Road Trip - Drumnadrochit to Findhorn

A gorgeous breakfast at the 4-star B&B prepped me sufficiently for the drive to Findhorn.

I decided to head back south to the end of Loch Ness (a town called Fort Augustus), then around to drive up the other side - far fewer tourists here & a couple of tiny little roads that took you through gorgoeus countryside.

At Fort Augustus, I stopped to take a few snaps of the Caledonian Canal which links four lochs together. But then it was back into Betty, & heading off on the B862 along the eastern shore of Loch Ness. I pulled up at to look over Loch Knockie & the surrounding hillsides - beautiful! Then on to a stunning waterfall stop.

After that, it was on up to check out the Culloden battelfields that was the stage for the battle between the British troops & the Jacobites back in 1746. A good, but very expensive museum was attached which I decided to save money & not go in.

Then on the the Clava Cairns, one of the best preserved Bronze Age (about 2000BC) burial sites in the UK. Quite eerie really.

Finally, I found my way to Findhorn. And there I planned to stay for two nights...

The Road Trip - Glasgow To Oban

I was very excited about the idea of hiring a car & driving around the Scottish countryside all on my lonesome. The idea of being able to pull up anywhere off the beaten track & stay the night where I fancied was titilating indeed.
At Giffnock I was introduced to my new friend, a Nissan Micra that I later named Betty. We would be hanging out for 2 weeks in a bonding ritual few people get to experience. Margaret (thankfully) led me out of Glasgow (following her in my car) & I was then on my way to the western highlands.
I drove past my first lochs & drove even further until the first night I came upon a wee country town called Oban. It was hosting a highland games festival (which I didn't get to see) & was absolutely packed out. The only accommodation I could get was at this dingy (& I mean really skanky) B&B. I was exhausted from driving - hadn't done a long drive for quite a while - & just needed to eat & rest. It was until a little later, when the sun had gone down, that I realised how bad it really was. There was no heat coming from the heater & when I asked if it could be turned on, it was, only to make a range of unusual noises (like indigestion) without producing any heater whatsoever. The woman host returned & exclaimed that I didn't need heat cause it wasn't that cold anyway. It was 8 degrees celcius! I was freezing my arse off under two doonas!! I was bloody cold & not at all amused by her comment!