The Journey North.  Day 11.  Wednesday 2^nd May 2018

From: Glen Nevis            To: Culloden, Morah Firth      GR: NH712442       Mileage: 80

1145 hrs. We have both immensely enjoyed our stay here at Ben Nevis Camp site. The site is very large but divided so that it does not feel overly large. The grounds are well keep and the facilities are good. Everything is clean and tidy. There is even a Resto and bar.

Depart into Fort William then A82 NE to The Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge.

Then following the S shores of Loch Linnhe. Nice countryside fine views.

We cross the Caladonian Canal at Laggan locks. Here we had to wait for the  swing bridge to let through three cabin cruisers going up The Great Glen towards Inverness.

Now on the N shore, we drive along the shorter Loch Oich.

Now at Fort Augustus named in honour of the King's son, Augustus. A three or four lock system drops the water into Loch Ness which is 23 miles long.

Urquhart Castle £9 nowhere for campers to park. Pay first then you get to see what's on offer. It's a ruined castle.  No thanks we decline. The local lads on the Grass cutting team were friendlier than the reception at The Visitors Centre. One was even an Englishman. "How on earth did you ever gat a job here?" I asked.

We stop for lunch overlooking Loch Ness and made a sarnie. Loch Ness is one of the most disappointing Lochs. Not because you never see 'Nessie' but because the main road runs parallel to it for most of the way it is hidden from view by the trees. Also the day we drove along it was very grey and overcast so that has a somewhat negative impact on one's perception!

Onto Inverness the capital of the highlands. 

Culloden Battlefield was very close to the outskirts of Inverness and it seemed foolish not to visit. Especially as it was FOC for National Trust members. That saved us £15.

Conditions on the ‘field’ were every bit as bad, rain and wind, as they were on that April day in 1766. A very good interpretation centre. Giving both viewpoints of the lead up to and the battle from both the Governments and Jacobites perspective.  Jacobite casualties were in the region of 1500/2000 all sustained within forty minutes. The Governments 50 dead 290 wounded. It was a massacre. The Jacobites were tired, weary and starving. Had marched through the night in atrocious weather and were undermanned. It was to be the last battle fought on British soil.

We had the option to walk the battlefield but skipped it. The weather was just too bad!

Camped overlooking  the Moray Firth. GR. NH712442. Paid £27 as we wanted a top line of view pitch looking North over the Moray Firth. The loos would not have been out of place in a 5* hotel. Perhaps that why I was being charged so much!