Scotland Completed



Portree waterfront

Portree was a great spot and the nicest B & B and best host of our Scottish trip.From Portree we had to back track a bit as there is only one bridge back to the mainland from the Isle of Skye and then we headed for Inverness. We of course had to stop along the way to search for the Loch Ness Monster but unfortunately she wasn't playing the game and we didn't get to see her (or is it a him).

MIichelle spies the Loch Ness Monster

First port of call at Inverness was to get to the specific tyre repair shop that Nath had to use as the previous day whilst touring Skye we had got a flat tyre. Fortunately it was when we had stopped for a lunch break. Both Mich and I heard the air escaping and told the boys we had a flat tyre. They had a quick glance and said no nothing wrong with it. Mich had a laugh and said just wait. Sure enough a few seconds later it was flat as a pancake. Thankfully it was a nice day as all four bags and a few other things had to come out of the boot and it was out for quite some time as Nath and Pete worked out how to use the jack with some egging on from Mich and I sitting in the sun. Anyway had to leave the car with the tyre, so we set off on foot for a look around Inverness. Our B & B that night was about 8 miles out in a little place called Ardersier and as we were all tired we just went down to the local pub for tea. Our intentions had been to go back into Inverness. We had a yummy meal and were entertained by the young man who was barman, waiter, receptionist, but he assured me not the cook. Up early the next morning and thoroughly entertained by our B & B host over breakfast (think the boys switched off but I thought she was a hoot) and then off to Edinburgh. We detoured to Falkirk to view the Falkirk Wheel which lifts boats from one canal up to another. Works like a giant Ferris Wheel. We lingered for a while watching this feat of engineering in action.

Falkirk Wheel

Arriving in Edinburgh Michelle and Nath left Pete and I at the castle (they had been then before when visiting Edinburgh for an All Blacks game) whilst they went off and did their own thing. It was well worth the £15 each to go through all the displays and explore the castle grounds. Preparations are already underway for the Edinburgh Tattoo. We met up with Mich and Nath again and explored on foot some more of the city. After a late evening meal we caught the bus back to our B & B (which we had previously booked into on our arrival in the city) and collapsed into bed for another early start the next morning for the long drive back to London. Edinburgh was our favoutite city in Scotland.

Purchased this little bit of real estate

Hadrian's Wall

Nathan is big on history and was keen to see some of Hadrian's Wall so we detoured off the motorway and took some country roads to get to a section of the wall. We were able to walk through a farm to see some amazing bits of the wall. A very good detour and well worth doing, amazing to think the wall was built nearly 2000 years ago.

The only other stop of the day was for a late lunch at a motorway stop and then on into London. Due to road works on the M1 our journey was slowed, with us eventually arriving at our London base at around 7pm tonight. It will be good to be based in one place for a few days and catch up on thjings like washing. It has been a full on 12 days since we left home but thoroughly enjoyable and finally we are getting some good weather although today was wasted being in the car all day.