dawned cloudy in Inverness. The thing did not look very well and it looked the sky, nothing seemed to get rid of a good shower.
But not going to complain. Was behaving quite well over time.
During the 3 day trip that we had not seen falling a single drop of water.
Too weird to be in Scotland, so I played.
At 9 am we went down to breakfast in the dining area of \u200b\u200bBannerman House and although the menu was not as complete as in the hotel the day before, we devoured everything we put on the table. Meanwhile Hugo, the cute and educadísimo dog owner, watching us, looking very slaughtered lamb to see if he liked something for breakfast.
Before leaving Loch Ness, we entered a supermarket chain Tesco in search of material to fill our sandwiches. We lacked
possessed hop like to see in a tray section of chorizo \u200b\u200bsausage with the flag of Spain in print. We jumped after him as if we 20 years without testing.
all to see later that the quality was pretty mediocre, but less is nothing.
was where we first saw loaves of bread like the ones here, and an exorbitant price: 1 pound each, or put another way € 1.46.
But we observe not only the bread.
In the United Kingdom also have rounded prices, but with Libra. Sometimes you lose track of the true value of its currency and tend to think in Euros which is a serious error.
Another example: fill the tank of the car cost us 56 pounds, which is almost 82 € (13,800 pesetas for !!!!!) is a paste eh?
The unleaded costs 1 pound a liter and diesel, 97 pence. It is not cheap to move there.
Loch Ness is within walking distance of Inverness. In fact the city takes its name from the River Ness, which crosses from north to south.
It took just over 30 minutes to arrive, but it was because there were roadworks and we had to deternos in a couple of times by the grace of the happy lights with castors.
stopped the car in one of the widening of the road which borders the Loch Ness and this was our first contact with the most famous and legendary lake that exists on earth.
In that same moment, a mist came down and began to fall light rain that gave him look even more scary if possible.
all know the mystery surrounding this lake, especially for its elusive tenant: the Loch Ness monster, known as Nessie .
Legend or not, the Scots have known as the myth of the stupid, squeeze, orienting it so blatant tourism. Examples of this are the many portraits of Nessie found throughout the perimeter of the lake and which serve for the tourists, as there is with the Clansman Hotel .
We stopped at the Clansman Hotel for two main reasons:
1) is one of the best places to buy souvenirs throughout Scotland and ...
2) From there the boats leave the company Jacobite, making short cruises on the lake and depart every two hours.
Tickets can be purchased on the spot and a one-hour ride costs 9 pounds per person. It is very expensive when you consider the experience reultante to navigate those waters.
After buying some souvenirs for colleagues and family, we had time to poke around in the vicinity of the hotel and make us a patriotic deck photos.
The hour of departure of the boat so we headed to the small dock that was in front of the hotel, which was accessed through an underground tunnel that left the road above our heads.
Once on the other hand, we had the opportunity to get closer to the shore the lake.
At that time, I was seized with an uncontrollable desire to touch the water to see if it was as cold as they said. And not only played, but also drank it while Mari Carmen's face looked at me with astonishment.
The water was good, but actually was icy. If it is true that there Nessie, I hope that in time scales not leave me, or I get green skin, or fattening 2,500 kilos of a sudden.
At 11.45 am, climbed aboard the ferry where we met with three English, one boy and two girls in Murcia that like us, were eager to talk to someone who does not do so in English, or worse, in Gaelic.
Along with them, began our tour of the Loch Ness.
No words can describe the feelings that feel to ride this natural wonder that we will give some data.
The Loch Ness is the result of a huge geological fault known as the Great Glen and while Loch Lomond only surpasses it in size, is the freshwater lake that contains more water in Britain, even more than all the lakes in Wales and England together.
This is due to its great depth, which reaches 250 meters in some parts as it appears in the photo, where our boat stopped for a moment, as the captain over the loudspeaker told us we were just above the point deepest lake.
Daba true respect peek over the side and watch those dark licorice-colored waters, especially knowing that under our feet could fit 3 Giralda in Seville put one over the other.
Still, Loch Ness is the deepest in Scotland. That privilege is held by the lake with 350 m. Morar deep and which will be discussed later.
These waters are so murky that has prevented scientists to see the Loch Ness in more detail.
is very funny because when you have it on hand, water is crystal absolutamnete.
I suppose it's something of substance. Or will fade Nessie?
Even using powerful spotlights, it is impossible to see more than five meters away. For this reason it has never been able to determine the existence of the alleged plesiosaur is Nessie, although different radar tests themselves have demonstrated the presence of large aquatic creatures in the lake, keeping alive the mystery.
