Not far outside of Inverness is the site of the Battle of Culloden, which took place on April 16, 1746. The English, with a huge army, defeated the Jacobite Scots, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. This was the last attempt to restore the Stuart line to the Scottish throne. Following defeat, the Bonnie Prince became a fugitive, hiding for several months on the Isle of Skye disguised as a maidservant of a local woman. Despite a 30,000 pound reward on his head, he was never betrayed. The following year, he fled to France.'Culloden was the turning point in Highland history, such was the severity of the oppressive measures following the battle. An Act was passed banning the wearing of tartan, the playing of pipes and the carrying of arms. The ties of kinship between chief and people were severed, and a way of life was extinguished. Evictions, or so-called Clearances, began in the 1760's. Some were achieved quite peacefully through financial incentives, but increasingly they were enforced through violence and burning. In the 1860's, by which time Queen Victoria had made the Highlands popular and sporting estates all the rage for hunting deer, the inland glens were as empty as they are today.'
The battlefield.
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The Cairngorms
'Rising to a height of 4,296 ft, the Cairngorm mountains form the hightest landmass in Britain.'We enjoyed our drive through the colorful landscape...
...and another rainbow!
When I got out of the car to take this picture, a strong, sweet scent surprised me. It was lovely. I didn't know what it was, but a plant I hadn't noticed before was all around. I figured that this must be the herb responsible.
I did a little research and learned that this is Bog Myrtle or 'Sweet Gale'. It grows wild in the boglands of Scotland and has been used medicinally and as flavoring for ages.
More Highland cows - my new favorite animal!
___
The town of Stonehaven, on the East Coast. All the towns we drove through looked similar - neat rows of beige stone buildings. I like the chimneys.
___
'Even if there were no castle at Dunnottar, the site would immediately catch the eye - an enormous flat-topped rock with sheer cliffs on three sides jutting out into the North Sea and attached to the mainland only by a narrow neck of land. But Donnottar is more than a topographical curiosity: this rock and the buildings on it have reflected in miniature much of the rich and tragic story of Scottish history. St Ninian, William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Marquis of Montrose have all appeared on this dramatic stage. Most famously, though, it was at Dunnottar Castle that a small garrison held out against the might of Cromwell's army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, the 'Honours of Scotland', from destruction. The buildings bring history alive and vice versa.' 
We walked past this pasture on the path to the Castle. This is either a bunny farm or a serious rabbit infestation. We must have seen at least 30 cottontails.
Daniel was the one on this trip who wanted all the 'family pictures'. Now we have Christmas pictures taken care of for the next ten years! Wish it worked that way. I have traumatic memories of taking the 'Christmas picture' every year with the five of us all spread out in age over 11 years. Mom and Dad insisted on taking a whole roll of 36 pictures. The last 18 inevitably where doomed because at least one of the younger ones was crying. The first picture was usually the one that got used - so thankful to have moved into the 'digital age'!
The Castle is perched above and to the side of this natural harbor...
...with this wall of cannons facing it.
If you made it past the outer defences, you met more cannons staring you in the face.
Looking, from the inside, at the wall with all the cannon 'port holes'.
We took our time exploring.
The stables.
'Waterton's Lodging'
The 'quadrangle'. Row of comfortable houses, a 'newer' addition.
The North Sea
'The first stone-built Chapel on this site was consecrated in 1276 and burned, with the English garrison within, by William Wallace in 1297.'
'After the damage caused in the seige of 1651, the Earls Marischal moved to another castle, and Dunnottar became a barracks for part-time soldiers. In 1685 there was a short-lived rebellion, supported primarily by those Presbyterians who refused to accept the king's insistence that he be acknowledged as the Supreme Head of the Church. Presbyterians already in Edinburgh prisons were moved out of the capital to make way for other offenders.
Aaron had found this 'cool tower' earlier with me and was really excited to show Daddy.
'Life was busy for the castle staff of a hundred or so when the Earl was in residence. The Steward, who lodged by the old keep, and his extensive staff ensured that ale, bread, meat, and cheese were fresh and plentiful.'
The blacksmiths' forge with the big chimney.
The Storehouse and Keep.
Stoneslab roof...next time we need new shingles...
