En Route to Inverness

Today was a travel day.  We began the morning with a 3 mile run through a park near our Budget Backpackers hostel.  It was nice to get out in the somewhat cool morning air, as rain drizzled down, and get some exercise.  We beat the downpour by mere minutes and had a quick oatmeal and coffee breakfast at the hostel bar before checking out and making our way back to the airport.  There we had a rental car to pick up, and we began our journey throughout the middle parts of Scotland.

Lee had arranged for an automatic car, which was great since neither of us have driven on the left side of the road.  With a bit of a mix up to start the drive up to Inverness (we missed one of the exits on some weird half roundabout), we finally were headed in the right direction.  She drove, getting more and more used to it as the miles passed.  The countryside is beautiful, with lush greenery and hillsides dotted with fluffy white and brown sheep.  We stopped in one small town, Bankfoot, that boasted a great bar and restaurant only to find out it wasn't open until Wednesday.  So, off we went in search of somewhere else to eat.  

The Bankfoot Inn - We did NOT get to eat here as it wasn't open

We decided to stop in Pitlochry because it was the first town listed on the map we had, figuring if it was big enough to make the map, it must have something open on a Monday.  Pitlochry was quite large, with many, many hotels and bed and breakfasts, along with a number of restaurants and quite the crowd of people!  We came across a beautiful bed and breakfast nestled in the hills where the owner guided us toward the centre of town, where all the action was.

Annslea Guesthouse - I want to stay here someday!

We found a cozy, warm small hotel coffee shop/diner where we enjoyed minestrone soup and sandwiches for lunch.  The service was good until we had finished so, after waiting quite awhile for someone either come by and ask if we wanted something else or the check, we got up, paid and left.  Lee did not get her dessert...

On our way to Inverness, traffic was pretty light, making it a relatively easy journey.  Naturally we came across a section of highway under construction so we had the opportunity to sit stationary for a few minutes, giving me some time to get these pictures of the landscape surrounding us.

View from the highway on the way to Inverness

Coating each hillside, heather runs wild, beginning (or ending) its bloom of violet coloured flowers.  The contrast of the golden wheat fields, fluffy white sheep and lush green trees and grass gives the landscape a beautiful, welcoming and relaxing feeling.  People shouldn't feel too stressed or rushed driving through these hills.  

Our guesthouse, called Inchrye (which we aren't sure how to pronounce, honestly), is a gorgeous old Victorian home transformed into a lovely bed and breakfast.  We are happy to have our own bathroom for this portion of the trip and our room is almost too nice to leave (especially after the dorm-style, barren experience of the hostel in Edinburgh).  But, we ventured out for a yummy dinner at a place called McGonagall's in the middle of the Old Towne.  This small steakhouse has a great selection of local and wild game, along with chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes.  

My chicken fillet, smothered in a flavourful, spicy chipotle chile tomato sauce was marvellous!  The aroma of the spices was amazing and so enticing, and I thoroughly enjoyed the roasted peppers and onions that accompanied my meal.  

Super dooper Chicken Fillet with Chipotle Chili spice!  Gotta see if I can make this!

We splurged on dessert, for which I tried something called 'cranachan', which included a warm, soft slice of shortbread, stewed raspberries and cream.  I really enjoyed this dessert, even if I now feel as though I should go for a massive run and do 30 minutes of insane high intensity exercises!  I guess tomorrow I'm due for another run (plus some other HIIT workout, I think). 

Cranachan - Yummy (and I don't typically like whip cream - this did not come from a can)

Where we are staying, in an area outside of Inverness, there really isn't much going on for a Monday night.  We found what appears to be a hotel bar across the street but, while it was open, there was no one in the place, not even the bartender, so we opted to come back to the room to just rest and get up early for another run tomorrow morning before off to Loch Ness.  And tomorrow it's my turn to drive so I better get some sleep!