Inverness (May 2018)
The beautiful view from the top of Inverness castle.
Looking towards the Moray Firth, with snow still on the distant mountains.
Double Yellow Line at Culloden.
On the battlefield at Culloden, scene of the last pitched battle in Great Britain, in 1746, between the Jacobites (fighting to restore the deposed Stuart monarchy) and government troops of the Hanoverian King George II.
Up to two thousand solders - the vast majority Jacobites - are still buried in mass graves here and it has a very haunting feel, especially with the heavy clouds on the day I visited.
It's rumoured that on the anniversary of the battle ghostly solders rise from their graves to refight the battle. While I was walking the battlefield I thought I heard a man shouting, but no-one was near by. A cock crowed somewhere just afterwards, so it may have been that. Anyway, it spooked me a bit.
The little cottage was there at the time of the battle (though I think some restoration work was done on it later)
There was a very definite ominous feel.
Stones mark the locations of mass graves. This one says, very simply, "Field of the English. They were buried here". Government troops killed in the battle were interred here.
A flag marking the original line of the government troops at the start of the battle.
A stone marking the burial place of soldiers from various clans (“Mixed Clans”). Someone had left a flower, some stones and a piece of tartan.
A path crosses the battlefield.
Left at the main memorial cairn on the battlefield. Every year on the anniversary of the battle a memorial service is held.
You can see how wet the battlefield was in this part. Boggy conditions created problems in the Jacobite lines.
Flowers left at the memorial stone for clan Cameron.
Lord George Murray was one of the Jacobite generals. He survived the battle.
Our blood is still our fathers.
Part of the Interpretive centre for the battle. It’s been carefully designed to fit into the landscape.
Sun beams coming through the brooding clouds over the battlefield as I was leaving.
Inverness castle in the late evening sunshine.
This was a lovely walk along the River Ness.
Walking along the Caledonian canal that links Scotland's west and east coasts.
In Tomnahurich Cemetery, which is built on several levels on a strange little hill. Locals call it the Hill of the Fairies and it definitely has an odd feel to it.
An unusual stag carving on a grave in the cemetery.
The days started to brighten up as I walked along the canal.
The end of the Caledonian canal.
Walking back into Inverness from the end of the Caledonian canal, quite a line-up of spires.
Cruising along Lough Ness
Looking back as we cruised the lough.
A weird optical illusion! This bottle of beer is actually sitting on the white surface but it appears to be hovering.
Beautiful hills and mountains in the distance.
Famous Urquhart Castle on Lough Ness.
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Inverness. This was close to where I was staying, by the River Ness.
Impressive clouds over Inverness on my last night.