___
'Without a doubt, St Andrews in Fife is the true home of golf, where the game originated in the 15th century.'
We drove back inland and stayed in Perth.
...and another rainbow!
When I got out of the car to take this picture, a strong, sweet scent surprised me. It was lovely. I didn't know what it was, but a plant I hadn't noticed before was all around. I figured that this must be the herb responsible.
I did a little research and learned that this is Bog Myrtle or 'Sweet Gale'. It grows wild in the boglands of Scotland and has been used medicinally and as flavoring for ages.
More Highland cows - my new favorite animal!
___
The town of Stonehaven, on the East Coast. All the towns we drove through looked similar - neat rows of beige stone buildings. I like the chimneys.
___
'Even if there were no castle at Dunnottar, the site would immediately catch the eye - an enormous flat-topped rock with sheer cliffs on three sides jutting out into the North Sea and attached to the mainland only by a narrow neck of land. But Donnottar is more than a topographical curiosity: this rock and the buildings on it have reflected in miniature much of the rich and tragic story of Scottish history. St Ninian, William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Marquis of Montrose have all appeared on this dramatic stage. Most famously, though, it was at Dunnottar Castle that a small garrison held out against the might of Cromwell's army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, the 'Honours of Scotland', from destruction. The buildings bring history alive and vice versa.' (from the guidebook)
We walked past this pasture on the path to the Castle. This is either a bunny farm or a serious rabbit infestation. We must have seen at least 30 cottontails.
Daniel was the one on this trip who wanted all the 'family pictures'. Now we have Christmas pictures taken care of for the next ten years! Wish it worked that way. I have traumatic memories of taking the 'Christmas picture' every year with the five of us all spread out in age over 11 years. Mom and Dad insisted on taking a whole roll of 36 pictures. The last 18 inevitably where doomed because at least one of the younger ones was crying. The first picture was usually the one that got used - so thankful to have moved into the 'digital age'!
The Castle is perched above and to the side of this natural harbor...
...with this wall of cannons facing it.
If you made it past the outer defences, you met more cannons staring you in the face.
Looking, from the inside, at the wall with all the cannon 'port holes'.
We took our time exploring.Daniel planned the Scotland part of our trip, hence all the castles, but this is probably stating the obvious.
The stables.
'Waterton's Lodging'
The 'quadrangle'. Row of comfortable houses, a 'newer' addition.
The North Sea
'The first stone-built Chapel on this site was consecrated in 1276 and burned, with the English garrison within, by William Wallace in 1297.'
'After the damage caused in the seige of 1651, the Earls Marischal moved to another castle, and Dunnottar became a barracks for part-time soldiers. In 1685 there was a short-lived rebellion, supported primarily by those Presbyterians who refused to accept the king's insistence that he be acknowledged as the Supreme Head of the Church. Presbyterians already in Edinburgh prisons were moved out of the capital to make way for other offenders. Two hundred people were marched to Dunnottar, of which 122 men and 45 women survived the journey. They were thrown into to infamous vault, 'ankle deep in mire' and held for six weeks with no sanitation. Both food and water had to be bought from the guards. Twenty-five men escaped, two of whom fell to their deaths; fifteen were captured and tortured. The remaining prisoners were put on a ship to the West Indies and eventually hit land in New England, about seventy of them dying on the voyage.'
It is sickening to think of the evil that people are capable of - who can argue that people are 'basically good'?!
Aaron had found this 'cool tower' earlier with me and was really excited to show Daddy.
'Life was busy for the castle staff of a hundred or so when the Earl was in residence. The Steward, who lodged by the old keep, and his extensive staff ensured that ale, bread, meat, and cheese were fresh and plentiful.'
The blacksmiths' forge with the big chimney.
The Storehouse and Keep. 
Stoneslab roof...next time we need new shingles...
We had our own tragedy unfold when I took this picture without waiting for Silas to climb up to Daddy and Aaorn. I didn't do it on purpose. It ruined his life for a good half hour.
___
'Without a doubt, St Andrews in Fife is the true home of golf, where the game originated in the 15th century.'
Daniel didn't golf, but now he can say he's been there.
The Old Clubhouse on the far left.
We drove back inland and stayed in Perth.
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