A view of Plockton from the train.
We pulled out of the station at 0500. So I got up and went back to the observation car where Roger was already taking photos. After his shower, Jonathan joined us as the train glided along the waters of Loch Carron and up into the mountains.
A view of Plockton from the train.
Another shot of Plockton. I took over 120 shots this morning - I've managed to whittle them down to 20.
Sunrise is imminent.
A house across the water.
The first light of day touching the hills.
Looking back.
A white house catches the morning sun.
The observation deck - it was pointed out that the key to unlock the door was hanging beside the door.
A community nestled in the rolling hills.
Looking back down the tracks to the green fields and pastures.
Coffee! Manda and Wendy sipping coffee which became available about an hour before breakfast.
The inside of the train was wood paneled, with elegant lighting fixtures and ceiling fans.
The first dining car, with glass doored bookcases at the end.
The second dining car.
The passageway to the cabins.
The breakfast menu.
Judyann and Joe. Judyann posing using Richard's recommendation.
The china was decorated with the train's logo.
Evidence - to my disappointment, I don't think I got a shot of my breakfast with haggis.
A close-up of a couple of throw pillows in the observation car, because I liked the colors.
The list of the train's crew was posted…
…along with our daily schedule…
…and the directory of our cabins
The train at the station in Elgin.
The Royal Scotsman crest on the side of the train.
After breakfast the train stopped in Elgin where we transferred to motor coach, which drove us out to the countryside for our walk. Jonathan and I got off for the longer walk while the bus continued on to drop the remainder of the group further up the road.
The first couple of miles was along a paved country road, before getting off the asphalt to a track that ran alongside the road for a while. I noticed a lot of horse prints in the ground as well as ours – the path is apparently popular. As we walked along, we crossed over a couple of high bridges and through several cuts through ridges and it finally dawned on me that we were walking along a former railroad track. The Spey River (known as Scotland’s salmon river) flowed vigorously below us visible through the budding trees. Spring was a week or two further along here than on Skye. As we approached our lunch stop, my railroad hypothesis was confirmed as the track led between two platforms with a quaint rail station house.
We ate lunch siting on the edges of the platforms and I got some snaps of the signage at the trailhead. We continued up the trail another two miles to the next station, Blackbrook where the motor coach waited to take about half of us to Ballindalloch Castle while the others desiring more walking continued up the Speyside Track to the next station. Jonathan and I were both feeling a bit footsore so we opted to hop on the bus to the castle.
Jonathan contemplating the countryside on the bus to the trailhead.
Carron House on the hillside.
I'm at the back again. The first part of the walk was along country roads.
Crossing the River Spey. There was a fly-fisherman on the other side of the bridge.
Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa).
The wide and well-kept path through the woods.
Yep - still at the back. That's Brian and Richard ahead of us.
The river below the trail.
The Knockando Distillery sporting the usual pagoda top over the stills.
Coming into Tamdhu Station - there is another distillery a few hundred yards beyond.
Taking lunch alongside the platform.
We started at the Dailuaine Distillery and walked through Carron, following the yellow and red-dashed line.
This shows our route after lunch to Blacksboat - a number of folks walked beyond.
A panel showing the extent of the Speyside Way trails - we were walking in panel #3.
The Speyside Way Logo.
The field was just beginning to show green.
Jonathan coming up the trail - and in unusual fashion - we aren't the last ones (yet!).
River and hillside.
This is where we got off the trail to go to the castle.
The stone station house at Blacksboat.
The castle grounds are carefully tended with a sea of daffodils welcoming visitors along the path to the castle. The public rooms of the castle were all very elegantly furnished, although I don’t think Jonathan nor I were all that interested in the interior décor except for some really nice orchid displays.
After perusing the family photographs, we wandered outside to the hillside garden which was to us more interesting that the interior. In contrast to the immaculately kept lawns and grounds (which put a lot of putting greens to shame), this garden was more informal with a water feature and a range of interesting plantings. We adjourned for tea and scones in the shop while waiting for the balance of the walkers to arrive, and then bussed back to the train for our final evening (*sigh*) on tour.
Looking at Ballindalloch from the car park.
One of several massive beds of daffodils.
Along the entryway to the castle.
Some of the decorative moldings inside.
Some more moldings - looking very baroque.
One of the rooms open to the public.
I appreciated the orchid arrangements more than most of the other decor.
The dining room with a family portrait at the far end of the current Lady Laird and her family.
The family crest over the fireplace in the dining room.
Jonathan taking a snap while being observed by King George III.
One of the pair of carved figures flanking the fireplace.
A view from the front door.
The hillside garden that Jonathan and I enjoyed.
The putting green lawns with daffodils under the trees.
The water feature in the hillside garden.
A closer view of the water feature.
Jonathan exploring the garden.
A tall evergreen specimen with Jonathan in the shot to give some scale.
After a quick shower, I began to don the kilt, starting with socks and shoes as I remembered that the kilt acts a bit like a girdle. Jonathan gave a hand straightening up alignments before we headed off to the slideshow and canapés before dinner. I got a lot of compliments on my garb and a lot of questions how I arranged the hire.
Richard, CW’s professional photographer, presented a slideshow of his images from the trip. Richard traveled with the other group, although he did spend some time with our group in Inverness before we split up for the tour, and again on the train.
Dinner was an elegant affair and good company. Afterwards we adjourned to the observation car where a pair of musicians on fiddle and keyboard serenaded us. Pól got up and gave us a couple of tunes also. Jonathan and I withdrew at 2300, tired from the day’s activities and returned to our cabin, missing the dancing on the train platform after midnight.
The Isle of Skye tartan with the kilt pin from my kilt hire.
Timo addressing the walkers before the slideshow.
More Royal Scotsman china.
The dinner menu.
Orkney smoked beef, celeriac remoulade, crisp leaves.
Jonathan and Bill in conversation.
I think Bill took this shot of me.
Fillet of Shetland halibut, boulangere potatoes, wilted spinach, freshwater crayfish butter sauce.
Whiskey panna cotta, raspberry sorbet, oatmeal tuille.
Our evening's musicians.
Brian (guide for the other group), Linnea, and Jamen.