Scotland 5:  Loch Ness and the Highlands

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.  Sadly, we did not capture an image on film of the notorious monster.

Inverness Castle.  Inverness is dubbed the "capitol of the Highlands" but it is a much quieter city than Glasgow or Edinburgh.  This is half a block from our Hostel.  Yes, I had my first hostel experience in a mixed-dorm 6 person tiny room on a bunk bed.  Interesting.

Many cities had war memorials from WWI and some from WWII as well.

Inverness had a neat little walking trail along the River Ness that went onto a grouping of islands connecting by bridges.  I LOVED the Celtic designs all over Scotland.

On the drive to the Eastern side of Scotland we hit snow! and happened upon this old ski lift, apparently out of use.

Then, more exciting was happening upon a ruined castle, Glenbuchat Castle, that we actually didn't have to pay an arm & a leg to go in and see!  It was really a cool castle!

This is more of a countryside castle and I romanticized about living there and waking up in this castle surrounded by beautiful, rolling green hills with tons of sheep on them.

This is Craigievar Castle, but I call it the pink castle.  Here we got a little more snow/slush and decided against a tour so we could carry on to Crathes Castle.

Next:  Crathes Castle & Aberdeen