Back to Aberdeen...in the rain

Today we were driving back to Aberdeen...where we had picked up our hire car almost four weeks ago. We set off from Inverness in indifferent weather...which went downhill as we headed east. Between bouts of rain we stopped off at an interesting little church and bell tower in Ardclach. The bell tower is a small two level building, high on a hill, that dates from 1655 and the church, currently out of use, is way down in the valley.

A rare rainbow

Ardclach Church

Ardclach Bell Tower

Back in the car and on our way, our plans to stop off in Grantown-on-Spey were thwarted by a downpour of rain. Needing a break, we stopped at a Falconry Centre near Huntly. We arrived just in time to see the end of a flying display...inside the cafe with an owl due to the rain. We had some lunch while we waited for the rain to stop and had a look around. By then it was time for the next demonstration and for once we had some luck with the weather...the rain stopped and the sun came out...briefly...so the birds were able to fly.

At the Falconry Centre

As soon as the demonstration finished, the rain started again...so it was back in the car and drive to Aberdeen. Once there and settled into our B&B for the night, the next task was to clean out the car so we could return it in the morning. Then it was time for dinner and a look around Aberdeen. It was an interesting looking city but didn't feel all that inviting...mostly because the city is predominately built of grey granite which looks very cold and hard in the rain.

Looking out our B&B window

Aberdeen in the distance