Woolly says – We left John O’Groats as the sun was warming the morning air, with no way of going further up the country we were no on the way back, well back and across.
The costal drive was lovely with the sun warming us and providing a sparkling looking sea. I’d factored in two comfort breaks, as the tour guides say, for the long journey and Jo had broken them down into the time between hoping that Zoe our road trip driver wouldn’t realise quite how far she was driving. Our first stop was in the small town of Tain.
Tain is a royal burgh and parish in the County of Ross, in the Highlands of Scotland it was granted its first royal charter in 1066, making it Scotland’s oldest royal burgh.
The town Chapel was the centre of a sanctuary. Fugitives were by tradition given sanctuary in several square miles marked by boundary stones. During the First War of Scottish Independence, Robert the Bruce sent his wife and daughter to the sanctuary for safety.
Today it has the Scottish town characterises that we are getting used to, large Georgian buildings in brown stone, each and every one is so elegant to look at. We passed a large gothic looking memorial surrounded by fencing with workmen digging up the road before continuing up the high street. Handsome Jack found some floral delights for his nose as we went and was reluctant to leave them until Jo dragged him away.
At the corner of the High Street stood the towns two most impressive buildings, Tain Tolbooth and Courthouse, which was rebuilt in the early 18th century. And the historic Royal Hotel Tain.
It was time to get on with the journey, through forests and mountains we went with streams and lochs at every corner, we all sat peacefully watching the scenery evolve as the car wheels churned up mile after mile.
Pulling into a busy carpark everyone seemed very impressed with my chosen place of interest.
Impressed was an understatement it was absolutely stunning, a castle set on its own island with a wonderful bridge in a Loch, what isn’t to love.
Woolly says – Eilean Donan is a small tidal island situated at the meeting of three sea lochs (Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh) in the western Highlands of Scotland, about 1 kilometre (5⁄8 mi) from the village of Dornie. The lovely footbridge was a late attention only being connected to the mainland early in the 20th century.
The island’s original castle was built in the thirteenth century, it became a stronghold of the Clan Mackenzie and their allies, the Clan MacRae. The present day castle is Lieutenant Colonel John Macrae Gilstrap’s 20th century reconstruction of the old castle. Today the castle is owned by the grand daughter of the Lieutenants. We all stood looking at it for quite a while along with the other hundred or so tourists.
Jo, Mutt and I headed past the bridge to have a walk on the rocks as Zoe raced over the bridge towards the castle.
We joined her half an hour later and wandered round the perimeter enjoying the mountainous views, incredible.
Leaving Corgi features with Zoe, Jo and I headed into the castle. There was a wonderful entrance way bearing a Latin saying behind which was a small museum telling the castles story.
We arrived at a courtyard and stood admiring the buildings before heading up some steps and into the interior. NO PHOTO’S said the sign.
It was wonderful inside and very cosy and warm, with tartan everywhere and logs fires fully stacked each room was very much a Scottish family home feel to it including the portraits, both modern and ancient, lining the walls.
The bedrooms were beautiful but I daren’t try a bed out after yesterday’s telling off. Having passed through a kitchen set up we came to the end. I dawdled back to the car glancing back every few moments at the splendid site behind me.
We headed onwards mile after mile to our next accommodation for the next two nights.