Tuesday 21 June 2011

Invermoriston the River of Waterfalls.

This morning was spent on the internet making contact with our New Zealand Import Agent getting shipping details etc. organised. Now we have this sorted out we can now plan the final weeks of our stay in the UK. This looks like it is going to include a boat minding session on one of our favourite narrow boats.

Invermoriston's Fall's just off the A82.Invermoriston's Fall's just off the A82.

Thomas Telford's old bridge at Invermoriston. Completed in 1813 as a military road between Fort Augustus and Inverness.Thomas Telford's old bridge at Invermoriston. Completed in 1813 as a military road between Fort Augustus and Inverness.

Invermoriston Falls. We even saw Trout jumping in the pool below.Invermoriston Falls. We even saw Trout jumping in the pool below.

After lunch we thought it was time we got out and about and stretch our legs. We had quite a lot of mail to post so we thought that we could walk into Invermoriston and hopefully find a mail box. The stretch of the A82 from the camp to the village is the only section that has a footpath so we didn’t have to walk on the road with traffic roaring past at 60MPH. The village only comprised a shop/Post Office, village hall, hotel and a souvenir shop selling anything from stuffed and mounted birds and animals to deer antler trinkets and deer and wild goat hides to leather bits and pieces the proprietor makes on the premises.  There was also the usual commercially made souvenirs, a real treasure trove.

Look past Telfords old bridge to the current road bridge. In the distance is the "Summer House".Look past Telfords old bridge to the current road bridge. In the distance is the "Summer House".

Fish spotting from Telfords old road bridge.Fish spotting from Telfords old road bridge.

This lovely cottage was the local NHS Ambulance driver's abode.This lovely cottage was the local NHS Ambulance driver's abode.

Once the mail had been posted we set off to explore the river which we had driven across several days ago. There is the original old road bridge built by the Canal Engineer Thomas Telford which is sadly in need of some TLC after persistent vandalism over the last few years. Between this and the existing road bridge the river flows through a canyon worn smooth by the flow of millions of litre’s of water  through a narrow gap. Beyond this are the Invermoriston Falls where we found a memorial seat erected by locals to an American girl who died there in 1982. Falling off the cliff into the fast flowing river you wouldn’t stand a chance. Again, awesome scenery.

Carved from a single tree. Bears and Eagle.Carved from a single tree. Bears and Eagle.

Looking up river through the Summer House windows at both bridges over the Invermoriston Falls.Looking up river through the Summer House windows at both bridges over the Invermoriston Falls.

Red Cedar forest at the Invermoriston Falls.Red Cedar forest at the Invermoriston Falls.

Now I must mention here of flying objects. Yesterday while at Loch Glengarry I saw two large birds soaring and circling in unison above the loch. Unfortunately they went higher instead of lower until they disappeared out of sight so I can only assume they were Eagle’s of one sort or another by their size and flying ability. The other is the R.A.F doing low, and I mean very low, flying practice up and down Loch Ness today. They were so low that they were below the skyline of the mountains and they were very hard to spot in their camouflage colouring. You could hear them but trying to pin point them was very tricky.

A very shaggy Highland bull. What a great set of handlebars.A very shaggy Highland bull. What a great set of handlebars.

No comments: