The new day began with fruit at breakfast ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050374 followed by malt whiskey marmalade ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050375 to go with the usual spreads ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050376 and breads ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050377 as I had pancakes with an egg ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050378 and mushrooms ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050379 and Suzanne had a more Scottish breakfast ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050380 before we began our morning drive over hills and through countryside before taking a tiny road that ended with this old still ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050381 near the GlenFarclas distillery ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050382 where our tour began with views of the two old buildings ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050383 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050384 before we entered the malt intake ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050385 and saw the storage ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050386 as well as some malt itself ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050387 and a description of the process by which barley is allowed to germinate but only so much ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050388 and then we went to the malt mill ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050389 where we saw the mill machine ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050390 and the malt dresser ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050391 and the de-stoner which was demonstrated by our guide (we were the only two on the tour) ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050392 and then we saw where the grist (for the mill) comes from ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050393 and looked into a mash tun that had just been cleaned ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050394 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050395 and one that still had some liquid in it ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050396 complete with its lid to which the foam had spread ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050397 and another in similar state ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050398 before our tour continued with the washing ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050399 and into the tun room ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050400 as we looked at the depth of the vats ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050401 and finally made our way into the room of stills ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050402 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050403 and saw the output ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050404 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050405 including these spirits. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050406 Because of the farm history, we also saw this cheese press from the past ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050407 and after a final building, we headed back to Loch Ness ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050408 where we were met by Nessie in two forms ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050409 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050410 as we waited for our ship to come in ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050411 admiring the loch ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050412 and its most famous character ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050413 as Suzanne became photographer for these folks ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050414 and our ship landed ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050415 and so once on board we took this self portrait ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050416 as we left the shoreline ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050417 and said good bye to Nessie who moved while we were away ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050418 and sailed out on the loch ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050419 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050420 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050421 where the water is murky from the peat ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050422 as Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050423 and I ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050424 enjoyed the scenery ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050425 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050426 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050427 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050428 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050429 before we caught our first view of Urquhart castle which was to be our destination ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050430 and noted the neighborhood ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050431 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050432 before we zeroed in ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050433 and left the water ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050434 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050435 for group photos of the castle ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050436 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050437 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050438 before we pulled on shore and saw the welcoming sign ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050439 and then made our way past the well ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050440 to the draw bridge ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050441 and caught this map of highlights ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050442 as we crossed the draw bridge ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050443 and came to the gate house ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050444 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050445 with its guard room ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050446 as we looked in ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050447 and saw the prison cell ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050448 which looked eerie without ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050449 or with flash ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050450 but the views to the loch were quite nice from all directions ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050451 as we read of the great raid of 1545 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050452 and wondering if this boat was planning a future raid ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050453 before we visited the great kitchen ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050454 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050455 and the great hall ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050456 the chapel ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050457 and the Grant tower ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050458 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050459 around which was this wonderful view ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050460 with a sense that the water was neither murky nor deep at the shoreline ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050461 as we came to the water gate ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050462 and read about the great glen ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050463 and observed it for ourselves ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050464 along with some history of the Catlee by the centuries ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050465 which we now looked down upon in fairly magnificent view ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050466 as Suzanne took this photo of me with excellent background ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050467 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050468 and we then admired this remarkable weapon of mass destruction ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050469 from which people were fleeing ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050470 which we understood when we read about the mechanism. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050471 The scenery remained impressive ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050472 convincing us that it was a highland icon ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050473 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050474 and a great setting ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050475 before we stopped at the snack shop for this lunch for Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050476 and this for me ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050477 and enjoyed the views ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050478 before taking this self portrait as we headed back towards the ship ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050479 and recorded the shoreline while waiting ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050480 for the boat to collect us ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050481 and once we were on our way, we watched some fishermen in small boats ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050482 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050483 before reconnecting with Nessie ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050484 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050485 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050486 in different forms. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050488

After a break, we went to the local pub for dinner since all other restaurants seemed to have no room for us and read the menu ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050489 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050490 before Suzanne ordered her beer ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050491 and I ordered mine ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050492 and then her fish and chips ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050493 and my pizza made for our last dinner in Inverness ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050494 but while eating I noticed the decibel meter over the bar ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050495 and then pealed the label off of her beer so that we could have the complete picture. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050496