We had travelled only about 500m from our overnight stay when we spotted the site for the local highland gathering. Around this time of year the gatherings are held. The circular,green, flat ground is surrounded by seats like a footy field might be, and the Highland activities are held in the centre. The ones here are held on the 4th weekend in August. Before the games the local men parade and claim a wee dram of whisky from each local supporting household. I'm not sure how this might help their physical activities later in the day.!
This local house made us smile as we thought of our boys
From there we decided to find a local cache and, on reading a nearby sign discovered that the flat topped hill across the mown green park was actually the site of an ancient fort -and used to have a church and garrison on top, and wall around the outer upper edge. .. so we followed the path to get a closer look, and scaled the sides to get on top-nothing to see except a few piles of rocks-but quite a challenge to get safely down.
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| site for the Highland games |
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| You can see the hill fort behind me |
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| This is the view from the top looking back towards the intersection of the roads where the sign is. We followed the curved avenue of lime trees to the path and then chambered up. |
We moved on to scenic bridges and quaint towns.
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| This bridge built for packhorses is thought to have been built in the 16th century. This is a real work of art with the stones supporting each other in arches. There used to be 3 arches together, but one was washed away during the muckle spate in the 1800s which was a huge flood caused by rapid melting of snow in the highlands and a consequent flood of water. |
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| this one is so unstable that you are not allowed to drive on it any more...but it appears that the local farmer uses it as an entrance to his home! |
This is apparently a great spot for fishing. There were heaps of flies in the air, and we did actually see some fly fishermen at their activities on the riverbank when we wandered over to read some signs about the local area.
We bypassed the local whisky distilleries in favor of a walk to the ruined Drumin Castle. A good amount of the stone from this castle was taken to build the nearby farmhouse. The rest has been stabilized so we could walk up the narrow stone staircase to the first level and picture what it would have been like. Animals were on the lower level then the people above. Walls were 2 yards thick and the staircases to go up to other levels are inside the walls.
As we wound our way up and down, we passed a ski resort ( not working right now). We drove past the black faced sheep wandering and feeding along the road, and the Highland cattle in the paddocks.
Our little car is not very keen on hills, and we felt a bit like the little engine at times ( I think I can, I think I can). The engine braking is also not good,
We spotted a little steam engine puffing below us at one stage and stopped to take a snap and watch it back up and lock onto some carriages to take them for a ride.
Then finally found our home for the next night at Aviemore.this is obviously a ski resort town. Many ski and walking shops. Snow can still be seen in patches on the higher spots.
We enjoyed a spot of people watching and yet another cider as we waited for a seat at the very popular and thriving Italian ristorante. Parents trying to convince their kids not to wake them too early in the morning, some very hard working bar staff, groups of young girls out for a good time, couples on holidays and business people bringing their acquaintances to the best place to eat in town on a Monday night.
As it is still light till late,we took the opportunity to look for a local cache, and discovered a lovely riverside rambling path which wound along beside the fast moving, but glassy topped river, and then cut in under the railway line along the old loggers road. This is now a popular riding and walking path it seems, and if the glimpse we had is anything to go by it would be worth spending some time on it.
We walked back,enjoying the dusky views of the brown topped mountains as the sun started to colour the clouds and checked out the various mountain rescue vehicles in the capark as we passed the italian place. This roundabout is just for you Andrew M.
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