Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Loch Carron

This evening, I am posting information on Loch Carron in the western Scottish Highlands.I ivisited this area recently after a lapse of a couple of years. In the intervening period not much has changed.

Loch Carron is a large Sea Loch where the River Carron enters the Atlantic ocean. Strung out along the loch side is a pleasant village with a number of small shops including a tea shop and restaurant which I patronise when possible.  There are a number of guest houses and B&B establishments which reflect the popularity of this pleasant vacation area.

At the end of the village is the famous Lochcarron Weavers, a  Highland wear and tartan shop from which can be sourced a wide range of specialist tartans, kilts and other items. At the back of the shop is a traditional skilled weaver working on his loom manufacturing tartan cloth.

McLean Tartan

Lochcarron Weaver

Overall, Loch Carron and Lochcarron are worthy of a visit when in the West Highlands.

Elsewhere today:

• I parted company with my latest tour group at Edinburgh Airport early this morning and then returned home just before lunch after a very successful small group tour for a family group from Switzerland.
• Spent most of the afternoon engaged with planning new tours and responding to new enquiries coming in.
• Posted information on Wallace family history to my Glasgow Ancestry blog.

Lots more to keep me busy tomorrow with preparations with upcoming tours.

Heavy rain this evening in Glasgow.

This morning, we departed Broadford on Isle of Skye promptly at 9.00am and drove across the Skye Bridge through Kyle of Lochalsh to Eilean Donan Castle, home to the Chief of Clan Macrae. Unfortunately, the Visitor Centre and Castle were not scheduled to open until 10.00am so we consoled ourselves with photographs of this iconic site in the morning sunshine and then moved on, tracking Loch Duich to Invermoriston.

Eilean Donan Castle in Sunshine

Eilean Donan Castle in Silhouette

At Invermoriston we availed of a brief stop to view/photograph an ancient and picturesque bridge at Invermoriston Falls.

Invermoriston Bridge

Next we moved on up the Great Glen to Castle Urquhart where stopped to view the famous loch from this excellent vantage point which is of historical interest in its own right. We also had a spot of lunch at the Castle Vistor Centre.

Castle Urquhart

Our next stop was Drumnadrochit to view the Loch Ness Monster, well sort of! 

Loch Ness Monster

 Then on up to Inverness, capital of the Highlands and on to our next stop at Culloden Battlefield.

Culloden is an iconic site and important part of Scotland’s history. It was here in 1746 that the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie were finally defeated by the Hanoverians under General Cumberland. Here there is an excellent Visitor Centre.

Culloden Battlefield

Our final stop was the Clava Cairns, a prehistoric site dating back about 4000 years comprising burial cairns and associated stone circles.

Tour Group at Clava Cairns

Finally, we checked into our lodgings at the Royal Highland Hotel. Tomorrow,we have an early start in order to cover a full itinerary including St Andrews.