Dunkeld

Whatever the shortcomings of our hotel in Inverness, we slept pretty well, and it was only a few minutes walk to the station. And the train was great, the Aircon worked, the views of the mountains in the Cairngorm national park were sensational. The only down side was the three foot drop from the train to Dunkeld Birnam station - Anne hurt her knee getting out.

Our hotel for tonight turned out to be a bit more of a walk than we thought. When Anne first checked it we think she might have had the car option rather than the walking option selected. But it is a beautiful walk.

The hotel has a genuinely old world feel, magnificent staircase, sitting rooms, even a wide eyed young lad, who must be all of thirteen, earnestly serving at dinner.

It is, as Queen Victoria observed, "and pretty, pretty place" set in a lush valley on the River Tay. We walked over to see the old cathedral, once host to sthe remains of St Columba, and badly damaged during the disestablishment of churches in Henry VIII's time. It was subsequently at the centre of the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689. A very atmospheric place.

After, we walked along beside the Tay, admiring the wild flowers and the profusion of self sown Russel lupin's along the bank. We walked down to admire the Birnam Oak, said to be over 900 years old, and the last survivor of Birnam Wood. Next to it is a 300 year old sycamore tree, of about the same dimensions.

We stopped for a drink in a bar overlooking the river, admired the aerobatics of the birds that look like a cross between a seagull and a tern, but with a brown head. Also the impressive Scottish dancing of the little girl about four years old whose parents were sitting a few tables away.

Nice dinner in the pub, during which the skies opened and there was a huge straight down deluge of rain causing much excitement.

We have really enjoyed Dunkeld.