Macca's Meanderings

No 11 - CHRISTMAS IN GLENCOE Hi again. We enjoyed our Christmas at Onich which is on the shores of Loch Linnhe near Glencoe between Oban and Fort William. Below is the Lodge on the Loch where we stayed - viewed from the other side of the Loch. We had a room with great views of the loch and the mountains. The first two days were very windy with regular rain showers and low cloud. Then the wind calmed and the weather improved so we took a drive around Loch Leven. There were some amazing reflections. At this time of the year with the trees bare of leaves great scenes can still be seen through the trees. The village of Glencoe viewed from other side of the loch. Behind the village is the valley called Glen Coe (In Scotland, glen = valley).  The next day we took a drive to the west passing the northern end of Loch Sheil. The memorial in the foreground is to those who died in the Jacobite uprising in the 1700s. Turning around from the photo above is the Glenfinnan Viad

No 10 - BACK TO THE OUTER HEBRIDES ISLES After leaving Tomatin near Inverness we headed to Ullapool over on the west coast of Scotland. After  an over night here we took the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Caledonia is the latin name the Romans gave to Scotland. MacBrayne have been operating ferries for many years.  Between Inverness and Ullapool we drove through some more higher peaks. The snow of the previous week had started to melt. Another snow lined loch just before we descended down to the coast and Ullapool.  The Boat Inn right on the water front is where we stayed in Ullapool. Christmas lights - Ullapool style. Being on the coast one of Ullapool's main industries is fishing..... including crayfish. So ...... having plenty of cray pots around, what would you make a Christmas tree out of? A close up of the Christmas tree reveals 100's of cray pots.  The next morning the wind had pickup as we departed - Ullap

No 9 - EDINBURGH, TOMATIN, RIVER FINDHORN and MACQUEENS On the way from Inverness to Edinburgh we visited the Stirling Castle. Some people say this is better than the more famous Edinburgh Castle.  Laura and a knight - both with their head gear. The Great Hall of Stirling Castle. This venue can now be hire for weddings etc. This ceiling structure was designed by a ship builder and resembles the inverted hull of a Tall Ship. A couple of Australian tourist - anyone would think it was cold! A decent fire place but fuelled by oil/gas these days. Some of the defensive positions with their commanding views over the surround area. Some Edinburgh lights - the train station in the centre with the older part of the city and the Edinburgh Castle in the distant left. Around Edinburgh many of the old streets still have a cobble stone surface. We stayed down the bottom of the Royal Mile then turn left through this old arch and down an old cobble stone lane.