Castle on the Hill

After spending far longer than planned at the Fort, we eventually headed into Inverness itself for a wander and gander.  Inverness, meaning "Mouth of the River" is regarded as the capital of the Highlands and is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom.  A kingdom was established here, latest by the 6th century with the first royal charter being granted by Dabid Mac Mail Choluim (King David I) in the 12th century.  The Gaelic king Mac Beathad Mac Finlaich (MacBeth) whose 11th-century murder of King Duncan was immortalised in Shakespeare's play Macbeth, held a castle within the city where he ruled as Mormaer (lordship) of Moray and Ross.

Currently Inverness is home to about 50,000 people and is one of Europe's fastest growing cities, with a quarter of the Highland population living in or around it.  It is ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life, the highest of any Scottish city, and was found to be the happiest place in Scotland in 2015.

Inverness Castle sits in the centre of town on a cliff overlooking the River Ness.  A succession of castles has stood on this site since 1057, but the red sandstone structure seen today was built in 1836 by architect William Burn.  Today it houses Inverness Sheriff Court and is, therefore, not open to the public.  Last month the north tower of the castle was opened to the public as a viewing point, but at over 30 quid for the six of us to to go, we passed.  The local museum and Art Gallery was also closed, being a Sunday, so we settled for a leg stretch instead.

Looking up the River Ness (south) towards Loch Ness

Looking north towards the mouth of River Ness

But no visit to Inverness is complete without a walk along the beautiful banks of the River Ness to Whin Park, which the girls and I last visited with iChum and her first two way back in May 2010.  We even tried to get an ice-cream but this time were too late for the wee shop at the park.

And that was the last of the glorious weather, because this morning we woke up to this:

I did debate switching on the tele in the caravan, but instead chucked them all out to 'enjoy' their first Scottish summer in a while *cackle cackle*.  Except of course it backfired because of course they all came in sodden with trousers and socks that needed drying in front of the gas fire before we could actually set off back home.  Those gas fires in caravans are life savers.

Because of the weather we decided to spend the morning at the city's Aquadome: "It's Yas Waterworld but inside!!!!"  It wouldn't be even if everything was working, but being a school day up that way none of the flumes, waves, rapids or fountains were going to be on till 4pm, and we weren't hanging around till then.  Or paying the leisure pool cost for a basic swim we could get at home.

Plan B was to visit the huge playbarn at Lhanbryde half way home, except when we got there it was closed and not open till Wednesday.  Man!  So there was no other option really but to stop in Baxters for one of their massive pancakes - darn it - before getting home in time for piano and swimming lessons, which obviously didn't see Monday as a holiday.