From Beauly to Bielfeld (near Aberdeen)
We hope you haven't got the impression we are incorrigibly alcoholics (Elisabeth doesn't drink at all, back in Holland and Teije just sticks to a few beers). But the Scottish (yes, it's all their fault) are very hospitable and they all offered us a drink, which we couldn't refuse, of course. And it was our last night in this hotel (we didn't know then that we would not only return again within two weeks, but also the next years). We had talked with Iain and Cathy, the owners, till far beyond closing time, so we show up quite late for breakfast.
We would have liked to stay here, but we have come here to see more (all) of Scotland, as far as that is possible in 3 weeks time. So, it is time to move on. Our plan is to go to the east coast, then move south, towards Edinburgh and finally to Ayrshire and Galloway in the south west of Scotland.
After a long coffee break, talking with Iain and Cathy for some time, it becomes noon before we leave. Past Elgin the landscape changes. It is still nice but much more flat and totally different from the Highlands.
We have a late start and there is so much to see in Aberdeenshire (castles, prehistoric sites) that we decide to search for a hotel near Aberdeen.
On the way we pass by Castle Fraser, which we visit. It is administered by the NTS (The National Trust for Scotland) and we find out they are the 'expensive Trust' (Historic Scotland being the cheap one). They administer almost half of all the castles and ruins and ask £ 10,- (€ 16) per person as entrance fee. In 2001, the fees have been reduced. But we must say, the castle was very impressive to walk through.
To see all of the castle, you can spend a few hours. For once it is an interesting experience, but after that we decide we don't have to see the inside of all castles we will come upon.
After a short visit to Aberdeen, we drive back to Bielfeld were we have seen a nice inn, 13 kilometers from Aberdeen. In the Bielside Inn, people are also very hospitable, but we did notice a difference with the Highlanders, but we don't know how to describe these differences precisely. Anyway, we still feel very comfortable with the Scotsmen.
© Teije and Elisabeth 2000 - 2012
After a long coffee break, talking with Iain and Cathy for some time, it becomes noon before we leave. Past Elgin the landscape changes. It is still nice but much more flat and totally different from the Highlands.
On the way we pass by Castle Fraser, which we visit. It is administered by the NTS (The National Trust for Scotland) and we find out they are the 'expensive Trust' (Historic Scotland being the cheap one). They administer almost half of all the castles and ruins and ask £ 10,- (€ 16) per person as entrance fee. In 2001, the fees have been reduced. But we must say, the castle was very impressive to walk through.
