Inverness, loch Ness and surrounding areas, July 3, 2016

Our second stop in Scotland was at a port called Invergordon, which was near Inverness, and also Loch Ness.  This was an excursion day, and it was a full day, and well worth it.

 Our first stop was at Cawdor Castle, a privately owned castle still in the same family for several hundreds of years.  It's current occupant is the dowager countess Cawdor.

 This is the front door of the castle.

Inside it is completely furnished.  The countess actually lives here during certain times of the year but also has another home nearby.  The public tours help pay for the upkeep of the castle and grounds.

Lots of artwork, both old and new hang on all the walls.

  The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens, some of which can be see above.

 On the way out we were entertained by a piper.

 On the way to Loch Ness, we passed the site of the Battle of Culloden which was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745.  It was a short battle where the British Hanoverian Army totally slaughtered the Scotts.

 After a lunch at a local Inverness hotel, we continued our journey and had our first view of a misty Loch Ness.  Although we tried, we didn't see Nessie.

 Urquhart Castle, a large, ruined castle dating from 1509, overlooking Loch Ness,

A castle guide, dressed in the uniform of  a British officer. 

 The castle is spread out over a large area, but was destroyed in order to keep it out of the hands of the Jacobites.

One of our better selfie attempts.