Inverness

Wednesday 17th June was a dull day and we explored Inverness with its many churches along the River Ness. We drove Peter to college and parked there. The largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland is in a converted church and chock a block with books. Liz bought a cookery book and I checked the music section but did not find any rare biographies of organists! There is a wood burning stove in the centre of all this paper - a fire hazard? We visited the Catholic church but exposition was in progress so no point in contacting the priest about playing the organ. The Inverness museum is tucked away near the castle and well worth a visit. The displays about bagpipes, history and wildlife were particularly good and a special display of Mapplethrope portraits. After tea in the cathedral tea shop we enjoyed the organ recital by Stephen Jones. Nobody said so but it appeared to sound like a digital organ. He played well. So we then set off for Fort Augustus along the beautiful Loch Ness stopping at the falls of Forfar. The Caledonian canal museum is interesting and the locks most impressive. Fortunately I had changed our b and b to Fort William famous for its high rainfall and being below Ben Nevis. Our Geordie host made us most welcome and we ate at No. 4 - venison and Heather ale. Had a short walk in the rain around the town.