Poignant Moments

24th - 28th Sept
Inverate and Onich

Commando Memorial

Back on the mainland from Skye we spent a couple of days in Inverate, south of Kyle of Lochalsh, near the Eilean Donan castle.  
 

 










 












Following in the footsteps from Vikings and Jacobites to 'James Bond' and 'Highlander, it was a fascinating castle to visit.  The excellent portrayal of its history along with artefacts and furniture from the early years through to the present day illustrated brilliantly how the castle has evolved.  It is still lived in to this very day albeit not in the huge cavernous rooms lacking central heating - a small area of the castle has been converted into more comfortable accommodation but this has only been done very recently and the main castle banqueting hall is still used for the larger family functions -   winter woollies being a necessity I would imagine!

We met Tony Robinson (of Black Adder fame and more recently Time Team) while we were there!  We virtually bumped into him as we passed on a narrow stairway - no mistaking that red woolly hat!  He was filming a documentary series covering historical events in Scotland.  

Then it was on to Onich to a beautiful site beside Loch Linnhe - we are being so spoilt with such beautiful views wherever we stay.  Here we had mountains, the loch, swans and their cygnets, lush green grass and beach frontage - we even had a waterfall - what more could one add?

Views from our 'front window' !

 

and just a few yards there was the river feeding Loch Linnhe,

 

Though most of our plans for this area had to be abandoned due to rotten weather we did manage to see the Commando Memorial near Fort William and Neptune's Staircase before we got rained off!   Gondola ride (6 person cable car) across the Nevis Range and the Jacobite steam train journey from Fort William to Mallaig on the list for the next visit.

Neptune's Staircase

 - an amazing feat of engineering, built in the early 1800's, it takes approximately one and a half hours for a boat to go through the 8 locks - a tad longer than it took us to climb all those stairs to the top!!
 

Stunning views across The Nevis Range - no climbing Ben Nevis this time round!

 

 

This impressive 17' bronze statue was erected in 1952 in memory of those Commandos who trained in the area and died during WWII.

Beside this, a special area has been created for all those Commandos killed in action since WWII and those dying naturally in their latter years.  A place where flowers, photos, poems, messages (some forlornly so faded over the years) have been placed in memory of lost loved ones.  In itself a small insignificant piece of ground yet held within was evidence of such grief, pride, love, sacrifice, dedication, commitment.  Beyond this lay an area for the scattering of ashes.

With continual reporting of conflict around the world nowadays, we've become almost desensitised - the death of yet another service man or woman being killed in the line of duty is becoming daily news.  Yet standing there, reading some of the poems and messages - some so faded over the years the words barely decipherable,  looking at those young faces in the photos - lives cut off so abruptly, it was a place to reflect on the momentous sacrifice service men and women continue to make and the grief their death brings to those who have loved them. 

It was a very poignant experience.