Neil Ross and the Sheepdogs of KincraigIn the midst of the vast Cairngorms National Park, lies a sheep ranch owned by Neil Ross, who trains sheepdogs to move flocks with incredible precision over distances of a mile or more.
We traveled to Kincraig to meet Neil, his dogs, and sheep on Day 5, spending a good part of the morning observing him demonstrate how he commands his collies to maneuver the sheep. Neil then sheared a sheep with the help of some brave volunteers. Then came an opportunity to meet and cuddle some of the farm's new collie puppies, feed the sheep with formula, and chat with Neil about the qualities of a good sheepdog, the wool his sheep produce and the challenges of farming today. This was one of our favorite days of the tour, and Neil and his pups were a big part of it. |
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Inverness and the HighlandsAfter Neil and his sheepdogs and a visit to the battlefield of Culloden, we ended Day 5 in the lovely city of Inverness, on Loch Ness, where we spent two nights. Brian led a brief late afternoon walking tour, followed by restaurant recommendations since we were on our own. Inverness has a sizable array of ethnic restaurants, so we opted for Turkish food for something different. After dinner we headed to Gellions Bar, a center of Scottish music and good fellowship, according to Brian. Boy, was he right! That night the local band Schiehallion had the packed bar full of locals and RS tour members singing and dancing to traditional Scottish tunes.
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Clava Cairns or Craigh na Dun?To be honest, I hadn't been aware of the TV series "Outlander" before we joined our Scotland tour. We were quickly bought up to speed on the show while visiting the village of Culross and seeing the various shooting locations there. On Day 6 we really got into the time-traveling spirit of Outlander with a cruise on Loch Ness. Next was a picnic lunch at the mysterious Clava Cairns, prehistoric burial sites marked by very large stacks or rings of stones surrounded by fields where standing stones jut out of the landscape. We found ourselves alone at Clava Cairns, and after walking around a bit, Brian set up an expansive picnic lunch with a variety of Scottish cheeses, meats, veggies, biscuits and of course, a selection of the shortbread and candy that Scots are so fond of.
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The Loch Ness cruise was no less of an adventure, beginning early on a bright, chilly morning, landing at the ancient ruins of Urquhart Castle. The castle was the site of numerous clan wars, a visit by St. Columba to convert a Pictish noblemen, as well as center of Highland resistance to the English in the fourteenth century while controlled by Robert the Bruce.
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Macbeth's Buddhist Castle
Cawdor CastleWhy is a Tibetan prayer flag flying over the Macbeth's Scottish castle? Cawdor Castle stands a few miles from the Clava Cairns in the Highlands and is the hereditary home of the Thane (meaning clan chief) of Cawdor. The fictional Macbeth was Thane of Cawdor and in real life, the early 20th century Thane, the 5th Earl, was an explorer and scholar of religions. His son, the 6th Earl, maintained the connection by keeping a Tibetan Buddhist garden and prayer flags. Coincidently, the historic Campbell family crest includes the motto "Be Mindful"--an important tenet of Buddhism. Cawdor Castle is a residence as well as a historical site--the home of Lady Cawdor, the widow of the 6th Earl. Luckily, I had several chance encounters with with her before and after our tour, exchanging friendly hellos. After running into her a second time I figured I'd ask the question on my mind--what school of Buddhism was her husband an adherent of? She was gracious in answering my question--the Earl was a Catholic, but he had a deep interest in Buddhism and all world religions. We ended up chatting for a couple of minutes before she continued on her errands...
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