A packed day in and around Loch Ness

So we picked up our rental car this morning and I took a few spins around the parking lot to practice being on the passenger side whilst driving AND driving on the left side of the road. We then headed out for the Culloden Battlefield, about 10 miles away. By the time we got there, I'd driven through at least half a dozen roundabouts, and I was frazzled and ready to hurl. (It would get better as the day wore on...)

The battlefield is the site of one of the final confrontations between Scotland and England (the Scots led by Bonnie Prince Charlie), and Scotland lost quickly and dramatically. The fields contain mass graves of the hundreds of those who fought and died that day in 1746. It's a beautiful spot, but sobering. 2nd pic is of the battlefield (sorry it's slightly out of order).

From there, a quick 5 minute drive to the Clava Cairns, the site of some burial chamber cairns that date back between 3000 and 4000 years. They look like big piles of stones but there is some meaning to it all, as the entrance pathways were built to line up with the setting sun on the winter solstice. Each of the three cairns is also surrounded by a ring of stones that remind the visitor of Stonehenge. cool spot! 1st pic is Chuck in one of the cairn entrance paths.

Then we drove completely around Loch (Lake) Ness. Loch Ness is about 25 miles long, less than 1 mile wide, and is the largest lake in Great Britain, containing more water than all other freshwater lakes in Great Britain combined. Yes, we saw the monster (that's me pointing to the exact spot). We stopped to visit the Loch Ness Monster exhibit hall, which was refreshingly NOT tacky. It provided lots of scientific information that basically dispels the idea that a monster could actually be there, while respecting the views of the people who have claimed to see something there. We also visited the ruins of the Urquhart Castle, which rests on a bit of land that juts into the lake, giving amazing views both north and south. There's a pic of the castle ruins as well.

So we put about 100 miles on the car; overall it was fine. Just disorienting to be on the wrong side all the time... Hopefully this will improve over the next few days.

Tomorrow: Isle of Skye! Hopefully we will have internet service, but not sure...