Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Snow Capped Mountains, Harris, Scotland

 This morning, we departed our lodgings at Tarbert, Harris and headed north to Isle of Lewis passing en-route through some stunning scenery entailing mountains topped with an overnight covering snow which reflected nicely in the sunlight. The tour progressed as follows:

• First destination was the new (founded 2008) whisky distillery known as Abhainn Dearg at Carnish on the west of Lewis which is at the end of a long and narrow road with no obvious signage. We eventually found the site and on second attempt were provided with a visit to the distillery operations and a sample of the new, three year old single malt.Interestingly, this distillery is close to the site where the set of famous Viking era carved chessmen were found buried on the beach area. We made some purchases of this unique and limited availability single malt.
• Next to the famous prehistoric, standing stone site at Callanish.
• Next to the Gearrannan Black Houses, a former community of traditionally built stone houses with thatched roofs. This site provides a tangible link with traditional island lifestyle of fairly recent times.
• Next to the Carloway Broch, a former high status dwelling with a history dating back perhaps some 2000 years.
• Next to Shawbost and a water powered mill and kiln dating from the Norse or Viking era, about 1200 years ago.
• Next to the Blackhouse Museum (former island house) where we learned more about the use of peat for fuel and toured the museum with authentic sights and smells from a bygone era.
• Finally, we returned to Tarbert in readiness for our departure for Skye in the morning. 

Dram of Whisky at Abhainn Dearg Distillery, Scotland

Inside Abhainn Dearg Distillery, Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Outdoor Boy Band, Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Prehistoric Stone Circle at Callanish, Scotland

Gearrannan Black House Village, Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Carloway Broch, Lewis, Scotland

Norse Mill and Kiln, Lewis, Scotland

This morning, we departed our lodgings in the pleasant Scottish Borders town of Annan and then drove 6 miles to our first destination of Kirkpatrick-Fleming where we explored the burial ground and successfully located the grave-marker of John Gilchrist and other family members.

Annan Town Hall, Annan, Scotland

Gilchrist Ancestry, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Scotland

Nest we headed north with first stop at the quaint heritage village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond. We had lunch here and visited the small church which has a Viking era burial in the churchyard.

Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond, Scoitland`

Next we continued north via Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. At the latter we called in at the Visitor Centre.

Piper at Rannoch Moor, Scotland

View from Rannoch Moor, Scotland looking South

View of Glencoe, Scotland

Next, we continued north,past Fort William and up the Great Glen tracking a string of lochs to our destination for the night of Fort Augustus on the southern top of Loch Ness. After checking into our lodgings we had  an enjoyable meal at the Bothy Restaurant.

Caledonian Canal,Fort Augustus, Scotland