Saturday 6th October – distance travelled 176 miles
Today started off drizzling, after a cooked breakfast got most of the luggage in the car before the rain became too heavy.
Fortunately it eased off as we headed back down the twisty single track road for 47 miles that we had travelled up on and encountered the Stags, this time I was behind the wheel.
Journey to Granttown-On-SpeyRainbow on journey to Granttown-On-SpeyJourney to Granttown-On-Spey
We stopped at Granttown On Spey for lunch in the cafe we visited and liked last time and did some window shopping.
Gavin drove the rest of the way to Pitlochry where we had fun trying to park and then checked into a really small hotel room. Dinner was in the noisy hotel restaurant being too tired to go anywhere else.
Saturday 29th September – distance travelled 167 miles
Woke up this morning to heavy rain, another lovely breakfast at the lodge before checking out and squeezing everything into the car.
The plan was to make out first stop at the Nevis Range and take a gondola to the top, it was so misty it didn’t look a good option, we went anyway and found the gondolas were not running due to the high winds.
Ben Nevis Range
So we headed off to our second stop, the commando memorial at Spean Bridge, the grey day and drizzle seemed to give it added meaning, this was a quick 10 minute stop due to the conditions.
Commando Memorial
Next on the agenda was Fort Augustus for some lunch, it was sunny but cold when we arrived, but by the time we had parked and got to the canal and locks the rain had started again. We both had warming Tomato, Vegetable and Lentil soup and as we headed back out into the now heavier rain we got to see the final lock gate and road open onto Loch Ness.
Fort Augustus – Caledonian CanalMe in Fort AugustusGavin in Fort AugustusLunch – Tomato, Veg & Lentil soup
Our next stop was a short distance away at Invermoriston Falls, the rain had eased off and we had a walk through the forest to see the falls and summer house. Unsurprisingly the rain started again as we got back to the car.
Invermoriston FallsGavin at Invermoriston Falls
A couple of stops to view Loch Lochy and Loch Ness later and we came to Dingwall where we stocked up at Tesco for the week. It was 5.30 by now so a visit to the cafe for tea was a must.
Loch LochyLoch Ness
Gavin took over the driving from Dingwall, Tom Tom said 83 miles, 2 1/2 hours to go! It actually took longer as 50 of those miles were on a single track road, tricky in the fading light and we had to make stops firstly for Stags in the road and then again for cows in the road!
Stag crossing!
We arrived at Rhianchatel House, our home for the next week, at 9pm, quickly unloaded the car and got our bearings before some crumpets and bed.
