Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands

We had an early start in order to arrive at the Culloden Museum for 9 am opening.  We arrived to an Almost empty parking area, good, we have the place to ourselves. A snag, the computers were frozen and electronics necessary for operation, lights etc would hold us up. We reversed the plan and went outside to view the battlefield. It is marked with flags to denote where skirmishes took place and cairns commerating the men who died there. The clans are marked by very rugged stones, saying simply “clan Gordon”, clan Fraser, clan Mckenzie, and many more, and they are mass burials. It is quite moving to walk the paths and read the names on the wind swept moor, with few trees, just Gorsh and Heather. The story is told in the museum,  known as the Highland Clearances of 1746. The Jacobites were attempting to reinstate Bonnie Prince Charlie to the throne of the British isles.
The Jacobites, were a fierce fighting group of clansmen, on foot and armed with swords and pistols they were outmatched by the English. The war with England led by the Duke of Cumberland was on horseback with muskets and bayonets. The English outnumbered the Jacobites, the bloody battle was over in less than an hour. 1500-2000 Jacobites lay dead. Prince Charlie escaped to the Heberdies and then  Skye with his girl friend Flora MacDonald, but even she eventually abandoned him. He eventually  returned to France then to Rome where  he died an alcoholic on the street.
The English proceeded to commence with the “highland Clearances”  the wearing of tartan was forbidden , Gaelic was forbidden. Many highlanders were imprisoned and or beheaded or sent to the colonies in Australia and New Zealand.
We spent the better of two hours there and then moved on to the standing stones of Outlander fame. Photo of us hiding behind the stones and standing by the burial grounds were taken by all....at least all the ladies.
Our final stop is Brodie Castle, which is a small castle as castles go. It was built in 1567, destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1824. The years of history boggle the mind when you think Vancouver is only 125 years old.! The Brodie family called it home until the late 20th century, and have been associated with the land since 1160 when they received it from King Malcolm. Though now owned by the National Trust, the Brodie Family will always retain the title to the land. Open to the public for tours sustains the upkeep of the interior, beautiful rugs, over 6,500 rare books, fine antiques, furniture and artifacts.
The estate has a beautiful garden with over 270 varieties of daffodils which were a hobby of Brodie of Brodie.
We returned to the hotel in Inverness for some free time. I did not opt to go on the late afternoon tour of Loch Lomond and Urquhart Castle. I had a wander around Inverness and visited a famous second hand bookstore housed within an old church.....it had books from ceiling to floor for two stories with a spiral staircase up the middle.  I purchased a pair of fleece gloves as I think the cold on the ferry to Orkney could test my temperature tolerance!
The group returned from the Loch Lomond tour and at 7 pm Maryanne ( my seat partner) and I headed out to find some dinner. We met 10 of our group in a restaurant on the river front and joined them.  Tomorrow we are to have our cases ready by 7:30, for an 8:30 departure.
Another day of exploring this beautiful country to enjoy.