Summer Holiday - Days 4 - 7

Day 4: After picking up the rental car in Edinburgh I drove about the city with Paul navigating the best way to get out of the city centre and find our way across the Forth Road Bridge that crosses over the Firth of Forth (a really fun thing to say, especially fast). I'll admit I was a bit terrified driving on the wrong side of the road and on the wrong side of the car in a busy city.  Paul gently suggested I was too close to the curb but I felt I was too far the other way. When my mirror on the left side of the car banged into something I had to admit he was right and tried to adjust my position in the lane.  I wasn't always successful at that. And right turns and roundabouts were a challenge but I did get us safely out of the city. After stopping for tea and cakes we moved on quite easily, stopping only at Aviemore (a beautiful Scottish village) before reaching Kita McIntosh and Ken McInnes' Bed and Breakfast. The scenery was jaw-dropping beautiful. Our final destination that night was another room owned by Kita called The Wee Residence. Maybe wee but perfect and homey!

The Wee Residence

Day 5:  Woke to a sunny day!  The car safely parked at the Wee Residence we walked to the Foley Store and I had a fortifying breakfast of haggis, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggs and tattie scones at the Waterfall Cafe.  I mailed postcards and then we began our journey to see Loch Ness and Foley Falls.  We walked down to Lower Foley and sat at the edge of the loch.  I believe it is magical there.  We then walked up toward Upper Foley to see the top of the falls that flows into Loch Ness.  Yes, definitely magical!  The day ended with driving (yes I drove again...) to Dores where a man sells Nessie's made out of clay next to the edge of the loch and with a delicious dinner of spinach and pine nut cannelloni and a dessert I still dream about from time to time. It was a Guiness parfait with black currant compote and burnt toffee.  

 Day 6:  Drove in to Fort Augustus for souvenirs. The ride through the mountains was gorgeous.  Had to stop several times just to take it all in.  A camera can never really show the grandeur but I took pictures of it all as a reminder of scenes I never want to forget.  We came back to have lunch with Kita at the Whitebridge Hotel.  Vegetable Risotto...warm and filling...then drove to Kita's house and took many pictures of her delightful garden. Stopped at the Boleskine Church and Cemetery.  Dinner at the Wee Residence of soup and homemade bread from Ken.

Day 7:  We traveled back to London today. First we said a tearful goodbye to the rental car at the airport in Inverness.  Then we spent awhile in Inverness searching for purses handwoven in the outer Hebrides.  I have one and some of my family wanted one too. Then tea and teacakes at Victorian Market. And finally a train ride back to Edinburgh that was one of the highlights of the trip.  Granted, part of the time we didn't have a proper seat but it didn't matter. The view of the countryside was too perfect to worry about seating.  Back to Edinburgh, bus to the airport and a delayed flight back to London.