It's true!

Yes....it is true what they say about what is worn under a kilt. Nothing!  I was mooned and shined by a kilt wearing rugby fan in Edinburgh.  Scotland played Italy today.  Scotland wins....Italy is the wooden spoon.

Cateran Trail - Thursday hike

We passed the short walk experience yesterday with the hill walking group so we got to go with the "big kids" on a longer hike today. We walked from Alyth to Blairgowrie which is 7.5 miles.  Our hike yesterday and today was on the Cateran Trail. The trail is a loop that is 64 miles in total.  When we got on the bus this morning it was pouring rain. But....when we stepped off the bus to start our hike....not a drop of rain fell the rest of the day.  AND....the sun came out!

Hill walking group at the start of the hike

We were all prepared for rain....note the bright green rain cover of Tim's backpack. Oh...a backpack is not a backpack here....it is a rucksack.

mossy trees

More mossy trees

I will have a complete collection of "mossy trees" when we leave Scotland

Black face lambs

man-made loch

Ahhhh....the sun beams shining through the trees.  So beautiful.

Rock quarry

Tea break in the quarry

a single piece of moss in a grassy field

The local high school created several eco friendly art pieces in the forest. 

This one is about 9 feet tall.

The valley below the forest

Wind farm in the distance

Pre-historic stone in the field

More really old stones.  This is called a stone circle.

After our hike we came back to the hobbit house for a much needed shower.  Then we went for a drive to preview another section of the Cateran Trail. 

The sun was setting as we drove back to Alyth...and the moon was out.

pink, blue, green, white...so many colors

The perfect ending to a perfect day.

It's Sunny!!!

Today was a beautiful hiking day.

We joined the local hillwalking group this morning for a short stroll through the woods.

Ahhhh...today I remembered why we came to Scotland.

Sights from our hike today.

Frozen pond and an old barn

a man in the woods

snow, sun, moss, shade, trees

stream, snow, creek, moss

meadow, sheep, snowy mountains, blue sky, white clouds

Rain....rain....rain...

What to do on a rainy day in Scotland.....

Sleep until noon, have a long lunch sitting in front of the fireplace at the Land of Loyal, take a nap, watch a movie.....  I think I might like the rain

Drive to....Carnoustie, Dundee, St. Andrews, and Perth

It was rainy and a bit snowy yesterday so we took a drive to the coast.

Carnoustie Golf Course...oops...I forgot to get the course in the picture...I was too busy enjoying the coastal waves.

City of Dundee

I love this little house....it has so much personality!

Down town Dundee....looking for a photography store

Cute Pub across the street from the photography store.

St. Andrews.....Oh my gosh it is soooooo beautiful and amazing...and that is in addition to the golf course

We had lunch at the clubhouse at the golf course....

then....on to Perth....reminded be a little bit of The Bund in Shanghai

Then.....back to Alyth for dessert at The Strathmore golf course....

Sticky Toffee Pudding....WOW!  

I need to learn how to make this.

Snow, snow, snow....

We are hoping to go for a hike with the local trekking group today.....but.....it does not look very promising..

View from our Hobbit House door today....the snow is coming down and starting to stick to the ground.

Driving to Pitlochry

Until yesterday I had eschewed driving in Scotland because the rules are not intuitive. But, yesterday I had an exigent need to get behind the wheel. I intrepidly drove us to Pitlochry,a slightly larger town about 20 miles away. After meeting several large trucks on a very narrow road I became inured to their size and did not feel like a neophyte any longer. (Blah....vocabulary practice... :o )

crystal clear water

Sheep dotting the landscape

Sheep crossing

March snow

Our first distillery visit

Beautiful location for a distillery

Bubble, bubble, bubble...

I am not a fan of whiskey...but they make a drink at this distillery that is like Irish cream (I guess it would be called Scottish Cream here?) and it is pretty tasty!

The town of Pitlochry