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Snow Capped Cairngorms

Snow Capped Cairngorms, Scotland

 
 
Today, was the final day of our ancestry themed tour of Scotland. Having covered the personal ancestry connections we embarked on some sightseeing in northern Scotland around the Inverness area.
 
Departing our oodgings at Dingwall we drove east to Fort George which sits on a promontory in the Moray Firth. This is a massive construction which was completed in 1769 and remains almost intact. It ranks as one of the most outstanding  fortifications in Europe and comprises staff blocks, barrack blocks, powder magazines, ordnance and provision stores, a bakehouse, brewhouse and a chapel. The fort remains a British Army base to this day. A truly impressive edifice.
 
Fort George was completed in 1769 and was intended as a deterrent to Jacobite uprisings after their final defeat at nearby Culloden in 1746.
 
The Fort offers an excellent vantage point for viewing the Mora Firth and Chanonry Point opposite. We had the good fortune to view dolphins swimming in the water below the Fort walls.
Chanonry Point, Moray Firth

Chanonry Point, Moray Firth, Scotland

 
 
Fort George, Near Inverness

Fort George, Near Inverness, Scotland

 
 
Cannon at Fort George

Cannon at Fort George, Scotland

 
After leaving Fort George we drove to nearby Culloden Moor and the site of the last battle on British soil where on 16th April 1746 a British army commanded by General Cumberland defeated an army of Highlanders under Bonnie Prince Charlie and finally ended the threat of a Jacobite uprising which had persisted since 1689. The victors were ruthless, took few prisoners and aggressively hunted down Jacobite supporters in the local communities.
 
Culloden has an excellent Visitor Centre which provides a full exposition on the events leading to the battle and, of course, the battle itself.
 
Aided by clement weather we walked the battlefield and visited the key grave sites where the fallen were buried, mostly Jacobite as Government casualtities were light.
 
Memorial at Culloden Battlefield

Memorial at Culloden Battlefield, Scotland

 
 
Boggy Moorland at Culloden Battlefield

Boggy Moorland at Culloden Battlefield, Scotland

 
 
 
Next we drove a short distance to visit the ancient monments known as Clava Cairns, on the south side of the River Nairn. These burial chambers date from pre-2000 BC and are surrounded by stone circles. An intriguing site.
Clava Cairns, Prehistoric Site

Clava Cairns, Prehistoric Site, Scotland

 
 
Finally, we drove S.E. to destination of Tomintoul and lodgings for the night.

 

Mackay Gathering, Orrin Side

Mackay Gathering, Orrin Side, Scotland

 

This morning, we departed Tulloch Castle Hotel and then drove a few miles west to the upscale town of Strathpeffer  which boasts a few luxury hotels and a Spa. No doubt latter was the catalyst for the holiday business dating back to Victorian times. Here we visited the Mackays Hotel to explore any possible family connections.

Mackays Hotel, Strathpeffer

Mackays Hotel, Strathpeffer, Scotland

 

 

Strathpeffer,Highlands Region

Strathpeffer,Highlands Region, Scotland

Next to a 10.30am appointment at Orrin Side near Marybank where there was a gathering of extended family as per image at top of this post. This meeting lasted about three hours at end of which we visited two local burial grounds with known family connections.

Orrin Side, Near Marybank

Orrin Side, Near Marybank, Scotland

The first burial ground was at Urray West Parish Church (Church of Scotland).

Urray West Parish Church, Highlands

Urray West Parish Church, Highlands, Scotland

 

Second burial ground was Urray Old Burial Ground where, unfortunately, fallen trees had damaged the family headstones.

Urray Old Burial Ground, Highlands

Urray Old Burial Ground, Highlands, Scotland

 

Next we drove back to Marybank to photograph the local Primary School which an ancestor attended over 100 years ago.

Marybank Primary School, Highlands

Marybank Primary School, Highlands, Scotland

 

Our final visit of the day was the pleasant, small town of Beauly  which has a long history dating back to the establishment of a Priory in the 13th century. Here we visited the Priory ruins and the town centre before returning to Dingwall and lodgings at Tulloch Castle Hotel. Here is a video clip  of Dingwall with Ben Wyvis (mountain) in the distance.

Beauly Priory, Highlands

Beauly Priory, Highlands, Scotland

 
Ben Wyvis, Easter Ross

Ben Wyvis, Easter Ross, Scotland

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mackay Cottage, Marybank, Scotland

 

Mackay Cottage, Marybank

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

Tulloch Castle Hotel, Dingwall, Scotland

Overall, a successful day with all objectives met.