June 30, 2016 – taloola+travel

Today began with early morning post breakfast pick up by Andrew. Breakfast at Culloden House does not disappoint and I have come to love a full Scottish breakfast. Toast delivered vertical is so much more civilized.

The history of the battle of Culloden is important for anyone considering Scotland trip. Aside from the British slaughter of Highlanders it began a purge of all the clans by the British. Many died but many more found their was to France and North America. There was no potato famine in Scotland.. The people had to flee from British brutality. The moor is a windswept field of wild flowers and history deeply imbedded in all Scots.

This battle also appears in Outlander.

The well of the dead. The Jacobites who followed Bonnie Prince Charlie did not have a chance. 1400 killed in under one hour.

The moor is beautiful .

We drove 1/2 mile to the ancient Druid Cairns.

These cairns were the models for Outlander. Considering their age in thousands of years as they are of same time as Stonehenge.. They are moving to stand amongst.

I did not ‘poof’ disappear but felt it might be possible amongst all the ancient mystery.

Jamie and Claire cannot be too far!

Seems only natural to seek out a wee dram as the sky was threatening. We had this Belvenie reservation along time. So very hard to secure a rare place on a tour there. Three full hours and we emerged brilliant, clever and oh so happy Andrew was driving!

Brian and Andrew

They have their coopers onsight.
The scenery along the was beyond belief! Rolling green pastures lead up to treeless mountains full of heather, cold streams and an allure that cannot be explained.

Sheep!!!! Everywhere!!!

One of the aqueduct ( railway)used in Harry Potter

Can you imagine this bridge was a footbridge as well as a cart bridge. Very old and still standing. Truly beautiful everywhere we go.

Highland cattle ( Andrew calls them HAIRY COOS) villages with no Starbucks anywhere in sight and happy people everywhere.

Fabulous day as rain held off and sky gave us a double rainbow. Dinner and bed and goodbye to Culloden House tomorrow Till we meet again.

Also quite civilized to have the key to a walled secret garden on the fob beside your room skeleton key!

We were met early in Edinburgh by our wonderful guide Andrew Macdonald. He is full of stories and song and Robbie Burns! He will tour is around the Highlands stopping for Outlander and History and perhaps a wee dram along the way.

The weather has been pretty good with just a few drops of rain here and there. We drive past the famous Kelpies ( a huge sculpture that celebrates the old workhorses of the many canals and firths) they welcome you to the Highlands.

Sheep everywhere. I think the stats are 2 million people and 12 million sheep! We stopped in Cullross.. A village left quite the same from the 1600’s. This was Gillies Duncuns home and site of the witch trial in Outlander. Remember the boy who had his ear nailed to the post in center square for punishment? Sort of like stocks! Here it is.

Outlander painted the houses a grey blue and brought in slit of dirt for the mud and mess

I asked Andrew what Hags Wynd means and he replied that Hag means and old mean woman and Wynd means windy street.. So I guess they named it after her. She must have been pretty mean.

The Outlander filming brings great economy to this area. Most people in Scotland have not seen it as 1st season just came out here only on Amazon Prime. Thinking is that Government are holding it off due to worry about an upswell in Patriotism ( Braveheart had that effect back in 80’s) and separation from England possible . Village is beautiful.

Also visited Falkland with was Inverness in show.

We visited Doune Castle sight of famous Monte Python ” cherchez la vache” scene with John Cleese! Plus this is Dougal Mackenzies castle in Outlander and they filmed slot of season one here.

Edradour distillery was great. Handmade and smallest in Scotland