2002

In the Summer of 2002, we attended a conference at Oxford, and then took a few days to visit Scotland. Standing on the shore of Loch Ness, named for a Gaelic goddess, we posed for a photo. It was a cool day for July, but sunny. We enjoyed exploring the far north of Scotland, our first time in the area.

What about Nessie? While we were posing, the Loch Ness monster came swimming by. We didn't realize this at the time. It was only when we got home and looked at the photo more closely that we realized what we had. Just click the photo at left for a wide-angle view and see if you can see him . . . er, her . . . er, IT!

Ft. William was our home base for a few days. This is in the northwest of the country, in the region of the Highlands known as Ben Nevis. It is the largest town in the West Highlands, but has a warmth and charm all its own.

A young piper welcomed us to Urquhart Castle. The castle sits on Loch Ness, on the way to Inverness. The mournful sounds of the pipes was just right for this visit.

Urquhart Castle has a long and complicated history, reaching back at least 4000 years. Its importance derived from its strategic location in the Great Glen of the Highlands. The castle is surrounded on three sides, and the land side is uneven, giving it great defensive characteristics. The medieval castle was probably begun around 1230 AD. Many additions were made over subsequent years. The Castle was destroyed in 1692 to prevent its use by the Jacobists.

Eilean Donan, the world's most famous castle, was a beauty. "Eilean" means "island" - the Island of Donan. A settlement here was established in the 6th or 7th century. After 1360, the MacRae clan came to area and held the Island. A castle was built here and stood under MacRae control until the 16th century.

The present structures were repaired and restored, and some enlarged, in the early 19th century. It was still under MacRae family control. 1983 a charitable trust was created to care for the Castle, and it became a museum. It has been used in the filming of numerous movies. We had fun just roaming the halls, and halls, and halls.