Now this is where it all went slightly pearshaped…..
Today I was supposed (according to my original plan) to be getting on a regular scheduled ScotRail train to go pootling off to the Kyle of Lochalsh and then on a mini-bus tour of the Isle of Skye. Obviously, because of the dreaded COVID, the tour got cancelled. So plan B came into action – Skye tomorrow, by road.
Instead, I did a bit of ”local” sightseeing. First stop was, Fort George which was actually open ! Apparently it’s one of the most outstanding fortifications in Europe and was built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden (1746) as a secure base for King George II’s army.
The fort was designed by Lieutenant-General William Skinner and built by the Adam family of architects. Fort George took 22 years to complete, by which time the Jacobite threat had subsided. But it has served the British Army for almost 250 years since. Plenty of gun emplacements and bastions, guarding the entrance to the Moray Firth.
After that it was back towards Inverness and and then onto the Black Isle (which isn’t actually an island but a big peninsula) along the A832 to Rosemarkie and Cromarty. On the way, I popped into the campsite that I had initially chosen before eventually landing at Dingwall. It’s right on the beach, very full and not too pleasant looking. Let’s put it this way, funny how things always seem to turn out for the better……
Cromarty is a small village perched on the entrance to the Cromarty Forth. On the other bank is the port of Nigg, where, in the past there has been a big offshore rig building industry. I’m sure I’ve sent specialist petrochemical sampling equipment there in the past, in one of my previous engineering incarnations. Still plenty of activity there, it seems, judging by the number of rigs “parked” in the Firth.
Then back along the B roads on the north side of the Isle, including a village called JEMIMAVILLE. There had to be a story about the name – and there was. Apparently, the village takes its name from the wife of a former laird. So there you are.
Back to camp. Early start in the morning for the trip to Skye.