FORT AUGUSTUS and the LOCH NESS

Day 114

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORAG AND NASS!!!! BIG HUGS TO YOU BOTH!!!!! xxxxxxxxxx

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Scottish Highlands
Fort Augustus
Saturday

We left the Euro Hostel with our packs and ventured off to the Haggis Office to go on our SKYE tour. Our massive group (about 100 people all standing in the rain out the front of the office) at first all looked pretty young 9in their 20's) and our only knowledge of the 3 day tour was that we needed a raincoat, warm clothes and an umbrella. And that we'd be staying in dorms. I was dreading it a bit really.....

But what the heck. The tour was two for one at £89 so what was there to lose?

Once we got separated into our tours i started to relax a bit more. There were a few people our age, not that it matters, because we're finding the young people are really great and seem to like talking with us and if they're feeling homesick they enjoy being around us..especially when we say we have four kids at home their age!

So the group was looking great. Then we met Tom and Russel, our tour guides, and talk about ideal for the job. They were a hilarious pair. They were so animated as they talked and so passionate, if not slightly biased, about Scotland.

Our first day getting to Port Augustus was adventurous. We packed a huge amount in, seeing the castles, scenery, going on walks, learning about the stories of William Walace (the inspiration for Braveheart) and going for a 'wee walk' again!

The scenery in Scotland..especially up here, is just so green and gorgeous. Mind you, it'd want to be, as they have so much rain! It's mid summer now, and it's rained every day we've been in Scotland. Imagine what it must be like in Winter!! And the days are so long as well...the sun comes up at 4am and goes down about 10.30pm!!! In winter they only have about 4 or 5 hours of sunlight so it makes up for it doesn't it!?

We also learned a lot about the Scottish clans. In particular the CAMBPELLS.

The Campbells were so hated!!!!! And they were so brutal!!!!! Apparently up in the highlands, in a place called Glencoe they literally killed off the clan of the McDonalds after being ordered by the Governor at the time to do so...and they did it in such a sneaky way...by asking if they could stay in their house..so they were given hospitality by the McDonalds then killed them by slitting their throats in the dead of the night!!!

After that there was complete rivalry between the two clans. The Campbells were hated basically because they were always on the winning side. Often in battles putting one son on one side and another son on another side so they always had a Campbell on the winning side!!!

There was even a local Scottish pub, open today, run by the McDonalds which we passed, that said 'No English, No Tribals and No Campbells!' And apparently an american guy went to check in there recently and when he gave his name as a Campbell, the owner literally said, 'Sorry, you can't stay!!'......

Funny hey.....that the rivalry runs so deep. The Scottish seem to keep their grudges forever. We saw it over and over again..with the McRae's and the McKenzies as well when we went to Eilean Donan Castle on Skye.

Not good to be a Campbell in the Highlands of Scotland!!!!! After that i kept seeing all the scottish links to this name, a name of my grandmoter!!!!!

We arrived at our 'logdings' that night. And it was gorgeous. And...it was called Morag's Lodge!!!! I couldn't believe it. After thinking of Morag all day and knowing it was her birthday and couldn't get reception as we were travelling we end up staying in a lodge of her name!! I messaged her to tell her this....so exciting. I know she has Scottish heritage on her father's side...so there's lots to talk about when we get home.

We found we were in a four bed room with another Australian couple who were really nice. Pat and Desiree.

And put down our stuff and went exploring.......cos, we head Nessie might be out!!!! Funny too...i always imagined the Loch Ness to be this huge river..or Loch as they call it. And yet...it's not that wide. We walked down and saw it was only about 50m wide from where we stood. It was all fuzzy too..and smokey looking....very good weather for Nessie to appear.....

Whoooo.......

We took pics..and of the river system the way it has gates on the levels of the river...so fascinating. Called Locks apparently.

Nessie did appear......................but it was a metal one..hehe

When we got back Russel told us we were going to get a glimse of Nessie tomorrow, when we are on our way to Skye.....can't wait! :-)

After a dinner of pasta and salad we headed out to a 'real scottish hut' to learn how to fold a quilt..and to see what was underneath!!!!! Guess what IS underneath??? I'm going to give more secrets away....NOTHING! Nup. Don't wear a thing under and you're nto a man if you do! So there you go.

We did learn that the Scottish kilt is made out of one piece of tartan material (that is different depending on the clan) that is as long as the length of a room!

Such a simple way they do it too..and the way a woman used to wear her clothing was interesting too.

It was a great night with this old scotsman telling us all the folk stories...

After that we headed back to the hostel and watched Braveheart!!!!!! (Again, the films, according to the locals that know, is not entirely correct..but they all say that!

What a day..and night. We slept like logs. And didn't care about sharing a room with anyone else....so that was an accomplishment in itself!

Tomorrow..Island of Skye..