September 11 We drove on, just 10 miles or so, to Cawdor and the Castle there. We had seen it in 1989 with our daughters and enjoyed it very much. The 6th earl, now deceased, had a wonderful sense of humor, and himself wrote the narratives describing each room, its history and artifacts. Many of the descriptions, including of ancestors, are hilarious, as are some of the art itself. And the “Thane of Cawdor” connection with Macbeth is played just right...a bit of fun, no more. After walking the woods, maze, and gardens, we drove back through Inverness and then headed north along the A9, across the Firth of Moray and then still further north along the coast.
North of Inverness, the scenery grows sparser and sparser, treeless Highlands on the left, grassy hills and then cliffs falling to the grey North Sea on the right. Another firth contains four massive oil rigs and in the bay and sea beyond there are more. We pass the Castle Dunrobin, set right on the sea, shining in late afternoon sunlight, the stronghold of the evil Sutherlands, arch-enemies of the Mackays. Vicki hisses while I snap a few pix. It is another beautiful fortified residence, perhaps the most interesting I have seen, at least from without. And then we drive still further north, up and down hills, past small villages by the sea, then over round summits overlooking them, until we come to Lybster and the Hill O' Many Stanes, in a farmer's field only a quarter mile off the highway. There is no car park—only a wide spot in the country lane—but we resolve to park and stay at a level entrance to the field. It is getting late.
North of Inverness, the scenery grows sparser and sparser, treeless Highlands on the left, grassy hills and then cliffs falling to the grey North Sea on the right. Another firth contains four massive oil rigs and in the bay and sea beyond there are more. We pass the Castle Dunrobin, set right on the sea, shining in late afternoon sunlight, the stronghold of the evil Sutherlands, arch-enemies of the Mackays. Vicki hisses while I snap a few pix. It is another beautiful fortified residence, perhaps the most interesting I have seen, at least from without. And then we drive still further north, up and down hills, past small villages by the sea, then over round summits overlooking them, until we come to Lybster and the Hill O' Many Stanes, in a farmer's field only a quarter mile off the highway. There is no car park—only a wide spot in the country lane—but we resolve to park and stay at a level entrance to the field. It is getting late.
 |
Cawdor Castle
|
 |
Cawdor crest, "Be Mindful"
|
 |
"Double bubble, toil and trouble, cauldron
burn and fire bubble," I always say, watching
the microwave; this is the only reference in
the house to that Macbeth
|
 |
In the maze garden
|
 |
In the flower garden
|
 |
I think I remember this sequoia from '89
|
 |
Oil rigs in the firth
|
 |
Castle Dunrobin
|
No comments:
Post a Comment