Up for brekky early and packed ready to go.

(two photos) Sunrise over Loch Ness

Our drive was by Loch Ness which we had conquered the day before.
It is was a lovely drive with snow everywhere - the trees looked amazing all covered in white.

Hairy Coos------and Tanya with an "unco-operative Coo"

"A lovely little hairy horse"

We found ourselves a Hairy Coo and stopped for photos but the buggers wouldn’t turn around - then this lovely little hairy horse came up to the fence - I think he was hungry and when he saw we had no food he trotted off too!

The Castle and Loch Ness (two photos)

Then it was to Castle Urqhart on the shores of Loch Ness.
You normally have to pay a charge but it was closed so we just jumped the fence and headed in.

Sunrise over the Castle and Loch

The sun was just coming up over the hills and it was lovely.

Tanya at the Castle

A sling-shot that was near the Castle

The Castle was nothing special though - just another ruin!

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And here is Ruthie asleep while driving!!!

More driving and more driving - it was like travelling through another world and with the snow and Lochs and Mountains.

I just sat and stared out the window and took a few videos too.

Hot chocolate stop - and Ruthie is making the drinks

We went to Glen Coe and stopped for hot chocolate and chips.

(two photos)------(two photos)

We made it on the side of the road in the glen and apart from the fact that it was freezing I could have sat all day looking at the scenery.
I really don’t think my photos do it justice.

On the way back to the bus after traipsing out through the snow Ruthie made the girls stop for a "titty dive"
Any excuse to get her clothes off that girl!!
The tops came off and on a count of three the girls dived into a small snow bank and left an impression of, well you know what…BRRRR!!!!!

Tanya in the Scottish Highlands

Rannoch Moor - "I really love this photo!!!"

After a quick loo break (behind a hill - yes, we made yellow snow!) it was back on the bus for the drive through Rannoch Moor.
The scenery was breathtaking and again my photos do not do it justice.

Wild deer on Rannoch Moor (two photos)

We found a wild deer and I also took more videos.

Ruthie talked to us the whole time about the history of Scotland and various battles and it was great to have her take on things.

"We stopped at a truck stop for lunch"

We stopped at a truck stop for lunch - it was in a tiny little village.

"Pink snow"

Back on the bus then and more driving.

Here he is - and a couple of close-ups!!! (two photos)

Ruth then asked us if we wanted to meet her boyfriend.
We pulled in to the side of the road and met Hamish.
Hamish is a Hairy Coo and is a bit of a local hero.
His owners provide bags of food.
Ruthie said we could give him a kiss if we wanted.
She put a carrot in her mouth and then he ate it out of her mouth and licked (“kissed”) her lips…eew!

......and Tanya being very brave!!!

I just fed him by hand!!
We had to be careful of his massive horns - he doesn’t quite realise how big they are - Jade fed him and then took a step back and he swung his head around and clocked her in the side of the face - poor thing would have had a bruise.

View over the city back to the Highlands (two photos)

Back on the bus for the drive to Stirling and up to Wallace Monument.

The Monument

"......and the moon was lovely as the sun set" (two photos)

Wallace Monument is on the top of a hill - there is a flat and on the other side of the flat is Stirling Castle.
There was a battle there with the English held up in the castle and the Highlanders up where Wallace Monument was.
Very interesting and the moon was lovely as the sun set.

Then it was the drive back to Edinburgh and to the Hostel.

Most of us were staying at the hostel so we arranged to meet up later that night.

Tanya and the rest of the group (two photos)--- Ruthie and Tanya

Paul and Mel------ Tanya and Nikki

Ruthie and Paul------ Paul and Tanya

I went to dinner with Nikki, Mel, Karina and Lee - just a pub meal before we headed to a bar to meet the rest of the group and our fearless guide.
Had a few drinks at the Aussie pub and we found a pound on the ground.

Television commercial for

Paul----- Tanya----- Jade

Mel--- Ruthie--- Oz--- Nadia

Nikki----- Adam----- Aaron

Since we were in an Aussie pub and they were selling cherry ripes we brought one.
We remembered the tv commercial for the cherry ripes at home where the lady holds it at a really weird angle when eating it so you can still read the packet.
We all posed for photos with the cherry ripe and got a small bite each - seems a bit odd but we all thought we were hilarious at the time!

Back to the hostel and to bed - I was tired.