Exploring Scotland

We are staying in a little fishing village about 18 miles from Dornoch, it is called the Old Ice House, so we assume it was an Ice House for the fishing industry. It is a charming little cottage with ample room for us, only issue is there is no washing machine - so my golf clothes are a little wiffy now!

The village is positioned on the Tarbat peninsula in Easter Ross which sits on the east coast of the “North Coast 500” - a new and exciting circular route around the Highlands of Scotland and named one of the top coastal road trips in the world. Which is what we will be doing now that the golf is over.

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Portmahomack can trace its roots back to 800 AD. Today, this pretty fishing village is well-known locally for its picturesque setting. The only village on the east coast of Scotland that faces due west, Portmahomack can enjoy spectacular sunsets, not that we have seen the sun! And because it is situated in an area of the Highlands renowned for its low rainfall (ha ha having a laugh!), the village doesn’t suffer with those pesky West Coast midges!

We went for a coffee yesterday morning to the local Cafe - Carnegie Hall! That was an experience in itself. Only us in the cafe, greeted by a lass in her fifties who is one of 5 staff. We ask if they can do a Skim Large Flat White - yes we can do anything then she says but I am not sure what milk we have. "Ugo (Hugo with a French Accent), what milk do we have? Ugo comes out from the kitchen and the lass then proceeds to practice her Italian by trying to ask Ugo whether we have any pink top milk. This does translate well - so she reverts to english. Ugo replies and goes to where the lass was standing and opened the fridge to find out it was Full Fat milk only. So I order a Hot Chocolate and John a Large Flat White. I decline the cream but accept the marshmallows. Well my hot chocolate comes with I reckon half a cup of those mini marshmallows on top. Then another guy comes in and orders a coffee, and another lass comes out to serve him and she cannot find her glasses - so the two staff (obviously husband and wife) start a debate on where her glasses are and who put them there. Eventually guy gets his coffee and then Lass cannot work till "Ugo, the till is broken", Ugo comes and saves the day. Bless...

Golf at Golspie

Recommended by a member of Avondale we drove 40 mins further North to the village of Golspie. Golspie is home to Dunrobin Castle. This is one of the grandest houses in the north of Scotland and is situated just north of the village. The day was calm and beautiful when we left Portmahomack, when we got out the car it was freezing and windy az.... On with the layers and off we go on another links golf adventure. The short video below captures some of the more interesting moments of the day.

Ben Bhraggie

On top of Ben Bhraggie sits a statue of the Duke of Sutherland - With its plinth and statue, the monument stands at more than 30m (100ft) in height and is visible from several miles away. Known locally as The Mannie,

Portmahomack to Newcastle

We are leaving home Portmack early so that we can spend time with Jack (John's nephew) who is coming for the week-end, instead of retracing our steps directly to Newcastle - we are going on the Loch Ness trail, to Loch Lomond, Glasgow, Carlyle and Newcastle. We leave the Scottish Highlands through Loch Lomond National Park, I have compiled a video of the drive and photos for you to get an idea of the 4 seasons we encountered (no snow thankfully) but it was spectacular where ever you looked and when you could see as we were in the clouds for a bit.

The end...