Leaving Braemar was the best unplanned plan we could have made as we continue to outrun Storm Babet.
Today we retreated to a part of the northernmost Scottish mainland.
After Inverness, we traveled north to a small village on Loch Broom called Ullapool. This was our first real taste of breathtaking Scotland, at least, for me it was.
Steven put it nicely into words when I asked if anyone wanted to pull over to jump out of the car, yet again, and snap a picture. He simply said, “It’s impossible to take a photo of this.”
I agree wholeheartedly...but we still tried.
The unwavering magic remained outside of Ullapool where we saw our first rainbow...and the thing just stuck around all day long. Everywhere you turned...rainbow. Castle. Rainbow. Unreal.
From Ullapool, I insisted we continue north to Smoo Cave just outside of Durness. Not sure why, I just kinda love the name.
It was 68 miles and nearly two hours of a single-track roads with intermittent passing places.
Not a huge deal since we’re visiting in the off season and there was little traffic with which to contend, but it is slow-going, which, I think, plays to all of our advantage because we’re here to see Scotland, not to scream through it.
The cave was well worth the stop, thank you very much! Yes, it was cold, about 40 degrees, but we hiked the Smoo staircase down to Smoo beach, across the moving Smoo bridge, and into the giant mouth of Smoo to check out the hidden Smoo waterfall. Smoo-tacular!
We also finally found the furry Highland Cows! I was far too excited about this and whipped a U-turn for a totally unoriginal, but absolutely necessary photo op.
On the way back down south to our home for the night, The Foulis Castle Cottage, we drove past sandy beaches, black water rivers, stone walls for days, fluffy shpigs, babbling brooks, and probably Smurf Village.
And...AND...Steven hit the only curb for 200 miles in Tongue so were even again at 5! BAHAHA!
This entire drive today was awe-inspiring. I now see why people are so deeply touched by Scotland.
Tomorrow we’ll see if Nessie is a little more extroverted than Sasquatch was this past summer... Loch Ness cruising on our way to the Isle of Skye!
コメント