Inverness and Loch Ness

A quiet day - at last - today. A late start allowed a quick walk around the area by our Hotel. Up to the Castle with great views in the clear sunshine!

 Our hotel - the Best Western Palace

Then a short Coach trip to pick up a pleasure cruiser up Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle.

Then the short Coach transfer back to our hotel to devour our Tesco sarnies before a stroll along the Ness Trail along the banks the River Ness

 Inverness Cathedral

 Modern Theatre

 One of the pedestrian bridges over the Ness

 Swimming Pool

 Botanic gardens

Back to the Hotel for - at last - a sensible for us dinner time of 6 30pm as tomorrow we are off befoe 9am to Kyle of Lochalsh on the Kyle train line.

Whilst the food at the Palace is not up to the superb food at Glenspean Lodge, overall we prefer the Palace due to its central location, great room and INTERNET!

To and in and around Fort William

 On Wednesday we left Edinburgh for Glasgow and then onto the West Highland line to Fort William. 

Once out of Glasgow the scenery was spectacular. We travelled past Gareloch and Loch Long and then over a pass to Loch  Lomond.

 From here we crossed the desolate Rannock Moor the highest part of the line at over 1,300 feet. Then we continued on to Fort William and by coach to our hotel at Roy Bridge – a station we had passed through 15 minutes before arriving at Fort William!

The hotel is an old private hunting lodge and a bit too twee for us. Wi Fi does not extend to our room despite it being promised and we have been given twin beds and a shower rather than a double and bath.

On Thursday we headed off to Oban  for a look around the town and then caught a ferry to the island of Mull.

Oban is a pretty small town where family Peeling stayed (in this Hotel) in 1967!

So onto the Cal Mac ferry to Mull which took around 45 minutes and was cheap compared with the IOW!

We knew we would be late back so decided to have fish and chips in the ship's cafe rather than an 8pm dinner at our hotel - not bad but a bit pricey at £10!

Then on to Duart Castle on Mull - only 10 minutes by coach which travelled with us on the ferry. Castle was ok but we had great views of Ben Nevis!

Bluebells

 And so back to Craignmure and a ferry back to Oban and the longish drive though superb scenery to our hotel

Ballachulish bridge - was a ferry last time IB visited Scotland

On Friday we visited Neptune Staircase - a flight of locks on the Caledonian Canal

Then off to Fort William for a look around the town

Time for a cuppa before our 'cruise' on Loch Linnhe

Salmon farm

It was cold and a bit wet! 

Seals

Then onto Glen Coe where it was just a bit wet!

Glen Coe visitor centre

So time to move on to Inverness - we were picked up by our coach to go to Fort William for the steam Hauled Jacobite train to Mallaig. It was a clear if cold morning and we had great views of Ben Nevis from the hotel bfore we left.

 Fort William

Mallaig Station

Mallaig

Ferrys leave Mallaig for the Islans of Eigg, Much, Rum and Canna which are off the coast at Mallaig:

The highlight of the Jacobean Train is passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct which we visited by coach on our way to Inverness.

and from the Glenfinnan view point the view down the valley and Loch Shiel

It was stunning day and we stopped just ouside Fort William for some superb views on Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains

So on to Inverness where we checked into our Hotel, had an early dinner and time for stroll around the City.

The Best Western Palace Hotel - our river view room is in the right hand tower and overlooks the river and castle!
#