Inverness, Fort George, Speyside Distilleries, Historical Scotland

Fort George, just a little northeast of Inverness was built following the 2nd Jacobite Rising (Bonnie Prince Charlie).  It was built not to protect the island from foreign enemies but to keep those pesky Highlanders in check.  The fort has been little changed since it was commissioned in stages from 1757 to 1769.  Ironically, the highland brigades have been so thoroughly integrated into the British Army that the fort is now the home to the elite "Free Highlander Brigade".  It is still an active military post staffed by 1,000 soldiers.  It is part museum and part active military base.  We had to be careful not to wander into any of the "off-limits" buildings.  They all looked the same, but the soldiers made it quite clear if you went through a wrong door.

A Jacobite re-enactor

An active soldier in the Free Highlander Brigade

Owen enlisted in the Brigade at 15, started active service at 16, and has since received a college degree.

We stopped at the post Café: Hot Chocolate, Tea, Carrot Cake, and the 

Famous Fort George Bacon Roll

Next Sandy and I set off to see the many Distilleries of Speyside.  There were large ones and small ones.  Names I've heard of and names that I have not.  As a disengaged driver I chose to look at any distillery we drove past, but to only sample the whisky of one, some Balvenies at the Glenfiddich Distillery.  There is absolutely nothing I don't love about Scotland.  

Speyside country side

Following our visit to the distilleries, we drove north to view some Historical Scotland sights.  

Ruins of Elgin Cathedral (Ruined as a result first of the 

Protestant Reformation, Later by Cromwell)

Elgin Cathedral Ruins

Elgin Cathedral Ruin

Duffus Castle was a fortress–residence for more than 500 years, from the 1100s to the 1700s. The stone castle we see today was built in the 1300s, replacing an earlier timber fortress. 

Once one of the strongest castles in Scotland, it was reduced to a decaying ruin by the time of its abandonment in 1705. But the castle remains an impressive sight, situated on a mound rising out of the flat Laich of Moray.