Day 14 - Inverness & Loch Ness

I just loved Inverness as soon as I arrived. I couldn't say why, I just did. Maybe it was the river, maybe the footpaths along it, maybe it was the 100m that separate the Tesco from the hostel, or maybe that I had just arrived from Aberdeen. Whatever the reason, it was love at first sight, and it burns still.

But Loch Ness was nearby and I thought it a good idea to make the most of the day and go there at once. The bus was a mere £8.40 return for a 30 min ride. For that price, I expected an on-board buffet and cocktail bar, but found no trace of it.

I alighted at Urquhart Castle only to find the admission to the grounds to be valued at £6.50, adults and students alike. Therefore I turned on my heels and promptly trespassed on several neighbouring properties, looking for a nice spot for a photo. I found it and made good use of it, obtaining material for a whole look-there-it-is Flickr photo set, with Nessie to be photoshopped on later.

After investing some more time in lake-gazing, hill-looking and sheep-spotting, I thought it prudent to return to civilization, at which point I extracted my bus timetable, only to discover in dismay that the next bus was due in 3 hours.

I dragged my feet 2km down to Drumnadrochit, the nearest excuse for a town, wondering how I was going to fill 3 hours of my life in this great big damp nothingness. I tried to get on a boat for some Nessie hunting, but the last expedition had already departed, so I just loitered about the souvenir shop, delving through piles of Nessie themed fridge magnets, key chains and the like, until boredom made its way into my life.

I left, extracted what entertainment I could from my wikipedialess, mp3less, bookless PDA and wrote a couple of blog entries, then just sat in the sun until the bus appeared on scene.

Back in Inverness, I enjoyed a stunning sunset on the banks of the Ness and treated myself to a cheap and very nourishing Tesco dinner.

A wonderful day, really.