July 6, 2008: Plockton

Johanna's tater scones: flat, dense pancakes consisting mainly of mashed tater too flour. The sticky texture didn't win me over on commencement bite, but they are truly quite addictive.

The other novelty for us was the pair of oatcakes that were served amongst our tray of toast. They looked a footling similar digestive biscuits, but were truly harder too non at all sweet.

After breakfast, nosotros gear upwards off towards Duncraig Castle. On the previous solar daytime nosotros had noticed a signpost promising that it was alone 1 mile away through the woods.

Once nosotros circumvented the loch too entered the woods properly nosotros encountered some other sign: Duncraig castle, 1 1/4 miles. Hmmm.

The path became dingy too at that spot were a lot of depression overhanging branches - non the easiest to larn through for a tall feller too a daughter amongst a limp. The scenery was lovely, though, too nosotros persevered.

We took the incorrect agency downward a forked path too were rewarded amongst a residue halt inwards the long grass.

Duncraig railway station. You stimulate got to hail the develop if y'all desire it to halt here.

I was pretty exhausted yesteryear the fourth dimension nosotros reached the castle. Though it looked incredibly grand at a distance, it has clearly fallen into disrepair. H5N1 lonely workman amongst a dusty truck wandered around what nosotros had idea would survive a lively tourist attraction. The windows offered glimpses of rooms stacked amongst junk too wonky furniture. And most perplexing of all was the hideous multi-storey boxy extension to the castle (I couldn't acquit to include it inwards whatsoever of my photos).

There were all the same glimpses of beauty, to survive sure. I couldn't larn plenty of the roses growing untamed hither too around Plockton.

We discovered afterwards inwards the solar daytime that Duncraig Castle has been featured inwards several episodes of Hamish MacBeth, along amongst other films too serial I attention much less about. The Castle's official website tells the story of the Dobson identify unit of measurement purchasing too tending the site, offering it equally luxury accommodation equally good equally a cinema location. However it seems that the identify unit of measurement is forthwith feuding too there's non a lot to survive seen or done at the castle.

Seeing these cows hurtling around the corner towards us made me to a greater extent than than a footling anxious! We paused equally they made themselves comfortable drinking at the creek. The chaperoning bull looked rather wary of us but nosotros didn't cease upwards causing each other whatsoever trouble.

Back inwards Plockton, nosotros wandered a corner of town that nosotros hadn't yet seen (running into what I'm certain was the abode of Isobel Sutherland, Hamish's enduring beloved interest) earlier trying the local takeaway for lunch. There was a whole make of baffling too probably-not-vegetarian options (sausage too pudding dinners, anyone?), but Michael did runway downward a passable vege burger.

I bravely had a larn at a chip butty, alone one-half knowing what it was. Stale chips inwards a super-processed white roll, amongst tabular array salt too vinegar on my request. This was sooooo bad, people. I alone got half-way through it, fifty-fifty amongst assistance from Michael. Regular readers volition for sure know what a chip fiend I unremarkably am - this seriously scared me off.

Sweet onion rings eased the pain.

Our afternoon solar daytime of the month was on Calum's dolphin trip. His guarantee to alone accuse customers after the promised dolphins or seals are spotted inspired the Hamish MacBeth episode 'In Search of Rose'. We were thrilled to larn some bonus seals on our dolphin trip costless of charge.

There was a footling nervousness on Calum's part, but the dolphins did eventually position on an fantabulous show. They were also sprightly for our photographic boob tube camera though!

We tried dinner at the Plockton Inn, simply around the corner from our cottage. Surprisingly they had a few vegetarian mains on the menu.

My eggplant parmigiana was a long on oily cheese too brusk on eggplant, but was appreciated nonetheless.

Michael couldn't remain away from the vegetarian haggis!

Though it wasn't an adventurous dessert, the chocolate torte was neat (the cream-from-a-can, non too thus much).

What Plockton mightiness stimulate got lacked inwards vegetarian culinary delights (and it all the same out-did the average Aussie province town), it to a greater extent than than made upwards for amongst its natural assets. I won't forget its cute olde-town atmosphere or its stunning views for some time.