"The scenery is beautiful here, so wild and grand – real severe Highland scenery, with trees in the hollow. We had various scrambles in and out of the boat and along the shore, and saw three hawks, and caught seventy trout. I wish an artist could have been here to sketch the scene; it was so picturesque – the boat, the net, and the people in their kilts in the water, and on the shore. In going back, Albert rowed and Macdonald steered: and the lights were beautiful." ~ Queen Victoria, journal entry August 1849

Two days after they arrived,

we hit the ground running...

well, maybe not running...

but we toodled along non-stop.

Traveling to Scotland definitely presents a packing challenge because every day is a surprise you try to be prepared for, wardrobe wise.

Papaw and the Q-tips arrived to a 35-40 degree drop in temperature to what they left behind in Texas.

So...

our visit to Balmoral Castle located in what is referred to as the Royal Deeside...

required some bundling up.

Not part of the Crown Estate, Balmoral is instead a private property of the monarch, purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852.

painting by Queen Victoria...Wikipedia

"All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils". Queen Victoria

As we drove along the River Dee...

and entered the Cairngorms National Park...

the hills and a few Munros surrounded us.

It is one of these mountains,

the Lochnagar, which inspired the tale first told by Prince Charles to his younger brothers, but later published...

My Amazon Store

More adventures tomorrow...
happy Tuesday!