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.)
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
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.
