And now the end

Slept better last night, on top of duvet and throws. I think the cause may be my cross body bag. I've shortened it to see if that helps.

First stop was Culloden, much improved since my last visit, don't know how many years ago. 

The place was busy, even at 10am, tour buses and ither fowk The exhibition was well done, though I was glad I'd done the Georgian Scotland. I was also glad I'd made the detour to Glenfinnan last week and seen where it all started. 

Then I walked the battlefield. My blip is from the high terrace at the Visitor Centre. The gaggle of folk in the centre are on the Government lines, Cumberland would have been off to my right. The Jacobite lines were across the field in front of the line of trees, the Prince behind, in the middle. All I remembered from my previous visit was the memorial cairn. It was very sobering. There is still such resonance all those years on. Ended the visit by buying a bottle of Badachro gin.

Following that some fruitless, lengthy detours to see where gt gt grandad Alexander Ross worked and died. Stopped off in Cawdor village where the family lived. 

Then off south via Grantown, Brown's Bridge and Tomintoul. I'd have stopped in Grantown but it had started raining and there were roadworks.

It was odd to be visiting the Lecht again, felt strangely nostalgic. It's a well kent area not least because I was the Community Worker there nearly 50 years ago. 

Leaving Donside before Strathdon with it's memories of the 'Big Yin' it was over the hill to Deeside. I did stop in Braemar for coffee and a scone. After that the drive through Glenshee was very wet with very low cloud. 

As I got to Perthshire it cleared up but more roadworks in Blairgowrie. I don't think I've been there before.

The last part of the journey was back on a motorway, and of course rush hour traffic hold ups. At least it was dry.

Home via Sainsbury's to a welcome from Willow. And now I'm home the reality is the next holiday starts a week on Monday.