Highlands pure

Today:

Scottish Landscape

Absolutely stunning! The drive through the Highlands was so beautiful. Photos simply cannot capture this landscape and vastness! We fell in love at first sight!

Small Town

We stopped in a small town, drawn by the old stone bridge over the raging river. The stone bridge dates back to the 13th century. We lingered there for a while, watching the power of the water.

Urquhart Castle

The origins of this very well-preserved castle ruin date back over 1000 years. Urquhart Castle was once one of the largest castles in Scotland and repeatedly the site of bloody clashes between the British and the Scots. In 1692, the fortress was almost destroyed to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The remarkable feature of this castle is its spectacular location right on Loch Ness.

Culloden Battlefield

On April 16, 1746, the Battle of Culloden took place here. 5000 Jacobites/Scots fought against 9000 British government soldiers. The Scots aimed to restore the Scottish royal family of the Stuarts to the British throne. However, outnumbered, 1500 Scots lost their lives and lost the battle within 45 minutes. The dead still lie under this field in mass graves today. The location of the killed British soldiers (around 100) is still unknown. Following this, significant changes occurred for the local Scots: the power of the clans was drastically curtailed, traditional Highland clothing was partially banned, and the Gaelic language was prohibited.

Both visits were at historically significant sites and impressed us in very different ways. On a trip through Scotland, these places were essential for us to better understand the history of this country.

Tomorrow we head for an overnight stay on the Isle of Skye until Friday. We are very excited.