Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

This morning, our tour commenced in Fort Augustus in the Scottish Highlands. After departing our lodgings we headed north, tracking Loch Ness, with first stop at the scenic Invermoriston Falls.

Invermoriston Falls, Great Glen, Scotland

Next, continuing north for about 20 mins we arrived at Castle Urquhart, an excellent spot to view Loch Ness. Today, there was a medieval event in process at the Castle.

Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness, Scotland

Next we continued north to Inverness, Capital of the Highlands. Here guests shopped for clan tartans at Highland House of Fraser and then we had lunch.

River Ness, Inverness, Scotland

Next across the Moray Firth to Fortrose and Chanonry Point where we hoped to view dolphins but, sadly, they failed to show up.

Next we headed west to Muir of Ord where we stopped to photograph the Free Church of Urray, important in the family’s history.

Free Church of Scotland, Urray, Scotland

Next to nearby Glen Ord Distillery where we joined a tour lasting about 1 hour to learn about the making of Scotch whisky from malting and mashing through to fermentation, distillation and maturation. Glen Ord produces the Singleton brand which is aimed at the Far East market.A sizable distillery, producing about 5.0m litres p.a.

Tour Group at Glen Ord Distillery, Scotland

Next to a small village named Marybank where, with assistance from a very helpful local resident, we found our objective of a ruined cottage, formerly the home of an ancestor. We spent some time here taking photographs.

Mackay Cottage, Marybank, Scotland

Mackay Cottage, Marybank, Scotland

Finally, we moved on to Dingwall  and lodgings for the night at  Tulloch Castle Hotel, the main part of which dates from the 16th century.

Tulloch Castle Hotel, Dingwall, Scotland

Overall, a successful day with all objectives met.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland

This morning, I collected guests from Edinburgh Grassmarket and then drove north to the ancient Scottish capital of Stirling. Here we spent about 1 hour exploring the famous medieval castle which now features a heavily restored Royal Palace.

Main Entrance to Stilring Castle, Scotland

Royal Apartments, Stirling Castle, Scotland

Next we drove up the A9 to nearby Tullibardine Distillery where we availed of a distillery tour which lasted about 1 hour and concluded with tasting of two single malts.

Whisky Stills at Tullibardine Distillery, Scotland

Leraning about maturation at Tullibardine Distillery, Scotland

After a light lunch at Tullibardine we continued north to Dalwhinnie Distillery. Here, the group availed of  a tastings session (single malts).

Aftewr Dalwhinnie we continued north , via Spean Bridge, up through the Great Glen to Castle Urquhart on Loch Ness.Here we explored the castle, photogrpahed the views of Loch Ness together with a timely rainbow and then continued north to Inverness for refuelling. Finally we headed south to Speyside and our lodgings for the night at An Cala in Grantown-on-Spey.

Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness, Scotland

Rainbow over Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness, Scotland

Overall, a satisfying day with the tour achieving schedule. Tomorrow we visit two Speyside distilleries and then head south to Edinburgh.

Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on one of Scotland’s  most popular visitor attractions, namely Castle Urquhart in the Scottish Highlands near Inverness on Loch Ness. Of course, the main reason for the huge number of visitors each year is that this is the best site from which to view Loch Ness  and seek out it’s legendary monster.

Monster legends apart this is a quality site with much to offer including a short, introductory film, refreshment facilities, gift shop and stunning views over the Loch.

From a history perspective, there has been a fortification on the site for about 1500 years, dating back to Pictish  times. Like the vast majority of surviving stones castles in the British Isles, Urquhart has its genesis in the 13th century under Alan Durward and was extended by the powerful Comyns after 1275. Subsequent milestones:

• Oscillated between English and Scottish control during the 14th century Wars of Independence.
• Post 1390, the threat came from the Macdonald Lord of the Isles in the West of Scotland.
• Captured by the Macdonalds in 1452 but regained by the Scottish Crown four years later.
• Plundered by Clansmen in 1544-5
• Partly blown up by defenders at time of Jacobite uprising in 1689 to prevent opponents gaining advantage.
• Subsequently a deteriorating and romantic ruin.

The facities of this once great castle were extensive and included:

• Ditch and drawbridge.
• Gatehouse
• Guard Room
• Constable’s Lodging
• Water Gate
• Outer Close
• Chapel
• Great Hall
• Inner Close
• Grant Tower, as shown below. This is the most prominent feature and named after the Grant family who held the castle in the early 16th century.

The Grant Tower below attracts many visitors who climb the narrow stairs to the top to benefit from the stunning views over the loch.

Tower at Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness

Here is a view taken from a tour boat.

Castle Urquhart viewed from Loch Ness, Scotland

In summer time a piper can be spotted.

Piper at Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness

This is a trebruchet, a form of giant, medieval catapult which bombarded castles before gunpowder and cannon came into use.

Trebruchet at Castle Urquhart, Loch Ness

Whenever travelling along the Great Glen  I invariably include a visit to this site.