Scotland: Inverness, Welcome to the Highlands

From Edinburgh we took the train north to Inverness, the nothernmost point of this trip at latitude 57.4778° N. Now it's pretty obvious we are no longer in England; almost no agriculture, some grazing sheep, hardly any villages. Billed as the gateway to the highlands and administrative capital, Inverness, is really a village itself, though it theoretically became a city in 2000. There didn't look to be too many things going on other than tourism (though there must be various stimulation programs), the newly refurbished castle, and a £2 cap on bus rides for most travel within the Highlands.

We walked to Carnarc Point where the River Ness empties into the North Sea, then through the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve to the Caledonian Canal which connects Inverness on the northeast coast to the west coast near Fort William. In a way the canal itself was stimulation for the aftermath of Enclosure; that is, Highland Clearance. The canal could never handle large commercial ships. Then the railways overtook all shipping. Today the canal is used for recreation only. We walked along the canal to Inverness Botanical Gardens, where we caught the end of the last stage of the Great Glen Way, a long distance trail from Fort William to Inverness.

The train from Edinburgh to Inverness was very scenic. Check out the Corinthian columns at Edinburgh Station (1st below). And the Edinburgh Airport (2nd)




Soon we were cruising across the Firth of Forth on the Famous Red Cantilever Forth Railway Bridge with great views to the two other bridges: the Forth Road Bridge, and the Queensferry Crossing.






In Inverness, we stayed next to the railway station, and next to the historic Royal Highland Hotel.


View of the River Ness from Inverness Castle, and then the view of the Castle from the River Ness.




We walked to Old High Church and its blooming Laburnums on our way to Carnarc Point.




View across the River Ness to the Inverness skyline.


The Carnarc Point Monument


At Carnarc Point with the Kessock Bridge behind, and the North Sea farther behind.




The scene along Merkinch Local Nature Reserve to the north end of the Caledonian Canal.


The Caledonian Canal now handles mostly recreational boats like the Pleasure Barge "Ros Crana" (2nd below). And the retired North Sea fishing boat "Scotia W", now a BnB (3rd).






There is a set of 4 locks at this end of the Caledonian Canal. As usual, Sun-Ling had to pull me away from this impressive feat of engineering.. Video 4th below








The Inverness Botanic Gardens.






We returned to Inverness in the rain on the Victorian era Ness Island Walkway, part of the longer Great Glen Way. How about that Wooden Sculpture of the Loch Ness Monster "Nessie"?

Scotland: Edinburgh New Town

In the age of empire, slavery and colonies, Edinburgh expanded beyond the Royal Mile, a New Town was built on reclaimed swamp land, along with museums, botanical gardens, and universities.

We had a rather enjoyable walk on part of the Water of Leith walkway to Dean's Village, a scenic village that milled grain for Edinburgh, dating back to Medieval times.

The New Town is laid out in a grid. We started at St Andrew Square and walked east to Charlotte Square with a detour to trendy Thistle Street. Then circled back through the West Princes Street Gardens, featuring the colorful and captivating Ross Fountain, and great views of Edinburgh Castle.











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The excellent Scottish National Gallery is also in New Town. It features many Scottish artists. Below are some of our favorites, starting with the embroidered monumental Arts and Crafts panels from 1895 by Phoebe Anna Traquair called "The Progress of a Soul". Amazing
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The Hunt (1926) by Robert Burns.


"Portrait of Anne Estelle Rice" (1908) by John Duncan Fergusson


"Edinburgh (from Salisbury Crags)" (1927) by William Crozier


"Lady Agnew of Lochnaw" byJohn Singer Sargent


"Distraining for Rent" (1815) by David Wilkie


The Galleries.








We visited more than several very good museums. First below is "Dolly the Sheep", the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, whose preserved body is a highlight of the National Museum of Scotland. Second is the amazing Lewis Chesspieces, found on the Isle of Lewis, and dating from 1200 AD. Third is the Millennium Clock Tower, which moves twice a day>.






In addition, maybe the best view of the castle end of the Royal Mile is from the National Museum. Not to mention the Grand Gallery (2nd below)








For us, the Water of Leith walk started with a visit to the Modern One and Modern Two National Galleries. Below are some of the highlights. First, "Vanessa Bell Painting" (1915) by Duncan Grant. Second, "Hat in Hand, Hat on Head" ( 1919) by Max Ernst, and third, "Raphaelesque Head Exploding" by Salvador Dali, and fourth, "Theatre" (2021) by Scottish Artist Caroline Walker.










There was an installation by Antony Gormley at the beginning of the Water of Leith walk. Farther downstream, there were many folks admiring the scenic Den Village.








The Himalayan Blue Poppies stole the show at the Royal Botanic Garden.