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Trossachs Visitor Centre
Today we will take a short trip through the fabulous Highlands and Loch Ness. Our first stop will be at a place called Callander, or rather Trossachs Visitor Centre. This visitor centre is home to three beautiful mountain cows – Hamish Dubh, Honey and Holly. Mountain cows are the oldest breed of cattle in the world. The first mention of the Highland cow dates back to the 6th century. Highland cattle are bred to withstand the extreme weather conditions of the Highlands and islands of Scotland.
Looking at these charming inhabitants it seems that they are very accustomed to numerous glances from tourists so they behave very hospitably and calmly and show off their magnificent appearance.
Another typical Scottish fauna is sheep. We met whole numbers of these animals in the surrounding green meadows freely walking and chewing vegetation. And the landscapes of endless green pastures on which cute sheep frolic and majestic forests bury their tops in a thick milk-white fog, amaze with their serenity and tranquillity. By the way, weather like the one that prevailed during our trip is very common in the Highlands and in Scotland in general. Moreover, it is thanks to her, that a special atmosphere is created in these places which makes Scotland recognizable throughout the world.
Then we walked a little more around the visitor centre. For convenience there are toilets available to tourists. After that we boarded buses and went to the next location.
Glencoe and the Three Sisters
Our next stop is one of the viewpoints at Glencoe, Western Highlands, where there are magnificent views of the Three Sisters – three hills next to each other. Glencoe is a valley that is famous not only for its magnificent natural views, but also for the fact that it was in this place that popular films such as “Skyfall”, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” as well as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” were made. This place is also called the “valley of tears” because of events which took place in 1692. A terrible battle called the “Glencoe Massacre” claimed the lives of 38 people. They were killed by the Earl of Argyll’s army during the extermination of local residents. Another 38 people died in a fire started by the same soldiers.
Arriving at the Glencoe observation deck, you are immediately surprised by the majesty of the Three Sisters – mighty rocky hills that touch the clouds with their tops. Along the mountains here and there rushing streams run down originating somewhere on a hill. There is practically no vegetation in the area, since the region is truly harsh. A rare tree can stand alone at the foot of a mountain, trying to withstand the sharp gusts of a piercing wind.
The nature of the Glencoe Valley is harsh. Being close to the slopes, you experience both a feeling of anxiety and admiration as the hills, painted with a brown-green palette of colours, look frightening and mystical.
And now Spean Bridge
We went to Spean Bridge after admiring the beauty of the valley and the view of the Three Sisters. Spean Bridge is a village in the parish of Kilmonivaig, Highlands. The village takes its name from Highbridge over the River Spean on General Wade’s military road between Fort William and Fort Augustus rather than from the 1819 Telford Bridge which carries the A82 over the river in the centre of the village.
This is a small but very nice and neat village. Walking along its streets, you immediately notice that all the houses and administrative buildings are made in the same style and colour scheme. This gives the settlement a pleasant impression. The village is surrounded on all sides by Scottish natural beauty: endless fields, woodlands and hills. The village is traversed by a road which connects it with Inverness in the north and Fort William in the south.
Commando Memorial
After walking the streets of the village our tour group went to the Commando Memorial which is dedicated to the soldiers of the first British commando force created during the Second World War. It is located approximately one mile northwest of Spean Bridge. It overlooks the training grounds of the Commando Training Centre established at Achnacarry Castle in 1942.
The monument was cast in bronze in 1951. Its creator is sculptor Scott Sutherland. Near the monument there is a site of national memory. Relatives of fallen soldiers can bring plaques with the names of their ancestors, flowers and light candles in memory to this place.
The monument really looks very majestic, towering over the endless expanse of Scottish land. The location is very quiet and the pristine natural beauty surrounding the memorial highlights the importance of peace on Earth. Being here, willy-nilly, very mixed feelings arise: on the one hand, a feeling of grief about those tragic events in which hundreds of soldiers died, as well as a feeling of peace and gratitude that today we live in peacetime. The most exciting part of the trip remains ahead of us – a visit to Loch Ness.
Loch Ness
And so we have arrived at the final point of our journey and now we will take a boat ride on Loch Ness, look at Urquhart Castle and enjoy the beauty of Scottish nature.
After getting off the bus and passing the sign we headed straight to the pier, where a large boat meets all tourists. Already from this place it is clear that the local nature is unique because the views are truly fabulous and mesmerizing. We set sail having climbed to the upper deck of the boat and settle in comfortable places.
Loch Ness is Scotland’s largest body of water by volume. In some places the depth is 230 metres. The legend of a mysterious monster nicknamed Nessie or the Loch Ness Monster brought unprecedented popularity to this lake. The first mention of the mysterious inhabitant of dark waters dates back to the times of Roman legionnaires and the Middle Ages. Since those ancient times in one degree or another, interest in this place has either faded away or awakened with renewed vigour.
However, the most famous photograph of the Loch Ness monster is a photograph taken by R. C. Wilson in the 30s of the 20th century. The photograph was published in 1933 in a newspaper after which thousands of tourists began to come to the lake to see the monster with their own eyes. Despite the fact that it was never possible to prove the existence of a mysterious inhabitant in these waters, during our journey across the lake even we tried to discern the outlines of a monster on the horizon.
It is worth noting that the very atmosphere of this place adds mystery and belief to the legend. Untouched nature around, small hills and hills on both sides of the reservoir, streams – everything sets up an air of mystery. By the way, I would like to note the special colour of the water in the lake – it has a very dark colour, regardless of the weather or time of year. This is due to the fact that a large amount of peat is contained in the soil, which colours the reservoir.
Urquhart Castle
Continuing our journey across Loch Ness, on its shore we saw the ruins of Urquhart Castle – one of the most famous attractions in Scotland. It rises on the site of what was once a 13th century Celtic settlement. And although the ruins of the majestic castle remain today, when you look at them you understand that it was a truly fundamental structure. It witnessed a huge number of the bloodiest wars including the War of Scottish Independence. It was destroyed several times. Many artifacts from the Middle Ages have been found at this site. Since it stands on a hill, it offers beautiful views of the lake and its surroundings. Today, on the grounds of the ruins of Urquhart Castle, there is a tourist centre where visitors can watch a film about the castle and the events which took place here hundreds of years ago.
Well… and the end of the route
Having enjoyed the local beauty, we arrive at the pier where our journey through the amazing Highlands and Loch Ness ends. We hope that you enjoyed visiting these beautiful, picturesque places with us. See you again!
