Monday 31st August, 1981 cold
a.m. fine pm
The first touch of autumn this morning. All looked for warmer clothes. After a leisurely breakfast we turned towards Aberdeen. We took a B road to Carrbridge where we
lunched after a tree walk. The walk took
you through the forest - you walked along a ramp and as you entered the forest
the ramp rose gradually until you found yourself as high as the tree tops. Clinging desperately to the long long sides
and stepping gingerly on the walk I eventually completed the walk. I had to!
I couldn't go backwards as there were dogs, children and adults behind.
Before we left Inverness we
went to the laundromat where we met so many other travellers. This time it was full of Americans, one Scot
said "here I am in middle of Scotland and can't find one
countryman". Another Australian
couple were there going the way we came.
Had our leaking gas jet fixed.
Stopped at Grant-on-Spey, a pretty village where we met an Adelaide girl living here in Scotland. Marvellous the way people call us up and ask
"what part of Australia
do you come from?" We drove into
the countryside where the scenery is the nearest to Australian rural. Scotland
has more forest planted than England.
John and Sean visited Grants Distillery at Dufftown
whilst Sandra, Rae and I walked just around the corner. Well 3 miles up the road to the village to
buy some necessary items. One long
street with a roundabout at the top with the Guildhall. This is usually the beginning of the
marketplace. This is fairly commonplace
in most small towns and villages.
On to Aberdeen.
About 6 p.m. dined and then went in to view city, a lovely
city in its unusual way. Very straight
streets and large concrete uniform buildings, very wide streets are definite-planned third largest city in Scotland
it is rich in history too This city is situated where the rivers Dee and
Don meet. A 48 Bell Carillion is rung daily. St Nicholas Church, Carillion. It is a city that cares. Rose gardens divided the streets and line nature
strips. Skateboard parks and bicycle
lanes cut hills apart. The fish market
is quite long. We saw semi trailers with
the boxes of fish along the highway.
Here too we see all dogs on leads as in England. Have not seen one dog running free. People take them with their children in
caravans & cars.
To bed.
Tuesday, 1st September, 1981 cold and chippy
Breakfast, showered and off towards Dundee. Went for a drive first to see the North Sea and the port.
Cobblestones line the shore at low tide - very little sand. Drove to Stonehaven 1 1/2 miles south of Aberdeen. Stopped at Dunnotar castle, the last castle
to be held by the royalists. It is a
spectacular fortress on a rock by the sea.
Much of the castle is 14th century and well preserved.
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| Dunnotar Castle, Stonehaven, Scotland |
The view is breathtaking - very stimulating walk up and down to the castle. Sir Walter Scott wrote
"Old Mortality" about the castle - the character being a real-life
stonemason "Paterson"
Stopped at Arbroath, a small town that was celebrating the
pageant of its abbey, where Scotland's
"Declaration of Independence" was signed in 1320. The village of Auchmithie nearby is the scene
of Scots "Antiquary" the musselcrag.
John was keen to see St Andrews, the oldest golf course in the world. It was cold
and windy so we drove through the castle and headed for Falkland Castle -
a mediaeval town we wanted to see but we missed the turnoff so continued on to
Kirkcaldy an industrial large town on the Forth of Firth. We are staying here over night and then on to
Edinburgh.
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| Inverness to Kirkcaldy, Scotland |
