12 March, 2015

Forty minutes bus ride into the Great Glen from Inverness to the Castle Urquhart on the shore of Loch Ness. The weather was fantastically Scottish for my visit. Gray and rainy with gusty wind. There were three to four foot swells and white capped waves breaking down the length of the Loch. Truly the Highlanders are hearty folk to have lived in this place for millennia.

Overview of the castle.

The guys are unsure of the weather, but wanted a souvenir shot.

The craig on the shore of the Loch has been fortified since the sixth century, if not longer. A succession of Kings and Lords built the castle in stages through the 17^th century. Today what stands are remains of walls and a tower that were restored in the last 100 years. The castle sits in a prominent and strategic place on the water, and commands a gorgeous view of the surrounding area.

Today these are but the crumbled ruins of walls and foundations, but for centuries this was home to more than 100 people, and the center of life for countless others in the surrounding area. There are two distinct phases of the castles’ existence. The Grant Tower on the north end is the newest part, and the ruined foundations on the high craig are where the earliest buildings stood 1500 years ago. It always amazes me to stand in these places and imagine life in the medieval times. Today it is a historic preservation, but there were thousands who were born and lived and died here. This place was their world.

The older fortifications. Already ruined in the 17th century.

The newer close, with the 17th century Grant Tower.

On the Tower. Tim was the only one willing to come out for another picture. Jerry said “no thanks” and Wee Dave was afraid of being blown into the Loch and eaten by the monster.

The blustery weather did hold one advantage for me. There were relatively few people there. One lady in the shop told me that in the summer the castle can see up to four and a half thousand a day. On my visit there were maybe a dozen at most among the ruins with me. This allowed me to capture images of the place that are nearly completely unpopulated.

The day calls, and I must be on my way to Culloden.

Banana!

Fin