Having exhausted many of the places to visit in the local vicinity, we wanted to venture further north so booked a hotel on Loch Ness. Getting there would be the good bit as it involved driving through the Cairngorms, the UK’s largest national park, to Inverness. There were other routes but the sun was forecast to come out again and this was the scenic one. To get to the national park we had to take the perilously twisty road over Cairn-o-mount, naturally stopping off to get some shots of the spectacular views back to the coast.
The first pit stop was a quaint little town called Ballater which has royal connections being so close to Balmoral. We parked up and had a stroll around enjoying a bridie from the local bakery (also with a Royal crest). One thing Scotland has over England is free parking at most public places, south of the border you’re getting stung or fined whenever you want to leave the car anywhere.
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Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
What a beautiful station. I'm assuming it has been built in quite a remote area, so it's size would be totally out of proportion with its clientele, yet it looks in pristine condition.
There is no longer a rail line through the Cairngorms so the "station" is just a visitor center. It closed in 1966 and was the former terminus for a branch line from Aberdeen for the royals.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
I am really impressed with the station, and keep scrolling back. Incredible if it's the terminus at the end of a branch line - of course, if it was used by Royals, it does explain a lot. So many chimneys - probably a fireplace for every passenger. Definitely my favourite photo of the day.
There was some transportation minister back in the late 50's or early 60's who gutted the entire UK rail system. Apparently there are remnants of these abandoned lines everywhere. I heard some are being reborn, usually as a private short distance enterprise for tourists and locals.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Big Boy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 1:37 pm
^Just looked again, and spotted peeling paint
'Take away pints' what is that all about?
Takeaway pints from pubs was fairly commonplace (in Southeast England anyway) about 40 years ago. Simply a pint pulled into a takeaway carton. I don't think it lasted all that long, mind, just a couple of years.
The route north took us past a ski resort, over some spectacular landscapes, past some famous destinations on the highland whisky trail such as Tomintoul, Glenlivet, and Tomatin, and across the River Spey. We rolled down the northern side of Loch Ness in the late afternoon under a beautiful solid blue sky in search of The Clansman Hotel where we would be staying for the next couple of days.
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Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Big Boy wrote:Yes, that would have been Dr Beeching. He is responsible for many cycle tracks around the UK
I don't think he was a Dr. Didn't that come from Dr Beacham's powders (or pills) a popular stomach remedy of the time and the two became confused in the popular psyche (probably due to newspaper headlines)?
Anyway I do agree with your sentiments about the photos, although I think my favourites are the pub and the church, to me both impressive stone architecture.
Lots of great pics throughout. Very nostalgic! Went to uni in Scotland and always wanted to go back. Never happened, and probably never will now. Thanks for the illustrated tour buksida.
Big Boy wrote:Yes, that would have been Dr Beeching. He is responsible for many cycle tracks around the UK
I don't think he was a Dr. Didn't that come from Dr Beacham's powders (or pills) a popular stomach remedy of the time and the two became confused in the popular psyche (probably due to newspaper headlines)?
Big Boy wrote:Yes, that would have been Dr Beeching. He is responsible for many cycle tracks around the UK
I don't think he was a Dr. Didn't that come from Dr Beacham's powders (or pills) a popular stomach remedy of the time and the two became confused in the popular psyche (probably due to newspaper headlines)?
