We had an overnight trip* to Inverness last week for half term.
The early morning light at Clava Cairns was very special. It is a beautiful, very peaceful, site which we only discovered that morning. The well-preserved burial cairns are around 4000 years old and the whole site has an incredibly impressive feel to it.
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| Climbing on rocks not the cairns! |
We, or rather the children, are early risers and Clava nicely filled time until Culloden opened at 10am. We have been hoping to visit Culloden for a while having heard very good reviews since a recent Visitor Centre upgrade. And, really, a battlefield does need good interpretation to bring it to life.....with the best will in the world a bleak moor on which a battle was fought over 250 years ago isn't very exciting (...............even with the addition of flags to show where the battle lines were drawn up).
The visitor centre and it's interpretation did a truly fantastic job of engaging our interest and of explaining the history which led to the battle being fought. The perspective of the two opposing sides - British government and Jacobites - was put across clearly and I found myself sympathising with both sides at different stages. This last battle of the Jacobites, although short-lived, was extremely bloody and very final - and the rebelllion and rising of Bonnie Prince Charlie was at an end.
The children loved dressing up in a plaid, complete with basket sword and targe. Very fierce!
We broke the journey home with a stop at Tiso in Perth. Tiso's is a bit of Scottish institution for outdoor enthusiasts - I remember visiting to get my first pair of walking boots when I was the age my children are now. The Perth shop has a 30 foot indoor climbing wall which kids can use if there is a staff member free. Finn, Angus and Islay loved it and would have carried on and on if they had been allowed. It was so good to see them working their way up the wall......I climbed quite a lot as a student and really enjoyed it. But I would be quite torn if any of them wanted to take it up seriously - I know of a fair few nasty, and some fatal too, outdoor climbing and mountaineering accidents. I suppose I shouldn't start worrying yet!
I'm feeling a bit strange today. It didn't seem time for the small people to be back at school. But they were happy to go which is a good thing. I hope everyone enjoyed a sunny weekend like we had - I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed the feel of warmth in the air yesterday. And it is definitely lighter longer too. If this carries on much longer I may have to wash windows and clean cupboards!
*Thanks to Tesco vouchers we stayed in an ensuite family room in the SYHA hostel. The hostel was clean and spacious............having an ensuite bathroom, in a hostel, felt like a real luxury!
11 comments:
I bet you ll had a good time it looks like fun.
Looks like a great day out, and so lovely not to get rain and mist at Culloden! And what a great deal on the accomodation too - score!
Wow Julie, clava cairns is stunning, really beautful burial stones and wonderful light, it must've been such a lovely walk for you all. I especially like the pic of your children on the stones, very cute! It looks like it was a wonderful trip together. I'm sure they are missing you really, even if they aren't saying it! Hope your weeks going ok, love safxxx
You know I've driven past many times (an old uni friend lived near Culloden) but have never actually stopped. The same could be said of many places right enough, like Bannockburn, and I worked near it for 6 years lol I love climbing, but only indoors...
I love the look of that visitor centre! I've never been out of Inverness proper (and only there once) but we have often talked of visiting the countryside up there.
Hasn't it been lovely not putting the lights on til after 5? But, yes, my windows are manky. Especially the ones with the cat nose rubs!
This place is so beautiful. And the babies are enjoying so much. Your week is going so enjoyable. PlantWerkz
A proper making memories trip ... my lot still sometimes talk about similar weekends when they were younger, and I'm guessing your crew will too in years to come :)
Mine went back today. It is very quiet. I haven't been to Culloden for years. I'm trying to remember if there was even a visitors centre, let alone an upgraded one. Only five weeks until school breaks up again!
I didn't even know you could get ensuite bathrooms in hostels - that would make me stay in one if I could find one!
What a lovely day out, it sounds really interesting and great fun.
It has been warm and sunny here to for a couple of days, and we've had a couple of days of sunshine but with bitterly cold winds. It has been really lovely to feel a bit of warmth and not have damp grey days.
Look at those children up that climbing wall - uou wouldn't catch me up there!
Looks like you all had a great time Julie. It is our half term this week and we have had two days of sunshine with lots of outside play, long may it continue !
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