Tain - Top Wee Town!
Trip Start
Jul 29, 2011
1
4
16
Trip End
Oct 14, 2011
Tain, Scotland, United Kingdom
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Feeling sad leaving Ellen's, such a short visit :(
We left Ellen's reasonably early to get on the road heading to Tain, in the north of Scotland
up near Inverness.
But first we head over to see the Falkirk Wheel, an amazing piece of engineering which facillitates the canalboats by lifting and lowering them from the Clyde Canal to the Forth Canal. Prior to this they would have had to go through several canalgates to do this...I had seen the wheel before when I was here in 2004 with Mum, but I knew Stewart would enjoy seeing it.
We stopped in Perth, for a look around the shops, such a nice place, and tried once again to find a coffee..OMG... having real difficulty finding a decent coffee here...they just don't do them!!
Hannah had warned me, so have been drinking more and more tea...however the shopping is great!! LOL!!
Arrived in Tain late in the afternoon, after driving through Aviemore and Pitlochry, and found Susie's
little B&B. We had a warm welcome from Susie, and our room was lovely...with views of the country..perfect!
Headed down to a local pub for tea, the meals are reasonably here...and good value except they seem to have chips with everything!!
The exchange rate is good for us, about 2:1. Pub meals are anything from 8.50 - 12 pound and as I say, delicious!... There is such a neat atmosphere in the pubs, very friendly and social.
The following morning after a hearty cooked breakfast we headed round to Lynette's. Mary, Lynette's mum and Stewart's first cousin was there and it was her birthday. It was thru Facebook that Lynette was able to contact me 2 years ago, and this was the catalyst for our trip over to the UK, to see Mary, and other family that Stewart had since come to learn about.
Maureen and Helen, Mary's sisters (Stewart's cousins also) came round, plus Mary's daughters and grandchildren
As you can imagine there was plenty of reminising of memories of a long time ago... We have photos of when Stewart when he was about 3 years old with his cousins.
After a 'throw together' lunch we went for a drive with Mary and Lynette around the area, down pretty country lanes.
We went up to a View point overlooking the Firth and Dornach Bridge and with the weather being nice we had a great view. The heather was blooming! so picked some to take for Sheena when we headed to Edinburgh the following day.
Later in the evening we went for a delicious meal at the Morangie Hotel with Mary, Lynette and her daughter Emma.
Closeby is Glenmorangie (whiskey), but we didn't partake LOL! ~ How times change!
Tain is a lovely wee town, very pretty, with lovely old buildings and lots of flower baskets
making it very attractive.
The following morning we headed back into the town to take some fotos before heading away on the next leg down to Glamis to meet another relative, Stewart's great Uncle Gordon.
We went back down the same way we'd come, but as it wasn't raining on the Saturday, we could see for miles, and the views were spectacular, the sun was even trying very hard to come out!
We arrived at Gordon and Nina's at lunchtime as arranged, and after meeting the family sat down to an enjoyable lunch. Lots of talking, photos and trying to work out who was who in the family, as this great uncle, Stewart didn't even know about. Stewart's great grandfather actually had another family at the ripe old age of 65,, so when Stewart's Dad, Hugh was about 10, Gordon was a baby. Stewart never knew about him, and it was only after talking to Mary, and hearing from her about Gordon that we got in touch with him. Gordon is 76, and a rather sprightly man, totally delightful as was his wife, Nina, and daughter Hazel, her husband Stuart and son Rory.
Gordon had been the chief forester at Glamis Castle for 30 years, where the Queen Mother (stayed) and they still live just outside the gates.
We went for a drive around the Castle and Estate, very impressive. Gordon was pointing out all the various trees he had planted over the years, and had stories about various areas within the huge grounds.
After yet another cuppa, we said our goodbyes, and headed for the beautiful city of Edinburgh, and thanks to Sandra, the GPS lead us straight to Sheena's door!!
Comments
Awww.. sound like you are having a fabulous time, I look forward to hearing from you guys,take care and enjoy!!! X
Hi Max - great to read your travel blog. Really feel as though we are travelling with you. Glad everything is going well. Have fun!
It's snowing here! Yes - in NP
How wonderful for you, Stewart, to find a new family. Gordon looks to be a lovely man. Who knows--he just have a fit and travel to NZ and widen his horizons. Tain is very clean from what I see in the pics. The inhabitants are surely proud of thye "Wee Toon". Thank you for the blogs. All very interesting. Thank you. XXX
Hi to you both from NNU. Loving the news & fowarding it on to the girls. You look well & I am traveling with you in spirit! We are getting a new car. Tomatoe red. Going to call her BIG RED!! Fab. Hear from you again soon.
It was great finally getting to meet you both. From the virtual to the reality, it has been so overwhelming, and was great that you could join us on Mum's birthday. Emma was delighted with her gifts, and she still giggles to herself about how you do not walk on your hands as her dad had said :) . We are so glad the weather was nice the day you were with us.
The Tain Initiative Group every year work on the Floral displays, and it fairly brightens up the Town. Tain has such a great history, we received our Royal Charter back in 1066.
From your photos and description of NZ, has made me search the internet for flight prices, it looks such a lovely place to stay, and not a world away from what it is like in Scotland.
Keep in touch, and fingers crossed it will not be so long before we meet again.
Lynette
Looks like yopu got a hang of the new camera. Great getting all the updates.