Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Highland Fling

As we left Skye, we stopped at Talisker Whisky Distillery but with our usual bad timing, it was still too early to taste. Jeanie and Robert made do with a sniff test of 3 single malts.

Back on the mainland we visited Eilean Donan Castle. It was furnished in the style of the 1930s and was complete with figures dressed like the butler, the cook and the lady of the house. Food (not real) for the evening dinner party was ready to serve. Fortunately after our big Scottish breakfast, we were not hungry.

We continued up the west coast along beside the beautiful Loch Torridon and ate a picnic lunch on the shore of Loch Maree. We stayed at Gairloch, a pretty little town with a lovely sandy beach.

The next morning we visited Inverewe Garden where a barren, windswept landscape had been transformed into a beautiful garden. There were even gum trees growing. This is possible due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The water was warm enough for a swim...... but we didn't.

On Saturday morning, we visited the Farmers' Market at Ullapool. THere were only about 6 stall but we were offered cheese and salmon to taste, bought shortbread cooked that morning and admired other local produce.

We made it to John o' Groats on Sunday and also to Dunnet Head which is really further north. We visited the Castle of Mey which had belonged to the Queen Mum. We heard some delightful anecdotes about her including being shown a handwritten message sent to the Queen on the Brittania via the coastguard asking her to bring more lemons for the drinks. Last night we had a G and T but we also had a 'grave shortage of lemons'.

4 comments:

Miss Di said...

Sounds like a really fantastic day. The recreation sounds most interesting. Oh and the farmers market. Yum. But I couldn't drink whiskey early in the morning (or even late in the evening) so it's a good thing I never fell through those stones to the delectable Jamie.

Anonymous said...

A SNIFF test? Since when does our family 'sniff' alcoholic beverages? Even close to breakfast time? I REALLY hope we will not be adopting that strategy for the next cocktail morning...

gailandrob said...

Sincere apologies for all we have offended. We are off home to follow the Queen Mum's practice of having a G and T before dinner.

theotherbear said...

Ugh, I wouldn't even be able to sniff whiskey at any time of day. I am surprised Dad didn't go for it though.

The farmers market sounds good.

I love a nice G&T but prefer limes. I have a grave shortage of limes at my place due to the bats eating the fruit off my tree.