Day 8 & 9: Inverness

Day 1

We are saying goodbye to our beloved Isle of Skye and getting on the bus to Kyle of Lochalsh. By coincidence, we are having the same driver as we had on our way to the Isle of Skye. The train station in Kyle of Lochalsh looks more like a place somewhere in Scandinavia than in Scotland. Now there is 3 hour way to Inverness. At least we have the time to find some campsite otherwise we are gonna be homeless. Maybe it might be good also look for accommodation in Edinburgh. Well, we have chosen August when the whole Scotland is in high season and almost everything is full.

For now, we are at least able to find a camp in Inverness in a relatively good location. We just have to hope that they won’t be full. After 3 hours on the train and 50 minutes on our feet we are lost and can’t find the camp. We are slowly preparing ourselves that we will have to camp god knows where. Luckily we found it and we are saying hello to the owner Mr MacDonald haha. He is showing us where we can build our tent. The camp is almost empty so I don’t know why we were that stressed. Counting today we will spend 2 days in Inverness. After unpacking all of our stuff it is almost 6 o’clock so we are heading off to the town.

The way to the town goes through Ness Island that is actually a group of small islands situated in the river Ness that are connected by suspension bridges built in Victorian times. Magical walk with a few stopovers is taking us not even one hour. Right in the town, we are running into bagpiper band parade which we are enjoying very much. Quite an experience.

We haven’t been eating much today so we are going to Wetherspoon – one of the chains in the UK where everything is quite cheap. They have also Haggis bites so I am finally getting the opportunity to try it. Unfortunately, Stepan is coward. I have to admit that I quite liked Haggis. Well after Stepan told me what was inside I would probably not have it again for a few days, but otherwise all good. I am happy that I can leave Scotland with knowing that I tried local speciality. Because where else?

During our refreshment, the sun went down so we are going to see the castle where a beautiful view of the city is. The whole city looks like it would be asleep, but it is Monday so who would be surprised. For the way back to the camp we are choosing again through the Ness Islands. Right now there are fairy lights everywhere on the tree shining on our way “home”. The island is now even more magical than in the day. We are arriving in the camp around 11 o’clock and we are looking forward to having finally a warm night.

Day 2

You would not guess what we are gonna do today. Yes, we are going to see the Lochness monster. It will take us only one hour by bus that goes from the bus stop 5 minutes from our camp. On our way to the bus stop with a bus around the corner, Stepan is realizing that he forgot a camera in the tent so he is sprinting to get it. In the end, it was in his pocket, classic :D. The bus is having a delay anyway so we are waiting almost 20 minutes for it. Because it is Loch Ness many other people have chosen the same destination.

Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to see the Lochness monster. We are going for a walk around the lake. Shepherds are training their dogs for chasing the sheep. It is fascinating and funny at the same time. Who needs a TV?
Millions of people of many different nationalities are passing by. After a while, it is becoming calmer but it is starting to rain. We found a perfect coffee shop on our way. It looks more like a visit to grandma’s house. Everyone is taking care of us from the first moment that we have entered it and everything is so cute.

We walked up to Drumnadrochit from where we took the bus back to the camp. In the evening we are just going for the last walk around the city. We are watching the fishermen on the River Ness. Apparently, salmons live there as well! Tomorrow we are moving to our last destination – Edinburgh. We have almost a week there and because many festivals are taking place there, we are not worried that we wouldn’t have things to do there.

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