Relaxed start to the day from the Golspie campsite. First stop, Dunrobin Castle, was only 10 mins up the road, so an easy target.
A self guided tour takes around an hour during which visitors get to see a mere fraction of the 189 rooms in the ‘castle’ which has been the seat of the Earls and later, Dukes of Sutherland, continously inhabited since the 1300’s.
The Victorians loved having each room to have a specific purpose. One such room was the Music room containing amongst other things, a violin and stag (what?!)
Other delights included the nursery where there were some excellent toys including a decidedly freaky doll in a pram
After marvelling in the ostentatious luxury, we headed out to the garden for a falconry display (actually specifically focusing on the hunting technique of dog and hawk in the woodland vs. dog and falcon on the moors.)
Gryfalcon.
Harris Hawk.
There was also a Bengalese Eagle owl:
Next stops included pausing at the Wolf Stone, marking the location of where the last Wolf was dispatched in Sutherland
Passed through Brora and Helmsdale before heading up to Baile an Or. Gold was found in 1818 for the first time and it wasn’t until 1868 that permission was granted for prospecting in the Helmsdale river and its tributaries. By 1870, permission was revoked by the Duke. This was also our camp for the night.
Above: spot the van!
