Whiskey, dogs, battles and 'The Scottish Play'

We left Dundee travel further north. We arrived in the town of Pitlochry to visit the Blair Athol whiskey distillery. A fascinating tour. They produce whiskey for several of the big companies like Bells and Johnny Walker. This whiskey is blended with others from othe distilleries. 99.97% of all the whiskey produced here goes to blends but they keep .03% to make their own single malt. Because they are a small company this is not exported, you can only buy it there. I tasted it but I still don't like it. GG drank mine.

 

We then went on to a hillside farm where a farmer called Neil Ross demonstrated his amazing sheepdogs. Each of the dogs is trained to different voice and whistle commands and they can control and herd a flock of sheep incredibly well. There were 6 adult dogs and 4 puppies who were learning the their trade. They were gorgeous. He also demonstrated the hand shearing of a sheep, all very different to the way it's done in Australia. GG then got to feed a lamb with a bottle.

 

 

After lunch we headed off to Culloden Field. The scene of the last battle between the Highland clans and the English. The Highlanders were supporting Bonnie Prince Charlie in his attempt to regain the throne and the English wanted him gone back to France. The English won. The battle took place in 1746 and was incredibly violent and bloody. They have an amazing visitor centre and exhibition space explaining the events of the battle. It is just a huge flat empty field, but very moving at the same time.

 

After Culloden we drove to our hotel in Inverness and then we went for dinner in Cawdor. The place made famous by a play about a guy called Macbeth. This is where he was from. He was a real person and he did kill his cousin Duncan so that he could be King, but it all happen ended much earlier than the play.

Another busy but very pleasant day.

 

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