Morning in Inverness

Woke up to a really fine morning in Inverness and took a walk along the river. They have built a nice river walk along the Ness, lined with old buildings that are now (in our vicinity, at least) largely converted to small hotels and B&Bs. Just a short walk away is Castle Inverness perched on its promontory. I tried to get some snapshots from across the river, but at 5:30 am here the sun was just about to rise behind the castle. Maybe with a little manipulation they will be fine. There is also a beautiful Scottish Episcopal cathedral, St. Andrews, just across the river.

On the island, I had wondered whether the architecture I saw there was peculiar to the Outer Hebrides. But I’m seeing the same building plan predominant in the older buildings here. Box-ish buildings with high-pitched roofs, no eaves, and wide chimney stacks on both sides. The buildings here are generally much larger than on Lewis, though, and frequently of stone rather than the pebble or whitewash so frequent there.

Coming in on the plane yesterday was interesting. We were in the same type of plane, a SAAB 340, as the one that took us out to the island a week ago. Out the windows on both sides I could see the Great Glen and the Moray Firth, thanks to the clear weather. After spending so much time between the sea and the moors, it was great to see wide green fields and forest. And after driving on Lewis and Harris for a week, seeing roads with shoulders made me envy the cab driver.

I’m very sorry that we don’t get to spend more time here. It is a beautiful city. But our train leaves for Northumberland in only about an hour.