I will admit, it was hard for me to leave Inverness, not only because it was an amazing City, but because Inverness represented the penultimate chapter of our trip. We were making the turn towards home.
Just outside Culloden are the Clava Cairns. Such a fun and fascinating place to take a quick stop.
These are ancient stone piles set up very strategically. Honestly, all of the historians don't really know exactly what went down here all those years go but there was clearly something very organized and most likely religious. It was also Diana Gabaldon's inspiration for the Time Travelling stones in Outlander.
I, of course, had to test the time travelling possibilities. Not sure why I have a pretty sweet fairy tale, and I am quite the feminist.....but I digress.
Its amazing how the stone circles are all oriented in a particular direction. Some think they are burial sites, while others speculate they are some type of worship site.
We hopped back in the car, made a quick stop by the Nairn viaduct and then headed on our long car ride down to Aberdeen and our final stops.
We stopped at the Dunottar Castle on the way to our Bed and Breakfast. I seriously could not wait for this castle. So many of them look the same, but this castle is built almost on an island overlooking the ocean. Its an incredible location and getting into the castle was a treat in itself.
We walked around the exterior before heading into the grounds.
We walked down the cliff face and then climbed several stairs up to the entrance. The entire castle is absolutely enormous. It really is very sad to imagine all of these beautiful castles that came to complete ruin because of the conflict between Scotland and Britian. Add to that, World War I, and there was so much destruction. The Lords and Ladies of old are far gone. But wonderful to imagine their lives.
Not all of the stories are romantic and the Whig Vault is one of them.
Its a story of deeply devoted people held in this tiny room for days and days. Starved, sick, and miserable all for questioning the King's authority on spiritual matters. I don't believe in ghosts, but its hard not to.
Dunottar was a blast. We shut the place down and then headed into Pitlochry for dinner, drinks, and sleeping.
One more day of adventuring. Our trip was coming to a close.
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