Fort William to Dufftown – August 13, 2013
We woke this morning to sunshine and blue sky – a wonderful start to the day. However, the low hanging clouds loomed nearby shrouding the tops of the mountains. After the first day, we knew all too well what that meant. However, we didn’t come to Scotland for the weather.
![View from our room at Myrtle Bank](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/View-from-our-room-at-Myrtle-Bank-2-300x200.jpg)
As we got further inland, the skies cleared even more and it became a gorgeous day for travelling. Not too hot, not too cool. Just right. We stopped just past the town of Laggan at the dam since the sun was out so bright at the time.
![The Laggan Dam](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/The-Laggan-Dam-300x200.jpg)
Something else I had wanted to see for some time after seeing it online was the old bridge at Carrbridge. Since we had plenty of time, we made the side trip into the community in search of the bridge but even more importantly, the much-needed WC, which was easier to find than the bridge – thankfully.
![Old bridge at Carrbridge](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Old-bridge-at-Carrbridge-300x200.jpg)
For us, no trip to Scotland would be complete without a visit to an old churchyard and some sculptured stones. We got both at the Inveravon churchyard. The sculptured stones were secured away from the elements inside an alcove in the church.
![Inveravon sculptured stones](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Inveravon-sculptured-stones-200x300.jpg)
![Inveravon sculptured stones](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Inveravon-sculptured-stones-2-200x300.jpg)
![Inveravon sculptured stones](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Inveravon-sculptured-stones-3-200x300.jpg)
![Inveravon sculptured stones](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Inveravon-sculptured-stones-4-200x300.jpg)
Once we arrived in Dufftown, we stopped at Balvenie Castle even though we had visited there in the past. We rejoined Historic Scotland (after letting our memberships lapse a few years ago) before we came over so it was time to start using it to our advantage.
![Balvenie Castle](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Balvenie-Castle-300x200.jpg)
![Looking up one of the fireplaces at Balvenie Castle](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Looking-up-one-of-the-fireplaces-at-Balvenie-Castle-200x300.jpg)
After we established the location of our B&B – Fernbank House – we decided to take a distillery tour since we had plenty of time before we had to check in. We waffled at bit on which one we’d go to, Cardhu or Glenlivet and for today, the latter won.
![The Glenlivet Distillery](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/The-Glenlivet-Distillery-200x300.jpg)
![Display at the Glenlivet Distillery](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Display-at-the-Glenlivet-Distillery-200x300.jpg)
At the end of the tour we got to sample the product. We’ve both had the 12 year old Glenlivet so I chose the 15 year old and Don the 18 year old. I could only have the smallest of portions since I’m the driver when we’re in Scotland so I had not even a full mouthful of mine and an even smaller taste of Don’s but man was it smooth. We enjoyed it so much we bought a bottle. Will it make it home with us? Not likely, but that’s another story. After our distillery tour, we checked in at Fernbank House.
![Fernbank House B&B](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Fernbank-House-BB-300x200.jpg)
The upstairs window on the left is our room and the smaller one in the middle is our ‘private’ bathroom.
![Our room at Fernbank House](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Our-room-at-Fernbank-House-300x200.jpg)
![Our room at Fernbank House](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Our-room-at-Fernbank-House-2-300x200.jpg)
![Our room at Fernbank House](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Our-room-at-Fernbank-House-3-300x200.jpg)
Once we were checked in, we walked back into Dufftown (about a 20 minute jaunt) where we had chicken curry and sticky toffee pudding for dessert at The Stuart Arms Bar & Restaurant. Good thing we were on foot. We needed to walk off all those calories… LOL!
Let’s play SEEKING SARAH SHAND!
![Seeking Sarah Shand](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Seeking-Sarah-Shand-6-200x300.jpg)
![Seeking Sarah Shand](http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Seeking-Sarah-Shand-7-300x200.jpg)
Tomorrow we’re off to Kennethmont but are hoping to do a few other things before our arrival there since it’s so close. The Cardhu Distillery is one our stops, possibly up to the location of the asylum in A Shadow in the Past, Auchindoin Castle, the Gartly and Insch churchyards. But that’s another day.
Very interesting. I’m thinking your book in the first picture is sitting on a part of the old bridge at Carrbridge and it is on your bed at Fernbank House in the second picure.
Thanks for sharing. What a wonderful trip.
Ooh, fab photos Melanie! Love the one of the fireplace – not a spider in sight by the look of it!
So beautiful up there, and isn’t that damn impressive? I think Sarah’s looking out on the bridge and snuggling up at Fernbank house!
The first picture is at Balvenie Castle and the second one at Fernbank House.