Scotland Day 3

In our hotel, we got a pretty good deal because we got one dinner (in the hotel restaurant) and both breakfasts for free. Dinner was okay, but the breakfasts were great. Both mornings we had traditional Scottish/English breakfasts which are really good. Traditional English breakfasts are eggs, baked beans, sausage, tomatoes and toast. Scottish breakfasts are pretty much the same except more meat (including haggis--which Garrett did try--and said the first few bites were pretty good--but then not so good after that.) :) They also include potato scones which were really yummy. Anyways--enough about food.

This morning after our breakfast, we packed up and drove North--we were staying in Inverness that night, but made a few stops on the way. We first drove to Ft. William which was a really cute town. It's high street (main street) was small but quaint. We had lunch here and walked in a few stores, but then had to be on our way.

Ft. William High Street

The reason we went to Ft. William was because there was a train ride that would take you out to the town of Mallaig and then back. The train left from Ft. William. The name of the train is the Jacobite Steam Train, but we all know it as the Hogwarts Express. Yes, this was the train that they used in the Harry Potter movies. Cool, huh? The train also goes over a bridge, or the Glenfinnan Viaduct. (It's a raised track over 21 supporting arches.) They also show this in the Harry Potter Movies. (See pictures).

We didn't take the train for two reasons. 1st of all, it would have taken most of the day (our time was already too short in Scotland) and second of all, we were told that it wasn't a Harry Potter theme ride and that they didn't do much of anything related to Harry Potter. After driving a little way to get a picture of the viaduct, I kind of wished that we had taken the train ride. The scenery was so beautiful and it would have been fun going over the viaduct. So, next time we come to Scotland, I think we'll ride the train.

So we left the viaduct and started driving up to Inverness through Glencoe. This part of Scotland (and to the North) is the Highlands and the lower part is the Lowlands. The Highlands are absolutely beautiful. Green and hilly and beautiful purple flowers everywhere with lots of waterfalls.

The beautiful purple flowers that were all over the countryside.

Driving through Glencoe.

Scotland also has an animal here called "hairy coos". We only saw a handful and couldn't get a decent picture driving past them--but they were sure cute. I found this picture on the internet.

They are shaggy Highland cattle--with their hair falling into their eyes. We just had a fun time saying "hairy coos" with a scottish accent. Lydia is pretty good at it.

Driving up north we drove past Loch Ness, which was pretty long and skinny. It's 24 miles long, less than a mile wide and is the 3rd deepest lake in Europe. Right on the banks of Loch Ness is a neat old castle, which unfortuneatly was closed by the time we got there. We took some pictures of it though while standing on the closed gate. It's called Urquhart Castle. It looked pretty neat, kind of like the one in Dundonald.

Garrett by Loch Ness (Has he grown some Scottish red hair on this trip?)

Castle Urquhart

We had planned to stop at the Loch Ness Visitor's Center (there were two actually). Our guide book said that they were open until 8 and 9 pm. We got there around7 pm and they were both closed. We were disappointed that we couldn't go in. But, we got our picture taken with Nessie (it's kind of funny talking about that name after just reading Breaking Dawn.)

After that we drove up to Inverness and checked into our bed and breakfast and then walked to town to find some dinner. Inverness was a really beautiful town. It had a beautiful castle upon a hill and a river right next to our B&B with bridges over it and a fun High Street. A lot of the high streets here don't allow cars to drive on them. So, its just a big sidewalk with tons of people. I really liked that.


Inverness Castle

Overlooking the River at dusk. Our bed and breakfast was on the left side of the river somewhere. I'm not sure if it's in the picture or not.

Inverness City Centre

We were so sick of American fast food by this time that Garrett and I decided to try a real restaurant. We found one called Number 27. Technically they shouldn't have let us in because they have a bar in front and restaurant in back. Kids aren't allowed in after a certain time because of the alcohol served. We had quite a few people staring at us I guess because of this fact. I just thought they were staring because its always a circus wherever we go trying to stash two strollers, and trying to get the kids to sit down and not cry about wanting to sit somewhere else. This is why we don't try more restaurants here. It's such a pain. Paige wouldn't eat anything--she just cried--she was really tired--so we put her in her stroller and she fell asleep. Bella fell asleep in my arms. Lydia ordered food but wouldn't eat it because she was too tired. It was probably 9 at night--too late to eat @ a nice restaurant! After we raced to finish our food, we walked back to the B&B and went to bed.
Walking home from dinner. Paige fast asleep. Bella wide awake after having a nap during dinner. You gotta love her little smile!