Capital of the Highlands

Nairn

23 - 27 Aug

Our second forest site with mostly rain which again meant the additional clattering of rainwater being deposited onto Libby's roof from the canopy of the trees!

On arrival, in this quiet wooded site I was able to try out my bike with the promise of biking through the woods and down the quiet country lane of approximately a mile and a half to the beach - sounded perfect!!  Sadly, due to the inclement weather, that was it for biking!

We were pitched right at the far end of the site where the red squirrels played and though seemingly rather shy creatures I did managed to capture a few on camera so that was a real bonus!  

Nairn has the most beautiful sweeping sandy beach which on a warm sunny day would be amazing - not quite the same when under grey skies and pouring rain though we had an invigorating walk along the sands. 

 

Inverness - capital of the Highlands

where we enjoyed a walk along the river, a mooch around the town and lunch - and another Scottish wedding at the Cathedral

It pays to look up to find something unusual!

Culloden Battlefield 

The desolate battlefield of Culloden looking much as it did back in 1746

 

We had one fine day whilst staying in Nairn which allowed for beautiful views across the Moray Firth as we motored to Culloden  (a definite on our 'to see' list).   

This was the­ scene of the last major battle fought on British soil in April 1746 when the Jacobite army (under the leadership of Bonnie Prince Charlie) was crushed by government forces bringing the Jacobite dream to an end with 1,200 dead in just one hour - a short and very bloody battle.  

In spite of the modern world class interpretation centre on site, the horror of battle and bayonet remains hauntingly present.  Walking over the ground of the battlefield 350 years ago was an unexpectedly poignant experience - due in no small part to the passionate and enthusiastic guide who took us on the guided walk.  We walked the battlefield and saw  flags now marking the front lines of both Jacobite and Government armies and stone blocks inscribed with the name of the clan or regiment and their numbers indicating the positions at the commencement of battle. We were walking over the graves of those 1,200 dead who, after the battle, were buried on the site by the local townsfolk.  In 1881 headstones were erected to mark these graves. 

To this day people still leave flowers

 

Memorial Cairn

The inscription

Leanch Cottage - where the wounded Government soldiers were treated 

Our guide created such imagery as his account of the battle unfolded.  The entire area still holds the sounds of those cries from the past.

"The moor was covered with blood; and our men .........    looked like so many butchers"
 "The dead lay on all sides and the cries of pain of the wounded rang in our ears"