Fort Augustus - Loch Ness

Our small tour group was lead by Debs, a Scottish lass with a great sense of humour, thick accent and kilt. She had spent some time working in Australia, making it as far as Kalgoorlie of all places! The first day we headed from the lowlands into the highlands with the first stop the bottom of Lock Ness (well not literally). Along the way we were struck by the greenery. We stopped for a break by a ruined cathedral next to the heather stained River Tay and then over the Drumochter Pass- the highest road in Britain and into the highlands. With only one other stop for some whisky tasting we arrived at Fort Augustus. As we drove we were filled in on the history of Scotland and so it was fitting that the first night we went to a Clansman Heritage Show. This show demonstrated the weaponry, the lifestyle and even the fashions of the highlanders. Most fascinating were the kilts. These consist of a rectangular 10ft long tartin cloth, skillfully folded to wrap the clansman, no stitching or pinning involved. We ate dinner over looking the lock, keeping a keen eye out for the famous inhabitant before heading to the local for a night of beer and whisky with the new crew.