Betsy’s first Easter Scotland trip. It was combined with a week in North Wales. This page will be limited to the week in Scotland. The Welsh part can be saved for another page. It was also a confirmation that using the GenRad US travel office to book accommodation that was anything other than using US travel chains was a useless exercise. More about that on another occasion. It was the second time that a car rental that did not materialise. We were able to solve the problem by renting a Vauxhall Cavalier from Avis I think, at Manchester Airport. We were ferried around by Bob Ingram for the first week of the trip when we were mainly in Wales.

As usual, it was great week and definitely had Betsy wondering “what have I done?” after she had joined the Phil Broughton “warm up hike” to the falls of Glomach. Other memorable days were The Five Sisters of Kintail, the Glen Elg Brochs, a day on the Isle of Skye with a stop at the Talisker distillery. Of course we had to visit that much photographed landmark; Eilean Donan Castle. Not forgetting looking for the Loch Ness Monster.

Betsy had her first experience of driving on the left – she is very good at it.

On the day we headed to Scotland, Bob took us to Manchester Airport, we picked up the car and then drove my mother to Shaw. Betsy and I then set out after lunch (rather late really) for Nanoch Lodge. We had dinner somewhere near Tyndrum and arrived at our accommodation very late. It was at least 11:00 PM and everyone was in a very social mood. There were some new faces in addition to the people that I knew from earlier Easters. It was the first time that Betsy met Dave and Rosemary Wharton, Richard and Mandy, and the Lochway group. She had met Phil on a previous occasion when we stopped at ICL towards the end of our honeymoon in the UK.

The group was spread over several houses with Nanoch Lodge being the largest where we were billeted and where we all had dinner together.

There were two important birthdays while we were there – Anna, Mandy Jones’s middle daughter was 21 on 21 April. On the the same day, Betsy was 32. So there was some celebration.

The first hike was the long remembered Falls of Ghlomaich walk. Betsy came to the conclusion that the laws of gravity do not apply to water on the Scottish hills because not matter how steep the slope, it was always wet and muddy. There’s no doubt that this was a tough day for some reason. Perhaps we were both out of condition.

Betsy was also surprised to see that the group did not rinse dishes after washing in soap and water, so the aftertaste was noticeable. When we washed dishes, we always rinsed! At one point I was told not to use cold water for rinsing by another guest (I have forgotten her name, but I believe that she has since died) – my logic was that I did not want to waste heat energy, especially with the huge baths at the Lodge; no point in running out of hot water.

There were a few changes from my previous Easter trips. The early morning tea delivered by me did not seem to be needed any more, but I did it all the same. However the Boggle game was still popular and there was still a dinner out on the final evening. Both of these last traditions seem to have lapsed.

Betsy at the wheel of the Cavalier
Nanoch Lodge
Nanoch Lodge again
Gorse at the lay-by on the A87 in the direction of Kyle of Lochalsh
View on the way to the Falls
Water flows uphill in Scotland. We took a high level route to the Falls
At last we arrived
Falls pf Ghlomaich
A bit fuzzy, but another view of the Falls
The top of the falls
Looking back
Betsy crossing the decrepit bridge. She was watched by everybody and it became a talking point. She has always been a good sport about it.
Lunch
Somewhere on the walk out I think. We followed the Allt a’ Ghlomaich back to Nanoch Lodge
Betsy’s first Munro was Creag a’Mhàim above Loch Cluanie. We took the same route that Phil, Dave and I had followed on my first Easter trip in 1983 which was direct. Lots of other people were there at the same time and they used the path. I guess that some peoplet hought that I was being a it reckless by taking this option. On the 1983 ascent we had to break through a big cornice near the summit, but this time most of the snow had melted.
I think this was taken on Creag a’Mhàim
Betsy’s first Munro Creag a’Mhàim
A terrible picture, but it proves that we went to Eilean Donan Castle. Since then we have driven past it many many times and seen it on umpteen calendars, chocolate boxes and the BBC used it as an emblem in the USA for a long time. We were devastated to hear that it’s actually a very recent structure having been built on the site of the original castle, which was derelict for 200 years, in the 1920s by the Macrae family. To be fair, they did use original floor plans. It’s now open as a wedding venue and tourist trap, etc.
In search of Nessie – Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle
Probably near Loch Ness. We seem to have made many mistakes with the light on this trip
On our way to Skye – the first of many that the two of us have made since then. This was pre-bridge and the ferry was still causing huge traffic jams with long wait times at Kyle of Lochalsh. We could not resist making use of these free enterprise public toilets. A true monument to Margaret Thatcher. There loos were clean and very well managed.
The last time that we used the old ferry before the bridge was built.
Memories – the Kyleakin ferry terminal is now a quiet place
Another terrible picture, but this time it’s Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye
On a very wet day, we took a drive with Mandy and visited the Glen Elg Brochs. Another place that we have visited many times since then.
These are very impressive and can be found in many states of repair throughout Northern Scotland. These were rebuilt to some extent.
Always impressive
All that remains is to mention the Five Sisters day. On the descent the group broke up and Betsy was a star, because most people seemed to lose the path on then way down to the tea shop at Dornie. Betsy had no such trouble.
Great views. We had ascended by the usual route following the firebreak.
Loch Duich, etc.
The room was dressed up for Anna’s 21st birthday, but as Betsy had her 32nd on the same day she was given a Poucher book about Scotland – it is proudly on our bookshelf.