No 8 - LAURA, SCOTLAND, SNOW and MACDONALDS
After checking into our accommodation we went for a walk to the Glasgow CBD and it was not long before we heard the sound of bagpipes. Ahhh ...... we are in Scotland!
We took the train from the London to Glasgow leaving busy London behind.
After checking into our accommodation we went for a walk to the Glasgow CBD and it was not long before we heard the sound of bagpipes. Ahhh ...... we are in Scotland!
On the way to Oban Laura stepped out of the car to take a photo without putting her coat on. The icy wind quickly had her regretting that move. There were regular wind and weather warnings on the radio as we drove from Glasgow to Oban.
Laura was keen to see a Scottish Castle. She spotted one across the Loch. So we had to investigate further.........
...... only to find it was a Campbell Castle. Ha Ha.
The strong wind had caused the cancellation of a number of coastal ferry services. Here the Caledonian MacBryne ferries to the Outer Isles are still in Oban harbour. The winds were forecast to begin easing the following day.
Laura trying some local produce at Oban.
The next morning we woke to this view out our window. Nancy had wanted a white Christmas. It had come early.
Thomas our B&B host at Oban even cleaned the snow off the windscreen - all part of the service.
Just down the road from the B&B was the lookout with amazing views over Oban Harbour. We were not able to stay long to enjoy this scene due to the icy wind and an approaching snow shower.
We had planned to take the ferry from Mallaig to Lochboisdale on South Uist however the weather had caused the cancellation of this service so from Oban we made our way to the Isle of Skye to catch the ferry from Uig to Lochmaddy in North Uist. This ferry was still operating as it was a larger vessel and this route is a little more sheltered. Lochs and snow covered mountains around every corner.
A brief stop at Glencoe. That is our car without the snow. The leafless snow covered trees with the snow covered mountains in the background made for a most unusual scene - for those who have spent most of their lives living closer to the equator.
The snow plow and salt trucks were busy on the main roads keeping them open.
As we crossed the high level bridge onto the Isle of Skye warm and snug in our hire car the wind sock on the bridge reminded us of the wild weather outside. Our ferry passage from Uig to Lochmaddy was during the hours of darkness however turned out to be reasonably comfortable - much to Nancy's relief.
Failte means welcome in Gaelic. We were on the Outer Hebrides. This is where our Macdonald ancestors came from.
We stayed with some relatives - Iain and Catriona. Below is the view from their house in the morning. Over the cars is the Nunton Steadings with Nunton Hostel in the right side background. The steadings was where animals were housed in the past.
Iain Macdonald pointing to his father's name on the plaque remembering the group of returned WW1 servicemen who raided the Nunton Farm in 1923.
Laura and Bryan with Iain and Catriona Macdonald.
Iain's older brother Roddie lives nearby on the original Macdonald croft (small farm).
And near Roddie lives Iain's sister, Chrissie and her son Derek. Left to right - Derek, Bryan, Iain, Chrissie and Laura. We went to church with Iain and Catriona and met another of Chrissie's sons, Alasdair and his family. This was the first time ever we had been to church with snow covering the ground. While there we also met Ronnie Macdonald brother of Lachie Macdonald who is the High Commissioner of Clan Donald in Australia at present - small world.
Sun on the lochs near Lochmaddy.
An approaching shower produced this rainbow.
The ferry coming into the dock at Lochmaddy for our return to Uig and the mainland of Scotland.
In the distance are the snow covered mountains on the Isles of Harris and Lewis.
The harbour at Uig on the Isle of Skye with the snow covered mountains in the background.
A thatch roofed traditional house on the Isle of Skye looking out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Nancy, our arm chair photographer - choosing the warmth of the car over a 'refreshing' wind.
Sunrise at Loch Ness. From the Isle of Skye we drove across to Loch Ness. The last few hours were in the dark making for an interesting drive with deer crossing the road and more snow falling.
Brekkie looking over Loch Ness.
Some interesting 'icy' shapes.
Nancy and Laura snapping photos of a snow lined Loch Ness.
From Loch Ness were drove to Inverness to visit our ex-Darwin friends, Bev and Donald.
Catch you next blog.
Bryan, Nancy and Laura
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