Theme of the day, a visit to some filming locations from the Outlander series and a dive into the heart of the Highlands, its wild nature and its emblem, the red cows with long hair and impressive horns.
Route : From Alyth to Inverness, it is 200 km and more than 3 hours by road.
DUNALASTAIR
From Alyth, where we spent the night, it takes 70 km via the A93 to reach Dunalastair. The road is in many sections single track and passes through incredible scenery. Moors and snow-capped mountains appear. The place seems deserted, except for the tourist village of Pitlochry, which you will pass through.
In Dunalastair is the filming location of Craigh Na Doun, seen in the series Outlander. Don't waste too much time looking for it, the landscape is beautiful, but you won't find the standing stones from the film, which are instead those of Clava Cairns.
Instead, look for the ruins of Dunalastair Manor, considered one of the most beautiful abandoned castles in Scotland (since 1952). A 19th century baronial manor house, overgrown, it is not signposted and is surrounded by fences for security reasons, with some parts threatening to collapse.
Info : there is no parking space, you must stay on the side of the road, then follow a path in the forest on foot (10 mins). You will find a house, also abandoned, on your left. Continue until you find the second one. Her pitiful state makes her all the more beautiful. Kingdom of birds and vegetation which has regained its rights, the place had to allow a view of the Loch and offer an idyllic living environment.
CLAVA CAIRNS
Then take the road (B9154) towards Inverness for 125km, it is wide, rolling and fast, always in the heart of incredible landscapes typical of the Highlands. A prehistoric site almost 4,000 years old, the Clava Cairns were built to shelter the deceased. The visit is free and open all year round.
There appear to have been two cemeteries (Balnuaran of Clava and Milton of Clava) at this location, used in the Bronze Age, probably for important people. The construction of the 3 cairns, two of which have a burial chamber inside and surrounded by menhirs on the outside, is typical of the cairns found in the region. They may have been used for the cremation of the deceased.
The ruins of a chapel dedicated to St Bridget are still visible, a sign that the place has remained sacred for thousands of years. On this second site, the very friendly farmer came to see us and offered us to spend the night at his place. He has set up a site for a few camper vans, for 15 pounds a night, from where the view is beautiful.
Info : there is ample parking on site and the place is very visited. It is part of tourist bus circuits and at times, dozens of travelers arrive at the same time.
INVERNESS
There are 12 km left to reach Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. For the evening, we ate at Rocpool, an excellent restaurant, frequented by the Scottish, which serves local products cooked with finesse. The quality/price ratio for a kitchen of this level is quite correct. To be tested without hesitation! It is essential to book well in advance, it is one of the best addresses for miles around.
For the night, we stayed at Munlochy Bay, just 15 minutes from Inverness. The free space allows parking for 6 vehicles and the view of the bay is simply incredible. Close to the road, it allows you to capture the British craze for motorsport!
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