At present we are touring the Scottish Highlands and it has been a different experience to what I was expecting. I thought we would be driving up and down hills and mountainsides, that is, travelling over the highlands. But we are driving mainly on roads with highlands to the right and left of us, as if we are driving through a gorge with cliffs on both sides. The highlands are amazing to see - rugged, rocky and remote landscape with hardly a grazing animal. But then there are sweet little homesteads at the base of huge mountains with waterfalls and water courses streaming downwards.
We head south and pass through the little village of Pitlochry before arriving at St Andrews, the home of golf. We take a photo on the 18th green of the Old Course, where the game was first played 600 years ago.
Tony and I take the option of seeing the historic ruins of the cathedral near the water. Then we wander around the busy shopping streets of St Andrews and find a place for lunch. Lots of students in these parts, as well as university tutors, lecturers and researchers. Everyone looks particularly busy - academically busy that is. Stopping for a bite to eat, and then moving off quickly - the the next lecture hall or assignment no doubt.
We cross the Firth of Forth to the Scottish capital Edinburgh where we'll stay for the next two nights. We're staying at the Novotel City Centre Hotel.