Invergordon, Scotland, UK... Part 1 of 2

This morning I was out for sail in to Invergorden via the Cromarty Firth. The ship passed a number of off shore oil drilling rigs and the Cromarty Lighthouse. We met Johnnie McCormick our guide for the day. After leaving Invergorden, we passed Alness and headed across the highlands through the through the villages of Argay and Bonar Bridge to see the Carbisdale Castle. We did spot a couple of Highland Cows along the way. Our next stop was Dunrobin Castle the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. The earliest part of the building dates back to 1275 and has had a number of extensions. We toured the castle and went to the gardens and watched a Falconry demonstration with a hawk and falcon. The castle was a major highlight; beautiful inside and the outside grounds were stunning…plus the rain held off. We travelled along Loch Fleet, a tidal basin located between Golspie and Dornoch to see seals but unfortunately the tide was not low enough. Driving through the countryside we passed Skelbo Castle ruins. We made had a quick stop at the Royal Dornoch Golf Course before visiting the town of Dornoch. Dornoch sits on the edge of the Dornoch Firth, this small historic town is known for its striking cathedral. We walked around the town and discovered some of the old buildings including the Old Town Jail and the Dornoch Castle Hotel. The Scottish slate on many of the roofs, combined with the buildings dating back thousands of years, gives the town an old-worldly charm. We made a short stop at Glendmorangie Distillery for some quick photos of the building and surroundings. We followed the Dornoch Firth passing through the quaint town of Tain. We continued to the end of the peninsula to see the Tarbetness Lighthouse built in 1830. On our return from the lighthouse, we could see Ballone Castle in the distance and made a stop at the Church of St. Colman in Tain. Tain is a lovely place steeped in history, landscape and lovely architecture. In no time, we were back in Invergordon and bid farewell to Johnny…our tour was an off the beaten path experience as we experienced remote landscapes and authentic Highland communities. Another great day in Scotland…thank you Johnny McCormack of www.seethehighlands.com. Loving every day!!!