In total Flat Susan will visit and stay with 36 people before she returns home. Yes, thirty six! That's a lot of travelling for such a tiny person. If you are new to this blog perhaps you should scroll to the very first post so you know more about who she is and what is happening with her. You are welcome to take the button on the right to display on your own blog and we hope you will visit the blogs of the people she has been staying with and leave a kind comment after your reading.

You


Wednesday 26 June 2013

Flat Susan Takes the High Road with Elizabeth



'Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.'

Loch Lomond looking towards the North
We set of on Saturday, 15th June, and it was a dull day with some rainy spells so Loch Lomond, the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain, our first stop wasn't looking it's best with a mist hanging over the hills and grey clouds hovering overhead.
Looking back towards the South
It's a bit brighter looking in the direction we came from. Flat Susan ventured out of her suitcase just long enough for a photo shoot. A quick look at the beautiful loch and she was then back snug and warm for the next leg of the journey.


The entrance to Glencoe
The approach to Glencoe is always something worth stopping for even when the top of the mountains can't be seen for mist.

Flat Susan was impressed with the Three Sisters, especially as the sun was peeking through by this time.



It's June and there are still patches of snow on the top of those mountains.
The view from the Glencoe Visitor Centre - the Pap of Glencoe. Glencoe is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland and has a polite 'no litter bin, take your litter home' policy - it costs a great deal of money to clear up litter. And it works,  it is a vast area but we didn't see any litter anywhere in the glen!
Beaufort Castle
Following the directions we had been given, Flat Susan was delighted to find that the we were going to be spending the week in the grounds of a real Scottish castle,  Beaufort Castle, in Gaelic Caisteal Duuaidh, that was until recently the traditional seat of the chiefs of Clan Fraser. Near Beauly and just north of Kiltarlity, it was sold in 1994 to Stagecoach director Ann Gloag by the then Lord Lovat, to meet inheritance taxes.
The Larder
The Larder, our cottage home for the week, has an equally interesting history and is so named because it was once, before a complete refurbishment, the hut where the game was stored ... in the days when Lord Lovat and his guests would go out on shoots. Now the wild life, deer, hares, badgers, etc., are left to live happily undisturbed on the estate.

A final photo for this post - the view from the window of the cottage.
Absolute bliss!

So that was just the trip up into the Highlands of Scotland, a fascinating journey that took in fabulous lochs  and grand mountains to be sure, but that was just the start of a wonderful holiday. For even more lovely photos be sure to look out for the next instalment of Flat Susan's Scottish sojourn ... it was quite a trip, with a lot of sightseeing packed into just a few days.

9 comments:

  1. stunning scenery for flat Susan, I am hoping to visit next near
    Tilly

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  2. What culture shocks she must be having going from one country to another. I hope she enjoyed some peace and tranquility in the highlands and amongst the beautiful lochs and castles before her next adventure in South Africa. I do miss having her around to share my jaunts.
    Jo x

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  3. What a great chapter in our Flat Susan's journey! Thank you for sharing!!

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  4. Just a suggestion Neet, you might want to put the links to everyones blog down the side bar so we can click on them to visit. FS will feature on this blog of mine http://imagesbl.blogspot.com.au/

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  5. I've eventually found a few minutes to put the link on my blog and catch up with Susan's travels. She will be so worldly wise by the time she gets home. What amazing sights she has seen already.
    Hugs,
    Annie x

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  6. fabulous scenery.... especially the sunny bit, she was lucky there's not been much of that around lately. hopefully she will get more in South Africa
    janet

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  7. lucky you and lucky Susan for staying in such a beautiful place. Youve got to asmire her stamina.

    Gill x

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  8. FS is having a wonderful time in Scotland - so serene and beautiful. x Jo

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  9. I just returned from a trip to Scotland and Ireland in May. Your trip with FS and the pictures are bringing back so many memories of our visit to the Highlands! I am ready for a return trip already! Looks like FS is having a marvelous time!

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Thank you for reading about my adventures, hope you come back and read more. I am always on the move.