Inverness

On our first weekend in Scotland, we drove to Inverness.  Instead of taking the ferry, we opted for the Skye Bridge which took us on a very scenic drive through some new territory.

Apparently, this bridge (opened in 1995) had once a very contentious toll which has since been abolished.  The toll was 11 pounds ($17)!  The bridge really isn't very long so it is ridiculous that they ever charged that much.

Eilean Donan Castle, viewed from the Skye Bridge

We stayed at Rockville B&B in Gorthleck, Stratherrick, about a 20 mile drive south of Inverness, between Loch Ness and Loch Mhor.  Our host, Caroline, only has two rooms and we took the family room.  The second floor dining area looks out over the wooded hills and Finn enjoyed the rocking horse.

My only complaint about this B&B is the distance we had to drive to get anywhere.  It took a good 40 minutes to drive here from Inverness and there isn't much in the way of local amenities.  That night, we ate at the Whitebridge Inn, about five miles down the road.  The food was kinda bland.

I was reminded how older British people eat pizza with a knife and fork.

Older British folk, eating their pizza with a knife and fork.  

Younger American kid, avoids using a knife and fork for anything.

Caroline made a mean cooked breakfast.

We were in the mood for something different, so we decided to head to Fort George.  

Fort George was built in response to the Jacobite rising (battles fought in attempts to return King James (House of Stuart) to the throne of England).  However, the rising was pretty much over and done by the time it was complete and the fort has never seen conflict.  It operates today as an army barracks and, on our visit, we saw soldiers getting ready for what looked like a significant and rainy hike.

Surprisingly, the fort was interesting and fun for all of us.  Even the pre-tweenager was entertained for a good while.  Oddly enough, Mary always wants the audio guide, and she actually listens to it.  It rained so we had to pay $10 each for souvenir ponchos.

The tea shop had yummy homemade soups and breads.

Finley, excited to sit in a highchair.

This sentence is my nails-on-a-chalk-board.

The views are impressive from every angle.

Mary, listening to her audio guide.

Finley, wondering what all those water droplets are.

Mary learns another meaning for the word magazine.  I took this photo because she said something really funny about it that made us laugh for a long time and I wanted to remember it.  

Now, I don't remember it.

We spent some time in Inverness, walking through the town and taking a longer walk by the river; a trail that goes on forever and takes you over bridges and into the woods.  We really liked Inverness; it is a much smaller city than I expected.  Inverness (meaning mouth of the river Ness in Gaelic) is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and a third of the Highlands population live here in the city.  MacBeth held a castle here in the 11th century and it is now a major college city.  The city is ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for quality of life and it was apparently ranked the happiest place in Scotland in some 2014 survey.  The population is only around 60,000, far fewer than I originally guessed. 

We ditched the "Fort George" ponchos and equipped ourselves with umbrellas from the pound store in town.  Only one of them fell to pieces within the first hour, so I think we got pretty good value for our money.  Andrew was quite impressed with the selection and quality of goods at PoundStretcher.

It was Father's Day, so we got a little fancy and ate at Dores Inn, the only pub and restaurant situated on the shores of Loch Ness.  The food was very good and so was the service.  

Loch Ness

Andrew had read about an interesting Titanic "museum" called Ship Space, so we headed there the next morning.  What is advertised as "An interactive and evolving maritime museum" on the Ship Space website, is also described as "a hobby gone mental...very dangerous for small children...a scrap yard" on one Trip Advisor review.

My impression was a little of both.  Around ten years ago, some guy bought a house for his growing family and began building an 88ft replica of the Titanic in his backyard.  In the years that followed, he has turned almost his entire house and the property grounds into a nautical themed museum, with a major emphasis on the Titanic.   He has obviously dedicated years of hard work, and all of his free time, to building this "museum".  I respect that.  However, the place was very rundown (maybe time to renovate the Titanic?) and the whole experience was just a little....odd.  

The "tea room" inside the Titanic.  Make yourself a free cuppa.  

Don't worry about the freaky mannequin and musty smell.

Be careful Mary!

Mary did enjoy some of the kids activities in the basement.

Lots and lots of information and newspaper cuttings.  And a lifeboat.

I urge you to visit the Ship Space website and check out his elaborate plans for the future (http://www.shipspace.co.uk/future-plans).  He is quite ambitious and I wish him good luck!  

We stopped to eat lunch at The Coffee Pot, then hit the Newsagent to stock up on Hula Hoops for our next drive. The cashier in the Newsagent was from Iowa, which was unexpected.

Finn really liked the British equivalent of Puffs.

Next up - Edinburgh!