Best B&B so far- Newcastle

Visited Newcastle to catch up with our good friends Mandy and Graham (and George and Molly).

They gave us the best tour yet; great local knowledge and great history. This reminds us that we should take more guided tours rather than randomly take photos of important looking stuff.

A small city, Newcastle has an education focus (2 major universities) with industrial revolution roots. Highlights of medieval, and prominent Victorian, architecture.

The bit that we were not expecting is how they have managed to combine the old and new throughout the city such as the Baltic modern art gallery in a converted mill on the river and modem use of glass that reflect the grand old buildings of prosperous times past.

A great example of the potential of a redundant port for reinvention. Thinking of our Port back home.

Thanks Mandy and Graham for a most memorable visit- by far the best b&b yet and most definitively the best food (gf yorkies!!!!!!!).

Ben and other huge mountains..

Brekie- awesome. Randomly picked a hotel in Fort William with one of Scotland's top rated chefs. 'Best breakfast since we have been away... excluding New York's bagels!' Rach said.

Winter, so could not hike Ben Nevis. Hiked one of the gorges to a waterfall instead. The crossings were a little hairy, and sometimes we only had a path a few feet wide. Easy to slip on the black rocks- the snow had melted a lot in the last few days.

The road between Fort William and Glasgow took us through the Glen Coe. It was the most beautiful scenery yet. Approach 1000 metre high mountains, turn a corner and then there is another daring mountaineers to have a go.

Now in Glasgow. Rach was determined to try both haggis and mince & tatties before we left Scotland. She liked them both.

1. Rach in front of one of the hairy sections we crossed on the gorge- hence we did not make it to the top. 2. Waterfall section. 3. 'Who's been sleeping in my bed' Glasgow room.

Nessie and the end of the world

Souvenir shop crazy this morning as we hit the Nessie Land shop first thing. Well, you can't get Nessie gear anywhere else.

Left behind the Loch Ness for the top tip of Scotland, John O'Groats.

Desolate, but in an Aussie sort of way. Many warned us that it is like the moon, no matter, only an extra 200 miles to check it out. To them a lot, to us not much as we drive 500 miles to Melbourne.

Driving back down now, across the pretty firths and lochs as we head to Fort William near the UKs tallest mountain 'Ben Nevis'. Our biggest day of driving so far and still aways to go. Hopefully will find some accommodation easily when we reach the town!

A long way today but we were rewarded with pretty views, a close sheep encounter and a John O'Groats magnet- which you can't buy anywhere else..

There is more to the highlands than whiskey.... but...

Wednesday...
Left Edinburgh yesterday for Inverness in search of the infamous Nessie of Loch Ness.

On the way we stopped at the village of Dalwhinnie and at the distillery that takes its name.

This is the 'highlands' single malt whiskey district. The landscape certainly lives up to its name. Massive snow capped mountains, blue skies.

The wee dram of whiskey in the tasting rooms was very interesting. I have always found Dalwhinnie to be a delicate scotch, this all changed when I tried their cask strength 20year old version. Jet fuel.

Stayed in a pretty, old, hotel near the Inverness Loch, and enjoyed a big breakfast this morning before setting off to the Speyside whiskey district to visit Cardhu, the base whiskey for Johnnie Walker scotch and a great single malt.

Our guide at the distillery was fantastic, we both learned a lot about the whiskey process. Tom Tom took us through some very narrow roads, and we managed to get to Loch Ness country by dark.

Have just arrived at our accommodation. We are truly on top of the world here, Pug just got up the hill, in a little town called Balnain.

We have a massive room, with a ensuite, dining room and lounge room. The view is breathtaking, snow capped mountains, overlooking a sparkling blue lake and forest. Not staying long, so will probably miss the deer and foxes that walk up to our door. The last pic is a step outside the front door.

Lollies!

Monday...
A bagful of lollies for 70p at the local sweetie shop! What a bargain, you just don't get that in Aust anymore :(

Made for a nice dessert tonight, some chocolate white mice, strawberry strap, licorice and a lolly watch- yummmmmmmmo.

Sherbet fountain and lollipop for later. These Barratt sherbet fountains were my fav when I was little :) xr

The first castle of many..

Monday...
Woke to a pink sunrise with a great view over the old city of Edinburgh.

On the early morning walk up the cobblestoned Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle we were surrounded by dark old buildings that all look like castles and steep little 'close' alleys that narrowly get you up and down the volcanic hill that the City is built on.

Ed Castle was a fun and educational experience, and offered the best views of the city, and luckily we arrived on the day when they bring the big guns out to celebrate the 60th anniversary of something royal.

Hungry after the castle adventures. Discovered a gluten free pizza bar, after going in a pub and discovering no gf options as even the sausages come prepacked in gravy... Pizza was best ever gf! Trav's is on the left! Also, could not resist a little crackling on the way home...

Welcome to Scotland

Sunday... The snow last night kept on coming until about 11pm. It is a bit surreal, like looking at a postcard.

This morning reality really hit- that we have to get the car out of the carpark and that snow becomes icy and dirty on roads and footpaths.

Made a quick trip back in to York to see Clifford's Hill- a castle at the top of a manmade hill. All the old buildings were very pretty with a top layer of snow.

Made it out of the carpark after scraping all the snow off of the windows. The rest blew off on the A1 to Edinburgh. A very heavy fall- more than 6 inches deep.

Had a roast lunch at a great little pub in a very small east coast village. The locals all wanted to talk to us, one even set the table for us and made sure the fire was burning well. Very welcoming people. Sunday roast was great, best yorkies yet for Rach and enough veggies to not be able to get through them all.

In Edinburgh for the next two nights. A well laid out city and very old. We have already met down to earth strangers that take a genuine interest in others- refreshing after London.

Update- they have just announced on the radio that there are dangerous driving conditions on the A1 from York to Scotland including 'Black Ice'. Some schools have closed because of it. Lucky we made it out of York while the snow was fresh. Many adorable kids in toboggans making the most of the rare level of fresh powder in local parks.