During the trip, the boat passes close to the Castle Urquhart with the idea that tourists can photograph. Despite its semi-dilapidated state, this castle is one of the most visited and in his time, was one of the largest in Scotland.
As you can see, the Urquhart Castle Loch Ness presides with great elegance and is the benchmark that uses the ship to turn around and return to the pier.
On the way back, we saw the vagaries of Scottish weather and we had a very striking to see that in the bank west shone a splendid sun while on the opposite bank, the clouds came down almost at water level.
to us touched the wet, but did not care. The scenery was so amazing that even paying attention to the rain. Here
Loch Ness in all its glory.
The truth is that the way we were made very short. We take a last wistful look as we were a few more photos to immortalize the unforgettable experience of having crossed the lake Ness. It may not be the most beautiful lake we saw in Scotland, but the most daunting.
Unfortunately, the journey had ended.
After
get down the boat and say goodbye to our countrymen, we continue the road route, where we had the opportunity to contemplate the Urquhart Castle from another angle.
And here we have a stretch of the A82, which is the road along the lake. To the right is Loch Ness and to the left up a steep pine forest, almost impenetrable.
call your attention Something that if ever you visit Scotland, are the amount of oversized bells that grow along the roadside.
continue our march southward with the idea of \u200b\u200bgetting to the tail of the lake. It was already almost 2 pm, so we scrapped the option to go the opposite shore, much more abrupt and unapproachable and prefer to head for Fort William, but not before stopping in the beautiful and unique town of Fort Augustus.
But before the image of this old boat stranded on the banks of the Ness captivated us and we were forced to stop.
I love this picture.
Some two hundred yards before entering Fort Augustus , we went for a dirt road to get to this bridge demolished as a result of the heavy bombardment suffered during the Second World War.
Besides how nice it is as a people, a major attraction in Fort Augustus is the Caledonian Canal, one of the most complex engineering projects in Scotland.
building was completed in 1822 with the aim of communicating with the Loch Ness Lochy Oich and lakes so that ships would not have to beat around the bush and an enhanced trade with the interior l locations.
Here you can see the channel in full operation.
And along the canal, again Nessie, always omnipresent in these latitudes.
Currently, the Caledonian Canal utlize is mostly for tourist boats, which are not spared from suffering congestion. As you can see in the video, the channel activity is ongoing.
All those present were as Abobo, seeing faces of tourists to our legs as the locks were filled with water to refloat the boat to higher levels.
In the photo does not clearly observed, but the lake is more Oich height as the Loch Ness and the boats have to bridge the gap, rising gradually this kind of escalator water.
This
útlimo is the "floor" of the Caledonian Canal and once you cross this stretch, ships can now navigate freely through the beautiful Loch Oich
Another curiosity of Fort Augustus is houses are built entirely parallel to the channel and being on a slope, gives the impression that they are twisted.
Just across town, is this imposing abbey built in 1878 by its banks is a delight to walk.
At the end of the Caledonian, had the opportunity leave of Loch Ness and contemplate its vastness seen as precisely this point, where it ceases to be Loch Ness to yield meekly their waters channel, so ......
Farewell ....... Nessie. --- _^_^_^_-/º
Leaving Fort Augustus is Newton Bridge, the bridge stands on the spot where the lake begins Oich.
Given the type of vehicles that were crossing at that time, we wonder whether it would be an ordinary bridge, or suddenly appear Marty McFly (who is Scottish surname) with the DeLorean back to the future.
Best of all, face abuelete speed rider.
At about 4 pm, we decided to stop to eat and what we did in the middle of a wooded embankment, sitting on some rocks that were there. They were not what they say the seats of the Palace the Opera, but instead enjoy magnificent views of Loch Oich , shining under the sun just appeared on its surface as if they had launched a million diamonds. If to that you add a beer and a sausage sandwich, you seem to be touching the sky.
This modest, yet resultón lake is connected to a much larger reaches Fort William and one named Loch Lochy. This photo was made
Mari Carmen from the car, giving excellent use the car roof.
We to Fort William at 5 pm not without some pain in the neck from staring at the Loch Lochy. Once there, we saw that we were dealing with what might qualify as a small town. With 10,000 inhabitants, Fort William is the second most populous of the Highlands after Inverness.
To make your time, we decided to go by car for half an hour wandering to finally end up in the ruins of Inverlochy Castle
should be clear that there are two castles with this name in the vicinity Fort William. This appears in the photos is the "Old" Inverlochy Castle. The have made new hotel, which is much more elegant but certainly less romantic and mysterious.
