Orkney to the Black Isle - Scotland

I don't know where my time is going, we have been busy doing a pile of different things, and I just haven't had much of a chance to get to the computer blog.  However, I am slowly getting to these "posts", after this one I still have the Black Isle, Whitby and York to do, hopefully I can get these done before the end of the month.

The day we recrossed the Pentland Firth out of Stromness to Scrabster there was a little more sun - it was still cold - probably a 3 layer day.  Stromness is a pretty harbour, and I love its red lifeboat house.

Just passing the Isle of Hoy

and it's "Old Man" again

After driving off the ferry we took the north  coast road

Stopping at some of the beaches along the Firth

and couldn't help but notice the very large white house on the peninsular - thinking it would be cold up there in mid winter!!

Our next stop was to be the Castle of Mey - the Queen Mother's home in Caithness

After King George V1 died in 1952, the Queen Mother decided to get away from London and the public eye, and came up to Caithness and stayed with her very good friends in that White house above.

Whilst staying with these friends, she saw the Castle of Mey (16th Century) which was in a poor state of repair.

She purchased it and saved it from ruin and it became her holiday home for the rest of her life

The walled garden was very dear to her

Within the shelter of the Great Wall of Mey, a traditional Scottish garden has been recreated

It is very much a working garden

and during the Queen Mother's summer residence, it provided the kitchen with fruit and vegetables

The Queen Mother had a greenhouse built

and many flower beds which were used for the Castle's floral displays

The Queen Mother established the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust in 1996,

and transferred ownership of the Castle to that Trust later that year

Prince Charles is the President of that Trust.

Since his grandmother's death in 2002

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he has stayed at the Castle early in August every year.

Love the slabs of slate fencing - found in many places in Scotland

We did a small guided tour within the Castle - no photos.  The Castle is still exactly as it was when the Queen Mother used it - an hour's tour, just so great, and she certainly had a great sense of humour.

The Queen Mother also seriously bred the North Country Cheviot sheep

along with Black Angus cattle - these continue to be bred on the Castle's farm today

The Castle looks across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Isles

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Our next stop just had to be John O'Groats - the very top of the UK

A bit windy

but we had a very quick wander around

then set south

en route to Wick where we planned to stay overnight.

We passed ruins



most unusual houses and green fields fenced with stone walls on the edge of the North Sea

We arrived in Wick late afternoon and stayed overnight there.

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The following morning we set off early planning to spend some time at Dunrobin Castle below

We were greeted by the Pipes

The Gardens at Dunrobin were laid out in 1850 by the architect Sir Charles Barry, who was responsible for the Victorian extension to this 13th Century Castle (he also designed the Houses of Parliament.)

 

The arrangement of the gardens, inspired by those at Versailles, have changed little in the 160 years since they have been planted.

Despite its location so far north,

the sheltered gardens are able to support a surprising range of plants

This Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses

It is one of Britain's oldest continuously habitated Castles

Just love these red poppies

It is the largest in the Highlands, with 189 rooms.

We headed towards the Falconry

to check out the different birds there

Love the one below - little tiny bird in the water dish beside this puffed up Falcon

The 2 below are Mother (back) and son - she was 18 years old

The Falconer spent a great deal of time with us explaining his history with these birds

and their speed and abilities in their hunts - extremely interesting

We continued to wander through the other side of the gardens

Back up to the Castle

As we arrived - a Wedding was also about to take place

No photos past this Hallway - we did get to look around this incredible castle in amongst the Wedding Procession - it is very opulent, but quite stunning.

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Next - we drive down to the Black Isle (near Inverness) to meet up with Margaret and Kevin for a week in a cottage they often use for holidays in Scotland.