Now in Dufftown

Dufftown is in the northeast, the nearest place with accommodation to Keith which is where the music festival is.

It has been a busy last couple of days...
Thursday we headed off towards Ullapool. There are main roads which are green on the map. These are for the most part either motorway or at least dual carriage, so having decided that one motorway is very much like another we decided to head off 'cross country', or at least on the lesser roads.

The journey took us up around the western seaboard and into country which is far more like that of Central - except for all the lochs that is. But the area is remote and empty compared to what we had seen before.

Of course when on the lesser travelled road, comfort stops do become a concern :) Glenda was at the wheel and I was becoming somewhat desperate when we came across a wee place next to Loch Bran so a rapid stop was called for. There is also a craft shop (with a jewelry workshop) and Post Office there.
We both had a pokey nose - and I had walked out to the car when Glenda called me back to have a look at some 'heelan' coo' stuffed toys. They being so ugly that they were cute. Well I did something very uncharacteristic for me and bought a heelan' coo to bring back. He has been named 'Bran' and has now had his pic taken at a number of locations. Sadly Bran was made in China (cannot escape that invidious situation here either) rather than being a genuine inhabitant and I probably will find that his herdmates are cheaper somewhere else.... However I have to pull in my discretionary spending now; just goes to show what spontaneity does (haha).

The weather was alternately sunny and absolutely chucking it down with a light smir of drizzle in between. The road was very narrow - single lane with frequent passing places. Also lots of tight bends with restricted visibility. Not exactly what one would call relaxing driving.

We also stopped at Gairloch (pics to come). There was no option about going to Gairloch as that is where the one and only road took one, but we chose to stop and have a look about the harbour. This used to be a be a big fishing port, but like so many other livings this too has disappeared.

Ullapool was much smaller than what we both expected it to be. Believe it or not - we couldn't - there are two really high class, non aligned to chain stores book shops, in Ullapool. The place is very tourist orientated but not crass or twee in anyway. The ferry to Stornoway came in while we were there. There was a horse float (with horses aboard,) waiting to load as well as some B trains and private vehicles. The ferry was smaller than the Cook strait ones, but not a small boat by any means.

We headed off from Ullapool to what we hoped to be an experience of a night in a castle. There is a Youth Hostel (name I will have to look up) which is in a real castle. Glenda had rung ahead and left a message on the answerphone. We finally made it (took some interesting navigational detours in the process) to find out that the whole castle had been rented out for a wedding and there was no 'room at the inn'. However we were invited in to have a look about and take some pics.

Anyway I am using the computer in the office of the B&B and feel I need to knock off for the moment. I will continue the tale later.