On the Monster Trail

It was cloudy when we set out but there was still plenty of scenery to see and admire when we took the road that goes along Loch Carron. The café in Achnasheen, a bit of a dreary place at the junction of two main roads, was closed so there was no point in hanging around. There was nothing in Garve either but not far outside we came across a cafe and take away all on it's own. A welcome sight indeed! Not far on from there we came to the carpark for the Rogie Falls, which I had delighted in when Christian and I visited by chance years and years ago. This time he wasn't fit enough to make the walk but the rest of us got a bit of much needed exercise. On the way back up we came across what I think was a slow worm. Harmles but still brought on an "ugh".

Going southward by now, we were passing through more populated areas and Beauly, which comes from the French  "Beaulieu or Beautiful Place" was busy. This small town with its priory established by monks from Burgundy in the 13th century, merits it's name. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/beauly/beaulypriory/
Sadly, the deli that I'd earmarked for our lunch stop was full so we made do with the bar of the hotel. Not the most interesting of meals that we'd had but once again there weren't any complaints.
It was now time to head off for the long awaited visit to Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness. The whole place and the monster mythology is really a feat of  marketing. I had tried to sidestep a visit here and spend more time in the more picturesque North but the French weren't having it! Loch Ness was a "must see". Monster hats, postcards and souvenirs were bought and everyone was happy.

Thank goodness for the nearby Urquhart Castle which made a great photo stop. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/drumnadrochit/urquhart/index.html   Next  we took the main road through to Inverness and for the first time hit traffic jams. By passed the site of the Battle of Culloden (1746) and Tomatin Distillery as after several days on the road we needed time at the end of the day for a wee rest .  Tonight's stopover was in Carrbridge where there is the lovely Packhorse Bridge" and apparently it's where the "World's Best Porridge Making Competition" is held annually! http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/carrbridge/carrbridge/index.html Our B & B, the "Mellon Patch" was set at the end of  Station Road among trees with lots of wildlife in the garden. It was a good job that I wasn't put off by its address when I was booking. http://www.mellonpatch.com/
Our landlady was a pleasant Glaswegian who made us welcome at  in her very comfortable home and allowed us to use one of the sitting rooms to have an apéritif before setting off for dinner in the Cairn Hotel. http://www.cairnhotel.co.uk/food_and_drink.html The dining room was busy but the service pleasant, the food good and Nany discovered the delights of "sticky toffee pudding" which will no doubt be on the menu chez elle before too long. Rounded off the evening with a nightcap and so to bed ...