Loch Ness
For my last day in Scotland, I decided to take a paid tour instead of trying to do it on my own. I booked a 12-hour tour that departed from Inverness, traveled past Loch Ness, then stopped for a tour of Eilean Donan Castle. Then we would cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye where we would stop at several locations.
The tour left from the Inverness bus station at 8:00 and was led by Chris who grew up in the Highlands and spent a lot of time on the Isle of Skye. We were in good hands! The weather gods decided we needed to experience typical Scotland weather so much of the day was spent in the clouds and rain.
We made a quick stop to see the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness before heading on to the Eilean Donan Castle which was about an hour and a half away.
Eilean Donan Castle
We arrived at Eilean Donan castle after a couple of roadside stops and bought tickets for a tour. It was a chilly and windy day with rain off and on. The castle has quite a fascinating history which can be read about here. Basically, the original structure was built on a small island in the early 13th century and was all but destroyed in the early 1700s. In 1911, the island was bought by LTC John Macrae-Gilstrap who restored the castle to its former glory. The family still owns the castle and occasionally uses it for family functions.
The self-guided tour takes you through most of the interior of the castle. Displays show how the castle would have looked “back in the day” while other areas seemed somewhat modern. There are recent family photos which is a stark contrast to the gorgeous stone walls and turrets. Photos were not allowed inside and the volunteers were very strict about keeping you moving along the intended pathway. You were also required to almost bathe in hand sanitizer each time you entered a new room. I had originally not planned on going inside but I’m glad I did. It was absolutely beautiful!
More photos of the castle
Click on the image to enlarge.
