Rest Day: COrrimony Cairn

I took a day off from my walk today to explore the area around Drumndrochit. I went on a short walk down to the estuary where the twin rivers meet near Loch Ness, and saw The Fairy Log, where tourists are encouraged to jam coinage into a mouldering stump by the path. I can find no evidence this was a real tradition back in the pre-Google days. There is a Hanging Tree in the town, an old Chestnut tree where hangings took place 300 years ago, but theres no public access - it's on the property of a brewery by the same name. I tried the lager and it's very good. 

I decided not to visit Urqhart Castle, having already seen enough Norman castles, and, I was not wanting to be one of the half million people that go there every year, so after a slow start to the day I jumped on a bus to Corrimony, a tiny town about 8 miles to the west, along the route through Glen Affric to the west coast. My target was Corrimony Chambered Cairn, a 4000-year-old tomb surrounded by a stone circle. The tomb was made for a woman of great importance. Chambered cairns (burial mounds made of rocks, not earth or chalk) are not so common in England, but they did them up here. It is the first significant piece of archaeology I have seen since getting to Scotland, and I was glad to get back to that aspect of the trip. I spent about an hour there, and then walked through the old village of Corrimony, now partly abandoned, and on to a bird sanctuary, where I did not see much in the way of birds, although the scenery was great. A taxi got me back to Drumnadrochit, where I drank 3 very rare (and cheap) whiskies from the local bar. The barman explained that the season is ending and they are selling drinks at half price to make sure the bottles are done before winter comes. I was not complaining. The Thompson Brothers whisky from Dornoch ws exceptional, light, peaty, foresty, just what I like. 

I am in bed now and have just decided to bus it to Inverness tomorrow, and then walk as much of the path as I feel like back south again. But, I may change my mind in the morning. It has been pouring with rain all afternoon and I don't want to walk 18 miles tomorrow if it's still coming down. Storm Erin is having her way.