With a forecast of heavy rain all day, we needed to invoke our wet day timetable today. So after a leisurely breakfast and posting a parcel of souvenirs home, we set off for Dunrobin Castle which is near the village of Golspie over on the east coast. It was a great plan but we hadn't allowed for the amazing gardens and the Falconry display. These were too much to resist so we got wet anyway - no matter, that is what we bought the Gore-Tex jackets for anyway.
They have a big collection of birds of prey - all rescues that have been hand raised. It was very interesting to learn about the different characteristics of eagles, falcons and owls and how that effects the way they hunt. The display was conducted in one corner of the rather large formal gardens. In many ways, they are probably the best we have seen so far. Unfortunately for us, we were still too early as the summer blooms were not yet out. Oh well, something for the Next Time list.
The castle itself was an amazing place to visit too. Like every other castle and palace that is occupied, it had all the usual displays of family history but Dunrobin had something extra. They still had all personal items from several generations, much of which is in the family's private museum. Apart from all the hunting trophies hanging on the walls, it was full of souvenirs of travels during the 1800's and 1900's and ancient artifacts, some of which had been collected over 100 years ago. To cap it off, one of the Earls had his own private railway locomotive and carriage (they only had photographs of them) and, opposite the front gate, a private railway station on the main rail line (that is still there and is available for use).
It had been raining all day, so after lunch we went for a drive into the Northern Highland. We left the A9 at Helmsdale and drove up a single track road to Kinbrace where we turned off to Syre and from there down beside Loch Naver to take us back to Lairg. The highlight of our drive was coming across a herd of about 50 wild deer. To finish off our day, we drove down to The Pittentrail Inn for dinner.
Wild deer in the Highlands near Kinbrace
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