Loching for Nessie and an Isle in the Skye

Heading from Dalkeith, south of Edinburgh, we took the highway to Inverness that passes through the Cairngorm National Park. Some snow dusted mountains appeared amongst others covered with autumn colour trees. We spotted some ‘highland coos’, long haired cows with horns. Our destination was the Clansman Hotel on Loch Ness right besides the water so we could keep an eye out for any strange shapes.

It seems the Icelandic trolls, who have been said to stack rocks that appear randomly around Iceland, have visited Loch Ness.

Looking over Loch Ness from the outside bar area as the mysterious fog blows over the water and then....

Found Nessie! A well used tourist attraction in the hotel’s grounds.

An eye witnesses account from someone travelling home at 1.30am after a few drinks.

Speaking of drinks, Loch Ness has their own brew.

Costly temptations in the hotel room which took up far too much desk space.



The following morning we visited the Loch Ness exhibition centre showing scientific evidence of the living things in the Loch and unraveling mysteries about possible sightings but also leaving open possibilities of a large fish in the Loch - probably large sturgeons. We also visited Urquhart Castle on the shoes of Loch Ness.

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. It’s history reveals constant battles between Scottish clans or between the English and the Scots resulting in centuries of bombardment.

On the road to the Isle of Skye

Eilean Donan Castle

Skye Lodge accommodation..cute looking but too tiny for 3 people and no where to sit except outside in the cold and rain.

At the top of the Isle of Skye

Quiraing mountain formations near the top of the Isle of Skye

Kilt Rock and waterfall on the east coast of the Isle of Skye

Kilt Rock has basalt columns formed from erosion. Apparently the Kilt Rock area was a stamping ground for Jurassic dinosaurs in Scotland with many bones found.

Mealt Falls and coastline

Old Man of Storr rocky outcrops. Patrick and I walked nearly 2 km up a steep rocky path to get to the rock formations and then it rained the whole way back down.

A red face from the uphill climb

A Da Vinci Code moment and a castle to call home

After a rather early start to the day (4am), a total self serve airport at Keflavík and a packed flight back to Edinburgh, its been nice having a more relaxed afternoon strolling the grounds of Melville Castle. On arrival at Edinburgh airport we picked up our car from Thrifty (had to upgrade so we could drop the car off in Glasgow, so had to get a Landrover Sports - all we need is the tweed peak caps and a head scarf and we will have the royal highlander look!

First stop on our itinerary was Rosslyn Chapel, famous for its inclusion at the climax of the Da Vinci Code and also for its unusual stone carvings inside the church (where no photos were allowed) that consisted of America’s maize, twisted vines, a green distorted faced character, and lots of small square carved symbols that cover the ribbed vaults of the ceiling that no one really knows what they are....but assume they are code for music or something else.

Rosslyn Chapel

After a light snack at the Rosslyn Chapel Visitor Centre, we headed to Dalkeith to Melville Castle on Melville Gate Road not far from the Melville Golf Centre, Melville Dykes Road, Melville Nursery and the Melville Inn.

The Landrover Discovery Sports to take us around Scotland for the next 6 days. All we need is the tweed cap and head scarf and we will look like royal highlanders.

In the foyer of Melville Castle

A real Melville next to a Viscount Melville (Dundas) who isn’t a real Melville but created a lot of namesake roads and places.

Sitting room

An icy start to the next morning



Our room at Melville Castle

Sculptures in the grounds