful sunny day, and so we sat on the upper deck of the boat and had a fantastic view of the highlands and lake.  





While enjoying the beautiful lake and surrounding hills, we looked intently for "Nessie."  The belief in the Loch Ness Monster, "Nessie" for short, has made this the most famous lake in Scotland.  (I want to know how they know it is a "she.")
Many people still believe this mythical creature or some animal left from the dinosaur age still dwells in this Loch (Lake).  However, this has never been absolutely proven, but continues to be a fun tradition.

Sorry to say, we didn't spot Nessie today either!  But we surely did enjoy our cruise down the Loch.


As we approached the end of our cruise, ahead we could see Urquhart Castle.



 Exiting the boat.

This is a castle set on such an impressive site--on the banks of Loch Ness.  It still remains an impressive stronghold despite the fact it is in such a ruinous state. 

This castle has a long and bloody history.  Because of its strategic location, it played a key role in the Scottish battle for independence.  
Urquhart Castle came under the control of Robert the Bruce before a 150-year power struggle between the Stewart dynasty and the MacDonald Lords of the Isles.


From the tower house, you can see splendid views of the famous Loch and the Great Glen.

 It is easy to understand why this castle is one of the most-visited castles in Scotland--from its location, to its grandeur even if its not fully in tact, it is really something to see.
 








 


The present ruins of the Urquart Castle date from the 13th century.  It was largely abandoned by the middle of the 17th century.

  

This castle spread out over a huge area with paths going every which way.  Can you see George on the grassy knoll in the bottom right?

 
From one of the openings of the castle, you could see this very large wooden object which looked like a big catapult.  As we walked over to it, that's exactly what it was!
 
 Rather than calling it a catapult, however, they called it a "Trebuchet."  Literally, it is a stone thrower. 
The enemy used this to try to get into the stone castle.

We then walked up the hill to the visitors' center, which is the modern reddish-colored building in the middle of the picture.

 There we were able to see the type of armor used at this castle.

 Doug put on the helmet and Beverly said he was Joyce's knight in shiny armor!  Clever, huh?!

 In the visitor's center, there was a diorama of what the castle would have looked like in its prime.
We then watched a short, very informative film about the history of the castle.  At the end of the film, they showed a huge life-like picture of the castle in its pristine state, then they opened the windows and in full view was the castle as it sits now.  It was just breath-taking!


Today had certainly been a day of contrasts--from a beautiful liveable castle to a castle which was now in ruins, but something to be said and learned about from each.

Our return trip again was through beautiful little towns and countryside.  We kept noticing how Scotland had very few fences. Usually just hedges or plant growth to divide the properties.

 Along this little canal, they actually had locks, like they have on the Panama Canal where they raise the level of the water in several different compartments so that the smaller boats can go from the lake to the lower leveled water below it.

And then it was back aboard the ship.

But, we had one final surprise.  As we were going to dinner, we heard the sounds of a traditional Scottish Pipe Band as they played for us on the dock while we prepared to sail from Invergordon.  What a treat that was!

For dinner, Joyce ordered a pork chop.  When they brought it, all of our mouth's dropped.  It was gigantic!

You really get to know your waiters when you go on a cruise because you have the same ones every day.  Believe me, we really got to know these guys after having them serve us for 12 days almost.  They were fantastic!

After dinner, we enjoyed Steve Carte, a comedy juggler.  He was hilarious and more of a comedian than juggler.  Great way to end the day! 

 Tomorrow and the next day:  At Sea, then disembark back in England where we toured more of London.