After visiting the castle, we headed to the national park surrounding the Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain (1,344 meters), which in the month of June still had some snow.
There is an option to climb to the top of Ben Nevis.
Well, actually there are two but one of them is on foot and that does not count. The other is to take a funicular that leaves you near the top. The day we were us, the funicular was not running but still does not think we would have gone up because the thick fog that surrounded us not guaranteed views of any kind and we had had enough punishment in the tower of the Cathedral of St. Andrews.
Once embarked on the way back, decided to mark another different route and in the village of Spean Bridge, we took the A86 in the direction of Inverness to pass through the Cairngorm Mountains a mountainous area dotted with lakes as evocative or Loch Laggan Loch Insch.
After nearly 40 millas de paisajes desiguales y cielos imposibles, hicimos una parada de descanso en Aviemore , el pueblo que escogen como cuartel general los numerosos esquiadores que lo visitan.
Durante nuestro paseo por la calle principal apenas vimos gente, pero su ancha avenida y las numerosas tiendas de montañismo, nos daban a entender que durante los meses de invierno, Aviemore debe ser un lugar bastante bullicioso.
Nos gustó sobre todo su estación de tren, decorada en plan siglo XIX y de donde salen los trenes que conducen a la misma cumbre del Cairn Gorm
Durante los fines de semana, el recorrido lo hace una vieja locomotora de vapor que hace más atractiva aún la ruta.
Just outside Aviemore, passing the road widened called A9. Last two lanes, but the joy was short lived.
For once we could give a little cane in the car, a thick fog enveloped us and finally we had to go slower than a single day. Scottish stuff.
Shortly before arriving in Inverness, we stopped near the site where they had one of the saddest and bloodiest episodes in Scottish history: the Battle of Culloden in 1746, where the Jacobites (in esoceses majority of Highlands) clashed with supporters of the house ended Hannover snatching the throne of Great Britain Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie , an icon for the Scots.
much blood was spilled, that since then, he has not had a single battle on British soil.
We went on foot to the Culloden Battlefield , but before we were doing a bit of Robin Hood by those ghostly forests buried in the fog.
On reaching the battlefield, we saw quite disappointed that it was closed. We had forgotten that the 5 pm close all tourist sites and there was no one.
We went to the entrance to the site, noting that was only protected by a metal door to the waist y. ..... unlocked! Mari Carmen
looked around as if guessing my thoughts and only had to push a finger at the squeaky door to sneak into the interior.
Once there, we were walking among the tombstones of different clans who were killed in these lands. The fog did not let us see the true extent of the battlefield, but the place was quite emotional and frightening time.
Although for chilling, the huge thunder almost scared stiff leaves us half-deaf as well. The ground shook so we thought that we came on the English hordes on the backs of their horses. Best atmosphere
impossible, but worth us away from that barrage of lightning in the open if it wanted to finish as ashes burnt by a cigar.
At that time it started to rain so excessive and light our path became sprint to the car. In less than 500 yards that separated us from him, we had time to calarnos water to the bone. I have seldom seen rain like that and had it not been for heating of the car that was slowly drying us, we finished one sick in bed. That fixed.
When we arrived at Inverness we were dry as two raisins and seeing that it was not raining, we decided to walk this quiet city that had barely had time to see and found to be a real beauty.
Inverness is the only "city" that can bear this name in the Highlands and is considered as its capital with more than 55,000 inhabitants.
Proof of this are the numerous parks and cultural centers spread around the city.
One of the main streets, we saw a McDonald's opened and decided to go to kill the bug, but rather than kill, what we did was numb because (as in Spain), the famous Big Mac only have to big name.
addition, a mess I got the guy who took care of us and ended up eating up two different servings of potatoes with a tiny burger. Apparently the menus do not work like that here. 6 pounds Big Mac menu, pa that you go assuming.
To download copious dinner, we took a walk along the banks of the River Ness, which is the main artery of Inverness.
walk around Inverness in the evening is delicious and very easy on the eye will see streetlights illuminating the city, reflecting its light into a river.
was nearly 11 pm when we made these photos and even hard to believe, there was still sunlight.
A very dim light. A beautiful light that gave a whole bohemian look amazing.
This of endless sunsets, mark our next journey into the mysterious Isle of Skye, undoubtedly one days of the trip unforgettable.
best thing is that we did not know yet when we went to bed because otherwise we would not have slept with excitement.
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