OUT AND ABOUT |
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BLACK ISLE TOUR (#18): The first half of the circular route took us to Beauly, Conon Bridge, Balblair and Cromarty. Across the firth from Cromarty we saw oil rigs on the Sands of Nigg. |
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At the Sutors, Pat attempted to take some pictures of dolphins in the Croarty Firth. Believe us ... a pod of dolphins was there. |
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TAIN: On Friday, August 9, we took a bus to Tain. The cemetery, surrounding the ruins of old St. Duthac (Duthus) Church, was filled with Ross tombstones on all sides. |
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I found an open space inside the ruins to take this photograph. The relics of St. Duthus (skull, breastbone and shirt) were once stored in this church. His shirt was supposed to protect its wearer in battle, but Hugh O'Beolan (5th Earl of Ross) died in February 1333 at the Battle of Halidon Hill while wearing it. |
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King James V revered the saint of Clan Ross, and made the pilgrimage to this holy site barefoot, following the path of his father who paid seven visits between 1493 and 1513. |
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The chapel was burned down in 1470, and a newer St. Duthac church was built nearby. After some sight-seeing of the Tain and the North Sea, we were fortunate to have the same bus-driver ... and we obtained his permission to get off near Balnagowan Castle on the way back to Inverness. |
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The sun was almost setting as I captured this picture of Balnagowan Castle from the side road. |
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Before we returned to the corner for the next bus, we walked to the wall at the front of the castle and took a final picture as the sun was going down. |