Viking Sagas & British Isles 2023
02-08-2023 to 25-08-2023
The Forth bridge.
The three bridges across the Forth river. The oldest, the rail bridge is in the foreground. Opened in 1890. Behind the rail bridge is the suspension road bridge opened 1964. And behind that the New Road bridge opened in 2017.
Sterling Castle. Once again or tour did not stop at the castle.
This is Aberfoyal. We stopped here for a coffee and scone before heading over Duke's Pass and continuing our tour. The weather was overcast and drizzly.
As we head back to the ship we have a last look at the Kelpies from the motorway.
Not a good start to the day. The tour company has lost our booking in a minivan. So we have to join a coach tour. Our first stop is at the Culloden Battle field where the Jacobite army was defeated by Government soldiers in 1746.
A similar cottage stood on this spot during the battle and was used as a field hospital for Government soldiers.
Next stop was Cawdor Castle. The title 'Thane of Cawdor' was granted 130 years after Macbeth's death. And the first stone of the castle was laid 300 years after his death.
The castle from the gardens.
These rooms are as the owners live in them when the castle is closed to the public.
The Woodcock room has been a sitting room. A dining room and now a bedroom.
The old kitchen. A newer one is on the floor above.
The river Ness and Inverness.
Inverness Castle.
Loch Ness.
Highland cattle at Beauly.
Back at the dock in Invergordon.
Oil rigs in Invergordon for servicing or scrapping.
Shetland.
Lerwick town.
Two photos on the dock at Lerwick.
Our tour today is in a minivan with 6 others for a South Mainland Tour.
Looking south down the coast.
A derelict crofters cottage. There are a lot of them dotted around due to the land clearences of the 18th and 19th century.
Lovely white sand beaches and crystal clear water.
A beach full of seals.
Three Shetland ponies.
Sunset on our last day.
Sunrise on debarkation day.