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On Wednesday we left Carbisdale Castle behind us and headed in the direction of Dornoch. Dornoch appears to be most famous
for its church in which Madonna's children were christened (note that that's Madonna, not Stocky's daughter) and for
the 12th best gold course in the world.
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| Clava Cairns |
We then went to see a bizarre stone, the Hilton of Cadboll, or at least its replica, which is being carved over a period
over years to be an exact match to a 7th century stone carved with Pictish designs (the Pictish being the "natives"
of Scotland). We didn't really get it either…
It was the day for old stones though and we next stopped for lunch at Bahuran of Clava to see the Clava Cairns. There are
a number of theories about these huge cairns and their purpose, which is not unlike Stonehenge as on the shortest day of the
year, the sun is perfectly lined up. These days modern witches still consider it a "sacred" place and we think we might have
seen one even…
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| Inside the main cairn |
After lunch we visited Culloden, the site of the last battle in Scotland, between Bonny Prince Charlie and the Duke of
Cumberland. It was quite moving to walk around the battle area, which is pretty much the same as it was 350 years ago, and
see where the clans stood to fight.
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| Zane and... hang on, what's that?... a creature in the loch? |
Then it was on to Loch Ness, another highlight and another hysterical scene thanks to Stocky. We all traipsed down to the
edge of the loch, one of the deepest in Scotland. Stocky didn't see the woman sitting reading a book, but she saw us, as we
lined up along the waters' edge and proceeded to act out one of the most ridiculous, absurd and hysterical dances yet. Yes,
we stood on the banks of the loch and did the "Ancient Pictish Nessie Dance", as invented by Stocky. It was once again brilliant.
Unfortunately, this was not one of the "9 out of 1000 times" that the dance worked to bring Nessie to the surface, and even
Zane getting into the five degree water for a swim didn't coax her out.
We stopped at the Clansman Centre next for a private explanation and showing of traditional highland dress, thanks to Tim
and Jenny who dressed up for us. I must admit to being glad I don't have to wear kilts made from 8 - 12 metres of fabric,
worn for six months at a time. At the turning of the seasons, the summer kilt was changed for the winter one (and vice versa)
and the family's off-season kilts were stored together in a barrel - after everyone peed on them! (Apparently the ammonia
killed off the bugs that had accumulated during the preceding six months!)
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| A clansman in full highland dress |
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